Are You Ready for FTC’s Red Flags Rule?
By Drew Gruenburg
In less than a month, businesses that regularly accept deferred payment or bill customers later for goods and services rendered will be required to have a formal identify-theft prevention program. More

SAF Convention Yields New Crop of Officers, Board, Council
By Shelley Estersohn
The gavel of leadership passed to a new president and officers Sept. 26, during the annual business meeting at SAF Phoenix 2009. Beginning a two-year term as president is Leo Roozen, AAF, Washington Bulb Company, Inc., Mt. Vernon, Wash. More

At G20 Summit, Saying it with Flowers Goes Multilingual
By Amanda Long
Cheryl Bakin had less than 24 hours to research floral protocol for about six countries, clear security, check in with hotel logistics, source product and rally her designers before her shop, Parkway Florist, delivered welcome arrangements to several hotels hosting several dignitaries for last week’s G20 Summit. More

Teleflora Hopes for Gold with Yellow Brick Road Arrangement
By Mary Westbrook
Consumers can get their hands on a new bouquet that features Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” – and her little dog, too. Teleflora’s new Wizard of Oz Bouquet includes all of the movie’s classic quintet – Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion – atop a dome of yellow button-spray chrysanthemums, roses and alstroemeria. (Don’t worry, my pretty. There are no poppies.) More

At Convention, Unconventional Media Wins Fans
By Amanda Long
Cathy Hillen-Rulloda, AIFD, has one word for anyone raring to get out there and socialize on Facebook, Twitter and Linked In: Don’t. Don’t set up a fan page for your shop on Facebook, don’t tweet what’s fresh in the cooler and don’t blog about buying local — until you’ve made sure your Web site is up to snuff. While she’s a zealot when it comes to the power of social media, the owner of Avante Gardens in Anaheim, Calif., emphasized the dangers of jumping to the next big thing online if you don’t have the basics in place first. More

A Lesson in Leadership
From Retail Week
As the recession continues, motivating staff can be a challenging prospect. However, with the right advice, dispelling staff anxiety needn't seem like a struggle. The biggest obstacle to continued success is becoming too complacent. It's important to stay motivated, and change is necessary. More

The Lucky Winner is...Congratulations to Kathryn Herzing of Hyde Park Florist & Gifts

Congratulations to Kathryn Herzing of Hyde Park Florist & Gifts in Hyde Park, N.Y. Kathryn won an iPhone in a random drawing for completing SAF’s Member Survey. More

U.S. Retailers to See Some Cheer this Holiday Season
From MarketWatch
Retailers are expected to see a 1 percent increase in same-store sales in November and December, according to trade group International Council of Shopping Centers. Factoring in January, sales may rise 1.5 percent, their best performance in three years, ICSC said. Last year, they dropped 5.8 percent in November and December and declined 5.4 percent including January, marking their worst performance on record by both measures, ICSC said. More

Affluent Shoppers May Bring About Recession's End
From The Tennessean
A financial turnaround for the country may be driven largely by affluent shoppers' attitudes and whether their desire for the good life outweighs lingering worries about money and jobs, many analysts and retailers say. More

The Kinds of Employees You Want to Hire
From Business Week
There are two kinds of employees. Some believe they can make things happen, and the others believe that things happen to them. The first group believes that the outcome of their life and career is more or less in their own hands, and they wouldn't have it any other way. The other group sits and waits around for someone to take them somewhere. More

More

Glad You’re Our Bud: New SAF MembersHelp us Welcome SAF’s newest members! Capri Floral & Event Design Bellevue, Wash. www.caprifloraldesign.com

More