As the school holidays come to a close and families return to their routines, auctioneer Elmar Nonkes shares his observations on the shift in the marketplace and offers a fun team outing idea in his latest column.
Returning to the Daily Grind
With the summer holidays behind us, it’s time for everyone to resume their work routines. Children are back in school, and parents are back in the office. As auctioneers, we quickly notice this transition. The number of transactions increases, and typically, so does the pricing. However, this year presents a slightly different scenario than usual. I’ve heard some reports of a less-than-stellar return in certain cases, but this can be easily explained. It’s because we didn’t experience a challenging summer for flowering houseplants; in fact, some products were relatively expensive. Take, for instance, potted Phalaenopsis, which, unlike previous years, hardly saw prices dip to the lower limit. Kalanchoe and potted Chrysanthemum also achieved prices that would have been hard to imagine in previous summer periods. Consequently, the contrast with previous years is less pronounced.
A Similar Trend in the Flower Market
This trend extends to the flower market as well. While the summer went well, the return is somewhat subdued. Buyers are finding prices relatively high at the moment, while growers are comparing prices to last year, which may be a bit disappointing for them. In particular, rose prices are notably lagging behind last year. However, there are exceptions, such as Panicum and Tanacetum, which have seen improved prices compared to 2022.
Team Outing with Auctioneers: Sailing Along the Tulip Route
To mark the end of summer, our entire team of auctioneers and managers from the Aalsmeer, Naaldwijk, and Rijnsburg locations organized a team outing. We began with a leisurely lunch, followed by a sailing adventure through the picturesque polders of Roelofarendsveen on two spacious barges.
As we sailed along the “Tulip Route,” we were treated to a history lesson by Kees, a former grower. Kees eloquently shared insights into the past and shed light on the millions of tulips that are cultivated and harvested every year in Roelofarendsveen. This outing offered valuable knowledge, especially for someone like me, who primarily deals with flowering houseplants and doesn’t often delve into the world of tulips. In summary, it was a delightful and informative day spent with my colleagues from various locations and departments.