Auctioneer's column: Full speed ahead to All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day

Auctioneer Erik Wassenaar looks forward to the moment when the clock goes back an hour (wintertime). For him, this is the sign that autumn has truly begun: it gets dark early, and you see lots of pumpkins and berries on the auction clock. In this column, Erik talks about what's happening on the Royal FloraHolland clock around All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Read about the busy market, the impact of fewer roses and why prices may unexpectedly rise right now.  

It's the height of autumn. Autumn products and colours are widely available and in high demand. This weekend, the clock goes back an hour. I love how it gets dark earlier in the evenings again.  

The market for All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day  

We're currently in the midst of the busy period leading up to early November. All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day are on November 1st and 2nd. These are mainly Catholic holidays, the best known of which is All Souls' Day, when deceased loved ones are remembered and honoured with flowers. This usually results in strong prices, but pricing was slow to take off this year. I expect prices to rise significantly next week. This is partly due to the reduced supply of roses over the past weeks. Customers are also placing their short-term orders later and later, sometimes even on the day itself! As a result, there can still be positive price spikes at the auction clock right up to the last moment. It's up to us as auctioneers to respond to this and get the most of it.  

Fewer roses  

Fewer roses are available, which is causing turmoil in the market. Unfortunately, almost 10 hectares of rose production have disappeared in the Netherlands, with increased costs playing a major role. In Ethiopia and Kenya, too, dozens of hectares are currently out of production due to replanting and natural disasters. The “normal” weather is not really helping either, so we won't see normal volumes from Africa in the coming weeks.  

For me as an auctioneer, the turmoil among buyers is actually beneficial. It leads to higher prices at the clock. Ultimately, it's all about the game of supply and demand, which is exactly what the auction clock is designed for.

The weather and supply  

The demand for flowers and plants remains unchanged, especially for autumn products and colours. Due to the shortage of some products, buyers are more likely to choose something else. As a result, prices may be higher than you expect. So be careful when entering your Auction Presales price, as the clock may still take surprising turns.  

The autumn weather is still calm for now in the Netherlands, but rain is forecasted. Many outdoor plants can handle rain but keep an eye on shelf life and flowering. This will ensure that buyers remain loyal customers. Strong winds or storms can cause a lot of damage, which can quickly reduce supply. In such a situation, especially with fewer roses, the auction clock can truly shine.

Confidence in the market  

We'll see how the market develops in the coming weeks, but I'm very confident!