Flowers Have Always Been Loved In Russia And Will Always Be Loved! Interview With The President Of The National Guild Of Florists G.G. Pergamenshikova

2023 Author: Ashton Daniels | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 13:50

The beginning of the year, thanks to the abundance of holidays beloved in our country, is always the most stressful time for Russian florists to work. In February this year, another important event took place in the life of Russian floristry - the 10th anniversary of the creation of the National Guild of Russian Florists. On the eve of one of the most beautiful holidays of the year - March 8, our correspondent interviewed the President of the National Guild of Florists Galina Grigorievna Pergamenshchikova.

Corr.: Galina Grigorievna, what would you name among the most important achievements of the work of the National Guild of Florists of Russia?

G. G.: One of the most important achievements of our Guild is the fact that we have built the vertical of regional competitions over the years.

In Russia, flowers have always been and will be loved, so people want each city to have its own flower exhibition, and at this flower exhibition there was a professional flower competition for florists, so that there were seminars, demonstrations and master classes. And although florists and flower business owners travel a lot to Moscow for our contests and European championships, there is still not enough information. For several years now, the NGF has been exhibiting Russian florists at European championships, and we have won prizes there many times and have shown very good results. All this is due to the work carried out by the guild to organize contests and master classes at which future champions show themselves.

Corr.: Galina Grigorievna, how will the first anniversary of the NGF be celebrated?

GG: We decided to time our anniversary to the International Exhibition "Flowers-2010", the main flower exhibition in our country. We will have a lot of guests from all over Russia, from Kaliningrad to South Sakhalin. Over the ten years of its work, the Guild has spread its influence over our entire large country, as can be seen from our regional competitions, which are held in various federal districts of Russia. Now in March there will be a competition of the Central region "Moscow Spring", then there will be competitions in April in the North-West region in St. Petersburg at the exhibition in Lenexpo, the championship "Europe-Asia" in Yekaterinburg, in Novosibirsk at the flower exhibition every year a very good competition, in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in April there will be a very original competition, because this region is close to Japan, and the influence of the ikebana school on the work of local florists is very noticeable there. I was at this competition two years ago. I can't say that it is very widespread, but I liked the work. Unlike our florists, who mainly work with flower mass, florists there work with the material that grows in their region. For example, I really liked the dress made of moss and lichens.

There are many events, but for such a large country like Russia, it should be so! That is why we welcome and support initiatives when a city wants to have its own festival, its own flower holiday. As, for example, in Yaroslavl.

All winners of regional flower contests have the right to participate in the Russian Championship, the main professional event in Russian floristry. The Russian Championship is held annually, in contrast to the European Masters Championship, which takes place every four years, or from the European Junior Championship, which takes place every two years.

The work of E. Ananieva, competition "Moscow Spring - 2009"

Corr.: Galina Grigorievna, ten years of work - is that a lot or a little?

G. G.: A decade is the first milestone for any organization and, at the same time, it is very little time on the scale of a country like ours. Our floristry began to develop from the middle of the last century, and such masters as Vladimir Bermyakov, Lena Sarkisova, Valentina Petrovna Safronova created wonderful works, but there was no such massive passion for floristry. Just as there was no such need for flowers, and the range of colors was not as extensive as it is now. Of course, starting everything literally from scratch was not easy, and there is still a lot of work ahead of us.

Corr.: Do you think this March 8 holiday will differ in terms of flower sales from previous years?

G. G.: March 8 is a wonderful holiday, a holiday of spring, a holiday of a woman! But for florists this is a difficult time, albeit a pleasant one, of course. Giving flowers to people is nice, helping to give flowers to people is very nice! Probably, this year on March 8 will differ from previous years, and even from last year, because last year the crisis was not felt so much in our business, and, probably, not only in ours. Since last summer we have felt a certain decline, so now our professionals need to be more careful in their calculations. But the holiday, of course, will take place, and women, of course, will receive flowers, just the bouquets will be more modest. As for the prices for flowers, I think that there is no point in raising prices for them, on the contrary, professionals in the flower business need to seriously think about some special offers,to make flowers more affordable for the maximum number of buyers, and to maintain the planned level of sales.

Corr.: Will there be such special offers in your Flowers on Sretenka salon?

GG: We will also have special offers for tulips in Flowers on Sretenka, and for corporate clients, we always have special offers. Our salon has developed a special system of discounts for regular customers and VIP-clients, but our most important rule is an individual approach to each client! Despite the current economic circumstances, our salon will definitely have lilies of the valley, lilacs, and peonies.

Corr.: What advice on buying bouquets for beloved women could you give to men on these pre-holiday days?

G. G.: My advice to men is to buy flowers in shops, in equipped stationary kiosks, so that the quality of flowers is good. Only then the flowers presented to the woman will delight her for a long time, prolonging her festive mood. What flowers are best for a gift? I think that those who most love the one to whom this bouquet is intended. Today, even the seemingly simplest flowers - tulips or carnations - are very unusual in color and shape, the choice is very large. I am sure that a bouquet chosen with a soul cannot leave any woman indifferent!

Corr.: Galina Grigorievna, what kind of flowers do you like?

G. G.: I have been working in the flower business for a long time and I cannot say that I like some flowers and some I do not like. Moreover, now, when we have flowers of such quality and such a variety: roses, alstroemeria, tulips, carnations, orchids - dozens of varieties. In my opinion, one cannot say that some flowers can be loved and some cannot. All fresh flowers are beautiful!

Correspondent: Galina Grigorievna, you have been with fresh flowers all your life. Do they give you flowers?

G. G.: Of course, they give me flowers. Flowers are given by close people, friends, and partners. I love it! Flowers in general can not help but like! I really love flowers, and not only cut flowers, but also in pots, especially white phalaenopsis. I love to "nurse" plants if they are sick.

Corr.: Do you have enough time?

G. G.: There is enough time. Flowers nourish with energy, and in general, your favorite work in life is very good, then there is enough energy and time for everything!

Corr.: Galina Grigorievna, thank you very much for finding time for the visitors of our portal in such a busy pre-holiday period for florists! On behalf of our entire large audience, I want to congratulate you on the upcoming holiday of March 8 and wish you all the best and brightest, and, of course, success in your work

The work of P. Chernyak, competition "Moscow Spring - 2009"	The work of V. Roshka, competition "Moscow Spring - 2007"
Fragment of work	Fragment of work

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