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Jan 15,2006 - Jan 22,2006 |
5 - It's not just about flowers
Ital Florist president Eligio Paris talks about continuing success
By Antonio Maglio
Originally Published: 2002-12-22
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Eligio Paris
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The best gift Ital Florist got for its 25 years in business came from FTD (Florist Transworld Delivery), the organization grouping over 20,000 florists all over the world. "Here it is," says Eligio Paris, president of Ital Florist, proudly displaying the plaque from FTD. "In the year 2000 we were among the 100 biggest florists in North America. Based on our turnover, I can tell you that in 2001 we're currently in the 46th position."
Quite an accomplishment for Eligio Paris, whose company, always at the forefront of its industry, has received several other awards. According to FTD's yearly ranking, in fact, in 1998 Ital Florist was among the 1,000 biggest companies; in 1999 it ranked in the first 250 positions; and in 2000, as stated, among the first 100.
Another nice present for its 25 years came from Ital Florist itself: a deal was struck with one of the major Canadian banks, for its purchase of floral gifts. Additionally, the over 60,000-strong bank staff will receive special treatment by Ital Florist, being able to place their orders by computer. A sweet deal, considering that 12 other U.S. and Canadian companies had tendered their services in competition with Ital Florist.
Mr. Paris, however, does not intend to rest on his laurels ("Woe to those who stop," he says) and he looks forward to new challenges. This is especially true since the company, which he opened in 1976 with a partner, is nowadays wholly owned by his family: he bought his partner's shares in 1989 and distributed them among his children.
He's helped by his son Italo, who graduated in Economy and is the general manager of the company; his daughter Ester, who graduated in Languages and deals with marriages and other large events, and Ester's husband, Gaetano Mauro, who's purchasing manager. Eligio's other daughter, Evelyn, with a degree in Modern Letters, chose to become a teacher instead.
Despite being run by a family, this company avoids following the familial pattern, where fathers bring in their children in order to ensure them a future or to keep them under their control. Here, true professionals chose to follow in the footsteps of their father (or, in the case of Gaetano Mauro, of his father-in-law) because the business he founded is appealing.
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