1920s

Suomen Kukkainvälitysyhdistys - Föreningen Finland Blomsterförmedling - the predecessing association to Interflor-Finland – was formed officially in 1927. Although the foundation was laid already during the previous year. Originally there were 14 members and 6 sponsoring members. The first bouquet making course was organized in 1929. Dan Ward was elected as the first chair, and he continued for 10 years as the head figure of the association.

1930s

The bouquet making courses started a fruitful cooperation between flower farmers and florists and this cooperation continues blossom today.

1940s

The association missed a few meetings in the 1940s due to assembly bans at the time. And altogether trading activities were suffering from a recession during the later years of the war. In 1948 trading activity started picking up again and reached the levels seen before the war even though florists were lacking funds and flowers due to shortages. Importing licenses were exceedingly hard to acquire. In 1949 Harald Schmidt was chosen as the chair of the association. A teaching course for florists was arranged in Sweden in 1947, to which two members from Finland took part.

1950s

A new decade opened the possibilities for international operation. The association applied for membership in Fleurop which was granted on the second time voting on the matter. Connections to the United States and Canada were reopened. Even though, import licenses were granted, getting them was a slow process. The first florist teaching class in Finland was arranged in 1954.

1960s

In 1965 the association got its current name Interflora-Finland. Flower deliveries were increasing year after year. In the 1960s Interflora-Finland and Finland’s Florist association (Suomen Kukkakauppiasliitto) organized courses aimed at increasing the expertise of florists. Interflora-Finland was on an international stage for the first time in 1969 when it had its own exhibition at Floriade in Rotterdam. Also, on the same year Interflora started advertising in television.

1970s

Interflora designed international bouquets, which were sold through catalogues globally.

1980s

Interflora-Finland pleaded to the Finnish government to revoke the need for importing licenses to import flowers from development countries. Also between 1986-87 Interflora-Finland started using computers for the first time. The acquisition had been prepared for three years.

1990s

In the 1990s a lot of effort was put into cooperation between different organizations. Florists gained a place on the board of Puutarhaliitto r.f. with the help of Interflora-Finland and Finland’s Florist association. In 1997 Interflora was the first to open a new service to customers: an online store (Interflora.fi).

2000s

Interflora members started using a new order management system which made computers an everyday tool for florists. Taking part in public events to give flowers, adorning the Interflora logo, to artists, athletes, miss Finlands, etc. has been seen as an effective marketing tool and this kind of activity increased in the 2000s. Showing bouquets and other flower apparel in different media has benefited Interflora, its members and the entire industry greatly.

2010s

Interflora updated its flower order program used by its members and renewed their website which was popular among customers and B2B clients. Also skilled florists from Finland took part in international bouquet tying competitions with great success.

Read more:

• Read more about Interflora here.
• Read more about our International Deliveries here.
• Read more about Interflora Guarantee here.
• Read answers to Frequently Asked Questions here.