Waldor Orchids Grows Business on the Web

Exhibitor News:
Waldor Orchids Grows Business on the Web

Family members and employees at Waldor Orchids include (top, from left) Debbie Off, Bill Off, William Robinson, Walt Off, Amy Off, Elizabeth Off, Angelica Mendez (center) and David Off (bottom).
The origins of Waldor Orchids reach back to the 1920s, but the family business is well-rooted in the 21st century. Walt Off, co-owner of Waldor with his brother Bill, explains that the hottest trend at the Linwood, N.J., company is its online component. The website, http://www.waldor.com/, was developed in 2005, and Internet sales have increased steadily ever since. He estimates that 10 percent of overall gross sales now come from online orders, and predicts it will reach 25 percent in the near future.“A lot of people are looking for the old-time cattleya orchids,” Off says, but Waldor’s special orchid potting mix and fertilizer are also selling well on the Web. The orders come from throughout the U.S., including a strong contingent in California, and from South America. “We have a very good customer in Chile buying our very finest.”
Sales to flower and plant stores in the Philadelphia, Wilmington and South Jersey region still make up the biggest part of the business, which was started by Walt’s father, George, in the mid-1920s. George’s father, Frank B. Off, owned the Brighton Hotel and operated the Strand Hotel in Atlantic City. George started the flower business to supply the hotels, and developed various hybrids of his beloved orchids.The Off family has been displaying orchids at the Philadelphia Flower Show since the 1930s. With three generations now taking part in the business, Waldor Orchids will create a Showcase Garden for the 2009 Flower Show theme, “Bella Italia.” Waldor is planning to interpret the ambiance of the Italian Riviera. “We’re looking at hotel lobbies,” Off says. “We’re thinking of creating a hotel interior overlooking a swimming pool on the Riviera.” They are also contemplating a trip to Italy as part of the research.
For more information about Waldor Orchids, contact:
Waldor Orchids10 E. Poplar Ave.Linwood, NJ 08221-2526609-927-4126http://www.waldor.com/

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