Family-run business A. Noort BV was originally a scheduled carrier going to Germany, but since 2015 has focused on e-commerce via their webshop, including Floriday. Working with international growers is key to this.
One of those partners is Native Blooms, a rose nursery from Ecuador. A. Noort imports roses from them every week, with price agreements covering fixed time frames. "This means Native Blooms can supply us all year round, and they have a fixed sales volume," says Jaap de Jong, sales manager at A. Noort. All the stock that A. Noort buys from Native Blooms is on Floriday and is then available directly from their webshop, which is linked to Floriday, via Easyflor. As soon as an item is sold out, it disappears from the webshop and Jaap makes sure new stock is sourced once again."
Building relationships
Besides Native Blooms, A. Noort also works with other nurseries from Colombia and Ecuador. That decision was mainly based on product quality. "We find certain products, such as carnations and alstroemerias, better from Colombia, and we feel roses are better from Ecuador, which is why we have decided to buy from those countries." One way these partnerships come about is via Royal FloraHolland and trade fairs such as IFTF. "When I'm looking for certain products, I also put requests for quotes out to Royal FloraHolland, who sort out potential growers for me. The other day, I visited some growers in Colombia and Ecuador. That personal contact is invaluable for building relationships as well as for sourcing new products."
Challenges of international trade
International trade also brings its challenges. One of the biggest of these is air cargo. "You are very dependent on air traffic. Any delays will affect our processes. This may affect product quality. By working closely with the airline, there is room for solutions such as compensation. Besides, I often know before the flight takes off if there are any delays. That also gives room our side to adjust accordingly."
Impact of globalization
International trade has led A. Noort to expand in recent years. "We can no longer do without being international; our customers rely on us to deliver the widest possible range. I think the fact that this sector is becoming increasingly international is a positive development. It gives us opportunities as buyers to source unique products." Jaap has a clear message for other business managers considering making the leap and going international: "Start with Floriday. The platform simplifies administration and ensures streamlined working between buyers and growers.
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