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Lawrence Hopman, President
Lawrence grew up steeped in agricultural sales...
Some of his earliest memories are of riding along with his father as he peddled fresh eggs from the family’s farm to restaurants and stores in Canada’s Niagara Peninsula; "His customers loved him! Watching dad bantering with clients; I learned very early that the relationship always came before the sale”.
As soon as Lawrence was licensed to drive, he hit the road selling eggs and produce
Floral route sales. Toronto 2002
Lawrence’s floral expertise stems from many years of work in the industry...
In 1995 he accepted an offer from United Floral Distributors in Fenwick Ontario. His first role was operating a sales route in Toronto. For many years Lawrence was on the road before dawn at the wheel of a “bucket truck” peddling cut flowers and plants to florists. With Lawrence continually calling on new clients; his business kept expanding, resulting in multiple jobs for new reps.
In 2002, he accepted an invitation to join the inside sales team and was entrusted with expanding the company’s garden center and florist trade in the Great Lakes region and Northeastern United States.
Using effective cold call techniques coupled with exhibitions at regional trade fairs, Lawrence once again grew the business - becoming the company’s top producer.
Lawrence inspects Celosia in a Haygrove high tunnel with Vyn's crop scientist Ahmed Bilal at the company's Canadian farm in 2007
In 2006 Lawrence attracted the attention of Vyn Flowers Inc. of Ancaster Ontario.
Here he was offered an opportunity to develop a mass market clientele for their fresh cut field flowers and dried florals. Vyn has operations in Canada, USA and Colombia. He cold called supermarkets and department stores coast to coast with wide success and helped pioneer point-of-sale merchandising and planogram concepts for fresh and dried flowers.
In 2012 Lawrence joined Burlington Ontario based Aldershot Greenhouses Ltd. Aldershot produces houseplants and perennials and is known for their potted mini roses. Here Lawrence practiced his sales skills, growing the company's business and adding to his client list.
Lawrence identified some needs within the floral supply chain. Many growers had difficulty accessing desired markets. Busy buyers who need to keep a close eye on costs and buy direct needed help qualifying suitable growers. Hopman Flower Farms was formed as an agency to match flower growers with mass market retailers...
