ekaflor GmbH & Co. KG is an established purchasing and marketing association for specialist gardening and floristry businesses.
The company was founded in Germany and is supported by medium-sized, owner-managed businesses.
ekaflor's goal is to strengthen the competitiveness of the green retail trade in the long term without restricting the entrepreneurial independence of the businesses.
ekaflor acts as a strategic partner, not as a chain or franchisor.
Core principles of ekaflor
Voluntary membership
Entrepreneurial independence of the businesses
Pooling of purchasing, marketing, and expertise
Long-term, cooperative partnership
Role of ekaflor in the market
ekaflor sees itself as a link between specialist businesses and industry/suppliers.
The association pools volume, expertise, and market presence to create advantages that individual businesses would not be able to achieve on their own.
ekaflor does not take on any operational management, but supports members through:
structured systems,
clear processes,
practical concepts,
and measurable economic effects.
Services provided by ekaflor – overview
The services provided by ekaflor can be divided into five key areas:
1. Purchasing & supplier management
Pooling the purchasing volume of all members
Framework agreements with suppliers and manufacturers
Better purchasing conditions, discounts, and bonuses
Uniform, transparent condition systems
Access to a broad, verified supplier network
Benefits for members
Lower purchasing prices
Planning security
Equal treatment of all members
Reduced negotiation effort
2. Centralized settlement & financial processing
Centralized settlement is one of ekaflor's core instruments and a significant competitive advantage for members.
Basic principle
The member continues to purchase directly from the supplier
ekaflor takes care of central billing and payment
The supplier receives their money collectively from ekaflor
The member receives a bundled, clear statement
Explanation of central settlement – simply put
Member orders goods directly from the supplier
Supplier delivers goods to the member
Supplier issues invoice via ekaflor central settlement
ekaflor bundles all invoices
ekaflor pays the supplier on time
ekaflor charges the member collectively and transparently
Advantages of central settlement for a potential member
Financial advantages
Improved liquidity planning
Uniform payment terms
Use of discounts and bonuses
Reduction of credit risk
Administrative advantages
Significantly fewer individual invoices
Simplified accounting
Uniform processes
Digital transparency and traceability
Strategic advantages
Relief for the entrepreneur
Focus on sales, customers, and growth
Professional structure even for smaller businesses
Scalability for chain stores
3. Marketing, Branding & Customer Frequency
ekaflor develops comprehensive marketing and sales concepts that combine merchandise, advertising, and retail space.
Services:
Seasonal campaigns and annual action plans
Print, online, and POS marketing
Basic social media and newsletter services
Uniform brand and communication concepts
Support for local and regional visibility
Benefits for members
Increased customer footfall
Higher average basket value
Professional market presence
Recognizability without franchise obligations
4. Space, product range, and growth concepts
ekaflor actively supports businesses in growing within their existing space.
Services:
Analysis of sales space and customer guidance
Development of modular product range and space concepts
Integration of additional product ranges
Increase in productivity and yield per square meter
Consulting and support through to implementation
5. Further training & knowledge transfer (Ekademie)
With Ekademie by ekaflor, the association offers practical training formats directly in the business.
Focus areas:
Efficient floristry production
Increasing margins
Product presentation
Technical and economic development
Measurable success monitoring
Type of activity
Garden center, GSS Jardin (Large Specialized Garden Store)