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TPIE - Are You In?

January 9, 2019

TPIE is your natural connection to the world of interior plants and tropical foliage. With more than 400 companies exhibiting at TPIE you’ll find the vendors for all of your plant-related needs. You’ll find hundreds of wholesale growers and living décor companies with an amazing variety of plants, finished gift items and buying programs.

TPIE makes it easy to find those companies whose products complement the selling and growing of plants, such as pottery, stone, moss, potting soils, pest controls, plant nutrition, equipment, transportation and business services.

Beyond the exhibits (which are worth the trip alone), TPIE offers an array of inspiring and educational displays, workshops and sessions to further build your business success and add to your professional expertise.

Attendees will be treated to more than 800 booths - all showcasing their brightest and best-selling plants, products and services.

Taking place January 15, the day prior to the start of the show, the TPIE Road Show offers two creatively designed tours showcasing Florida’s nursery and landscape industry. Attendees can choose to take part in either the Landscape Design Road Show, which offers an exploration of residential landscape designs and tropical gardens, or the Production Tour, which takes attendees to South Florida to explore four nurseries which feature interior and exterior tropical plant production facilities.

Kicking off the show’s Opening Session, international trend analyst Christine Boland returns for the session, The Principles of Progress. Boland, of Trends & Mindsets, based in Amsterdam, is one of TPIE’s most popular and relevant speakers.

Taking a global view of societal concerns and emotions, Boland explains why consumers are attracted to certain styles, designs and products in response to progressions in society. Her presentations are informative, significant and beautiful as she shows examples of design elements, colors, textures, fabrics and more to inspire your own creative response.

“If you know what is going on in the world and how it affects people, you can translate this into social trends, fashion trends, retail trends and consumer trends in general – and products which anticipate these,” Boland says.

TPIE’s Opening Session takes place at 9 a.m. Wednesday, January 16.

With his engaging and enthusiastic approach, Charles Hall, Ph.D, will share his expertise on economic trends in production and marketing at the Exceeding Expectations Session, The Forecast for 2019: Bright Skies or Storm Clouds?, sponsored by the National Horticulture Foundation.

Hall has the ability to clarify complicated topics on strategic management, market outlook and financial analysis for the green industry. A native of North Carolina, Hall received his Bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Tennessee in 1984 and his Master’s in ornamental horticulture and landscape design from the University of Tennessee in 1986. He earned his doctorate from Mississippi State University in 1988.
TPIE’s Elevating Expectations Session will take place at 3 p.m. Thursday, January 17.

Also taking center stage on the tradeshow floor Wednesday and Thursday at TPIE will be the Create Theater Presentations where floral designers from the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) will provide inviting and innovative ways to incorporate plants in small spaces, both inside and outside.

As people of all ages move into smaller and often urban spaces, plants are being used as important home and patio enhancements. Attendees can take advantage of five different designer sessions.

All Create Theater sessions are included with your TPIE trade show admission badge.
On display in Lobby A of the Convention Center throughout the show will be several Trend Designs Displays giving attendees the chance to ‘Look and Learn.’
Industry design experts were given the challenge to take four of Christine Boland’s emerging trends from the TPIE Opening Session and create displays which express these trends. Attendees are invited to see how specific colors, styles and forms can be used to appeal to today’s consumer.
New in 2019 are four TPIE Interiorscape Workshops. Interiorscaping is on the upswing with expanding services such as living walls, holiday decor, event decor and interior wellness gardens. Take advantage of the ideas and know-how offered via TPIE’s slate of interiorscape classes. Registration is required. The cost to attend is $90 per session.

One of the most popular gathering places during the show is TPIE’s Happy Hour, taking place from 5 – 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 16. Relevant conversations happen best in person and often, with a drink in your hand. It also helps to be outside enjoying the mild winter temperatures of Fort Lauderdale. You never know who will show up at the TPIE Happy Hour – some of the most successful business connections had their starts at the TPIE Happy Hour.

Another popular way to gain the inside track on emerging trends is to tap into the TPIE Cool Products Awards. They spotlight the top 15 retail and interiorscape plants and products as voted by TPIE show buyers themselves! The TPIE Cool Products Awards are presented at 2 p.m. Thursday, January 17.

Register for TPIE for just $30. The best hotel rates and availability are secured when you go through TPIE’s housing company, Eventsphere. Shuttle buses run from most TPIE host hotels to the convention center on all three show days.

TPIE is produced by FNGLA and its members with event proceeds used to serve the industry.

For more information about TPIE, visit www.tpie.org or call FNGLA at 800-375-3642. •

 
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