The first Fluwel Experience
A day full of flowers, stories and lovely encounters
Good morning readers of our newsletter,
This newsletter is all about the Fluwel Experience. A nice name for a day behind the scenes at Fluwel. It started out as a spontaneous idea. And just as spontaneously, we put it on the website. No big marketing plan, no three-hour meetings, no flip chart covered in arrows and core values. Just: shall we invite a few people and show them what it is we actually do here?
And what fun it turned out to be!
A day among the flowers
Over several days, we had the pleasure of welcoming around thirty people. What an honour. From young to old. Although, I do have to say that the oldest lady, who was already in her eighties, still seemed very young to me. I was already worried I would have to haul a walking frame up the stairs to our canteen, but nothing of the sort. She came along cheerfully as if she had only just been digging up bulbs herself yesterday.
We met such lovely people. People with lots of questions, but also with wonderful stories that taught me a thing or two as well. One visitor told me she stores her bulbs in old tights. Not a bad idea at all, really. Airy, practical, easy to organise,and easy to fasten with a knot. I like that sort of thing: practical wisdom from the garden.
“You really spoiled us. It was wonderful.”
And that was only one of many tips, stories and memories that came up during the day. About old tulips in family gardens, daffodils that faithfully return year after year, and gardens where there always seems to be room for one more bag of bulbs. That last one has, by the way, been scientifically proven by every garden lover in the world.
Some participants said enthusiastically: “This was the day of my life.”
Now that may be a little exaggerated, or at least I hope so, because otherwise there would not be much left to look forward to, but it really was a very enjoyable day, far beyond expectations. At least, that is what I thought, and the rest of the Fluwel team agreed with me.
We started the day in the canteen. With coffee and cake. There, I told the story of Fluwel and all the different branches that have grown from it. I enjoyed telling it again myself, to be honest. We have been at it for well over thirty years now. Besides Fluwel and the export business, of course our web shop, Land van Fluwel and Fluwel Energy also came up. When you put it all in a row like that, it does sound like quite a lot. But enough history. Into ‘de schuur’ we went.
At that moment, our warehouse was still fairly quiet. Orders are going out every day, of course, but we are still just before the storm. The big arrival of the daffodils, tulips and other spring bloomers is yet to come. Before long, the place will be full again with boxes, carts, pallets, bags, stickers, labels and people all trying very hard not to get in each other’s way. Some are better at that than others.
Among the tulips there was plenty to see and ask about.
After that, we went outside, where our entire tulip assortment was standing beautifully in bloom. From old classics to new varieties and mixtures. Adrie and I answered lots of questions. And now and then we had to admit we did not know the answer, haha. That comes with the job. Flower bulbs are a bit like people: the longer you work with them, the more you realise how much you still do not know.
“Today I joined an Experience day. Heard so much about this company and enjoyed everything we got to see.”
Next, we walked a little further down the road to Land van Fluwel, our park for adventurers and people who enjoy life, which we started in 2012. On most days, Andrea gave the tour, all the way up the tall viewing tower. Going down by slide was an option, but for those who prefer to keep their dignity intact, there was fortunately also a staircase. After that, we sat down for lunch with Linda. Always good. And cosy too. Time flew by while we were talking.
Time for lunch and good conversations.
But we were not done yet. On to our own daffodil nursery, or really our trial garden, where more than fifteen hundred varieties of daffodils are currently in bloom. From old to new, from modest to extravagant, from world-famous to still unnamed. The pride of the family. Father Karel started it all, and that is really where the foundation of our company lies. Without that daffodil collection, Fluwel would probably never have become what it is today.
Our Daffodil Paradise.
To finish the day, we went to Jacqueline’s picking garden, where everyone was allowed to pick a Fluwel bucket full of tulips. And as if that was not enough, everyone also received a pack of dahlias to take home, to complete the celebration and to leave them with one more cheerful reminder of us in summer. Who does not love dahlias?
“For my wife, it was a birthday present. She felt like a flower girl all over again.”
Going home with a bucket full of tulips.
Picking them yourself is the most fun of all!
The evaluation of this first Fluwel Experience was short and simple: we are definitely doing it again next year. Probably on a few fewer days, with slightly bigger groups, but with the same motto: Enjoy Life. And if you ask me, we may just as well add: Plant Bulbs, because that makes everyone happy.
I would like to thank all participants very warmly for their time, their interest, their questions, their stories and their enthusiasm. You gave us at least as lovely a day as we hope we gave you.
And one final quote to end with:
“With every step you take here, you feel a little happier, don’t you?”
