Auctioneers' column: A strong summer and a new step at the clock

The summer turned out different than expected for the plant trade. Despite the high temperatures, supply, demand and prices remained nicely balanced. In this column, auctioneer Erik Boland shares his observations from the auction floor. He also takes you through the post-holiday return, the first auction via RFH Auction on Floriday and the start of the autumn season.

Hot weather, slow business... or not?

My colleague wrote two weeks ago that the market is changing. We’ve seen the same trend with plants over the past few weeks. Prices were strong overall, even though temperatures regularly exceeded 30 degrees.

Usually, such heat isn’t good for the auction clock. Demand often drops and prices can fall rapidly. That didn’t happen this summer. Supply and demand remained surprisingly stable. So, hot weather, slow business? Not this year.

A key reason is that growers have focused heavily on direct sales. As a result, there was less supply at the auction. Some growers have also grown fewer plants. Lower supply, combined with healthy demand, led to strong prices. Under these circumstances, it's a real pleasure for me, as an auctioneer, to conduct the auctions.

These favourable prices are also desperately needed for many growers. Rising costs are putting pressure on margins. In the end, consumers will also have to get used to the fact that flowers and plants cost more. After all, we’re paying more for a drink on a terrace than we did a few years ago.

Shops and consumers are restocking

We've now entered the period when many people are coming back from their holidays. Normally, this creates extra demand, and fortunately, that was clearly noticeable at the plant auction this year as well. People are bringing plants back into their homes or taking them to school. The latter is a particularly strong tradition in Eastern Europe. In addition, many plants in gardens or on windowsills did not survive the hot summer. These are now being replaced.

Shops are also reopening after the summer break. Garden centres and florists are restocking their shelves with new assortments. This was clearly visible on the auction floor: a steady stream of orders and a lively atmosphere during the auctions.

First auctioning via RFH Auction on Floriday

Another highlight was a successful milestone for the new RFH Auction app. For the first time, a clock was auctioned via RFH Auction on Floriday. This marks an important step towards the modernisation of the auction system.

Such an initial roll-out is always exciting. For buyers, perhaps not much has changed; for the time being, they will continue to buy via KOA. But behind the scenes, virtually the entire technical infrastructure of the auction system has been updated. That's why there has been extensive testing, practice and preparation.

Our colleague, auctioneer Marco Alberti, was the first to use the new system and looks back on the first day with satisfaction: “Auctioning on the new system was a 10+ experience; it ran very smoothly. Of course, it takes a bit of getting used to, and above all you want business to carry on as normal. We’ve managed to do that, and there were an unusually high number of buyers logged in. Of course, there are lessons to be learnt, but the foundations were solid and we’ve shown today that this next step is possible.”

More information about this development and the transition to Auctioning via Floriday can be found on the website.

The first autumn products are here again

Finally, we’re already looking ahead to autumn. The first autumn products are on the clock. Calluna and Hebe are performing well, and pot chrysanthemums are also fetching nice prices. Buyers are eager to revamp their assortments for the new season. This brings different colours and products to the market and injects fresh energy into the auction. In other words: after a summer full of surprises, a new and interesting season is already just around the corner.