How It Works
A Dutch auction happens on "clocks", and is really an auction in reverse. Instead of the price starting low and rising, a Dutch auction starts high and the price drops until a buyer purchases the product. During our live floral auctions we have three or four auctions happening concurrently, represented by each of the active “clocks” selling product. Each clock sells its own category of product, divided between cut flowers, potted plants, and "virtual" product for next day delivery.
Getting Started at UFG
How the auction works
Locally Grown
UFG is a Co-operative of BC plant and flower growers, and 90-95% of the products we sell are grown right here in BC.
Is the Auction for me?
The auction is a pre-wholesale market, and doesn't fit every floral purchasing need.
Auction Minimums
If you rely on a weekly or seasonal volume supply of fresh cut flowers and potted plants for your business and value easy access to a wide range of BC floriculture growers, then the auction may be for you.
To see if the auction is a fit for your business, have a look at product minimums you can expect when purchasing on the auction market.
Cut Flowers
| Sample Product | Sold: | Minimum Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alstroemeria | per stem | 75 stems (mixed colours) |
| Chrysanthemum/Spraymums | per bunch | 10 bunches (5 stems/bunch, single or mixed colours) |
| Oriental lilies | per stem | 35-45 stems, (single colour) |
| Gerbera | per stem | 35-45 stems, (single or mixed colours) |
| Antirrhinum (Snapdragons) | per stem | 75 stems, (mixed colours) |
| Tulips | per stem | 75 stems (5-stem bunches, single colour) |
Potted Plants
| Sample Product | Sold: | Minimum Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 4" tropicals or flowering plants | per pot | 15 pots/flat, minimum 2 flats |
| 6" tropicals or flowering plants | per pot | 4-6 pots/flat, minimum 2 flats |
| 4" or 6" succulents or cactus | per pot | 6-15 pots/flat, minimum 1 flat |
| 4" Phalaenopsis orchids | per pot | 6-8 pots/flat, minimum 1 flat |
| 6" Phalaenopsis orchids | per pot | 4-6 pots/flat, minimum 1 flat |
| Hanging baskets (tropical or spring) | per basket | 2-6 basket minimum, depending on size (6" to 12") |
Getting Started
Interested in being an auction buyer? Let's talk about next steps.
Account Setup
In order to open an account with UFG, you need to hold a valid business license within the floral industry. UFG customers pay an annual Customer Commission of 3.3% of invoice totals up to $950CAD per year. When you open an account with us, the first $400CAD is charged up front.
Tutorial Videos
New to the auction and our software? We have a series of introductory tutorial videos that describe the auction process and our Remote Buyer software used to purchase on the auction.
Auction Training
Everyone who wants to purchase directly on the auction must attend a training session at UFG, held twice a month at UFG on Wednesday mornings at 10:00am.
If you live outside the Metro Vancouver area, we can work around that. Send us an email and we'll get the process started.