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Schaffer Designs

[exhibit sign copy]

Connected: A Floral Legacy

Celebrating 18 years as exhibitors, we share our legacy by leaving competition to embrace collaboration. Inspired by our design friends from around the globe, we invite you to walk beneath our immersive floral entryway as it joins dry-arid and wet-tropical environments that reflect nature’s diversity through floral art.

[EMT Guide Gleanings]

• many flowers colored by spray paint or water-based dyes -- see bright yellow sweet peas
• Palms leaves from Hawaii came plaited
• Floral entryway flanked by two shipping containers -- total exhibit 90 ft long, 88 separate arrangements
• Container arrangements on the Entrance Garden side interpret tropical environment  
• Container arrangements on the floral designer side interpret arid environments
• Baby’s breath crisis! Bill Schaffer says their supplier didn't come through with 1,000 stems of pink baby's breath, so Pennock opened up on a SUNDAY to get them white baby's breath and pink spray paint.  
• The floating rock formations (east/floral side of shipping containers) are actually carved and painted foam. 
• Everyone needs to braid their palm fronds!

From the PHS Flower Show Notes:

Schaffer Designs | “Connected: A Floral Legacy” [Display] | Bill Schaffer & Kris Kratt | 18th Year in Show

*Schaffer Designs has retired from competition and their design serves as the gateway entry to the major floral exhibitor section.

• Overall Concept: An out-of-the-box floral artistry through flower friendships using unusual materials brought together through the common goal of elevating the perspective of floral art to the everyday visitor to the Flower Show.
• Show Theme Aspects: Designed by couple Bill Schafferand Kris Kratt, their concept celebrates embracing collaboration and their legacy. Bill and Kris met through the floral industry and got married at the 2012 Philadelphia Flower Show. They also joined creative talents from 30 floral artists and assistants from all over the world including Estonia, Australia, Mexico, Denmark, and more - emphasizing global collaboration and unity. 

Exhibit Description and Intent

(Note that Schaffer Designs has retired from competition and serves as the "Legacy Exhibitor" gateway to the major floral exhibitor section)

The overall concept of our 2024 exhibit at The Philadelphia Flower Show is out-of-the-box floral artistry through flower friendships using unusual materials brought together through the common goal of elevating the perspective of floral art to the everyday visitor to the flower show. UNITED BY FLOWERS lends a direct influence to our concept of FRIENDS UNITED by FLOWERS as we join creative talents from around the world that Kris and Bill bonded with through flowers, weaving a combination of branch materials and textiles by using strong visuals of tropical florals blended into the theme with dried and preserved plant materials. Though fully desigedn by Bill Schaffer and Kristine Kratt, the 2024 Schaffer Designs Team at the Philadelphia Flower Show will be brought to life by 30 floral artists and assistants from around the world. These travelers come from, among other locations: Estonia, Ireland, Hungary, Belgium, Spain, Australia, Mexico, Niccaragua,  Holland, Denmark and around the U.S. from California, Texas, Alabama, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.   

In a historic milestone, 2024 marks Schaffer Designs as the first-ever Legacy Exhibitor at the Philadelphia Flower Show, a testament to their continued dedication and innovation.

The wedding of Bill and Kris, sealed at The Philadelphia Flower Show in 2012, embodies their shared passion and commitment to floral innovation.

About the Exhibitor

Schaffer Designs, under the visionary leadership of Bill Schaffer and Kristine Kratt, represents a dynamic collective of U.S. and international floral designers. With a profound influence in the floral industry, their diverse portfolio spans weddings, floral installations, destination events, global education, showroom design, and product development. Bill and Kris, celebrated authors of "Taking the Flower Show Home," have achieved recognition for their award-winning exhibits at the Philadelphia Flower Show and commissioned floral art displays. Their pioneering "floral-sharing" concept challenges traditional flower stereotypes, infusing the public's perspective with fresh energy through remarkable creations. In a historic milestone, 2024 marks Schaffer Designs as the first-ever Legacy Exhibitor at the Philadelphia Flower Show, a testament to their continued dedication and innovation. The wedding of Bill and Kris, sealed at The Philadelphia Flower Show in 2012, embodies their shared passion and commitment to floral innovation. As Floral Fundamental Ambassadors, they passionately spread their love for floral design worldwide, inspiring creativity and helping redefine floristry for all.

MEANT TO BE:  Flowers and fate led to Bill Schaffer and Kristine Kratt's first meeting in 2005, and they have been taking the flower world by storm ever since. A 3rd generation floral designer; Bill literally grew up in the floral industry. From sweeping floors to delivering anddesigning flowers after school, being a part of the family business instilled in him a lifelong passion for flowers and floral design. Kris cultivated her floral career as a teenager, managing a retail flower shop in the San Francisco Bay Area, and graduated from the Floriculture program at the College of San Mateo.

Bill Schaffer AIFD, CFD, AAF, PFCI & Kristine Kratt AIFD, CFD, PFCI
Selected Achievements:

• Bill&Kris: selected Entry design for Japan's House Ten Bosch in Nagasaki, Japan, 2018.

• Bill&Kris: Authored monthly Trend Report articles for both Florists' Review and Super Floral Magazines. With Florists' Review, were selected to be the cover designers for their 120th year anniversary edition for December 2017 and author of their 2018 and 2019 Christmas Trends Report.

• Bill: 1 of 6 selected floral designers for the International Floral Design Trend Forum, Beijing, China, December 2018.

• Bill: 'Best in Show' exhibitor booth design for the 2016 and 2023 IFPA conferences and  'Best in Show' booth design and presentation at the International Floriculture Expo in Chicago, IL.

• Bill&Kris: 7 'Best In Show' honors and 14 Gold Medals at the Philadelphia Flower Show and 9 'Best Of Show' Awards from Society of American Florists from 2007-2023.

• Bill&Kris: Creators and Directors for PAFA in Bloom, an international floral design exhibition at The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

• Bill&Kris: Creators, Directors and Organizers for the STARS Project. A 50 U.S. state design celebration of the 225th Anniversary of the U.S. Constitution

• Bill&Kris: Honored in 2010, 2011 and 2019 to receive the Emile H. Geschick Memorial Award for outstanding use of an orchid display.

• Bill&Kris: Chosen as featured main stage presenters at multiple American Institute of Floral Designers National Symposiums.

• Bill&Kris: Chosen to be the Trend Forecast Directors and Designers for the 2013-2016 Floral Trends Forecast for the International Floral Distributors Group (IFD).

• Kris: Member of the FTD/Interflora Education Team from 2007-2016.

• Bill&Kris: Recipient of 2010 and 2014 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's ""Award of Distinction"" for Display Garden and Floral Design.

• Bill&Kris: Invited to be featured designers at Macy's Flower Show 2009-2014.

• Bill&Kris: Won 'Best In Show' in 2007 (first year in competition) at the Philadelphia Flower Show.

• Bill&Kris: Bill: As Past President of Teleflora's Penn Jersey Unit, won Teleflora's National Achievement Award and National 110% Award.

• Kris: Won multiple 'Best Of' Window Displays at Dallas Market Center in Dallas, TX, USA and at AmericasMart in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

• Bill&Kris: Received 'Best Of' recognition for multi-booth exhibit at Special Events in 2008 and 2011.

• Bill&Kris: Authors of Taking the Flower Show Home - released February 2013.

• Bill: From 2012-2016 collaborated with Smithers-Oasis in the Research and Development field for product development and design for the floral event industry.

• Bill&Kris: Selected as the featured presenters at 2012 and 2013 Special Events conventions.

• Bill&Kris: Chosen as the closing speakers for the 2012 World Flower and Floral Suppliers Association (WFFSA) Convention in Miami, FL.

• Bill&Kris: Chosen as the Opening Presenter for the 2014 and 2015 Society of American Florists (SAF) Convention in Marco Island, FL"