Episode 14: Marco Groot Loves Elvis and Flowers

Today we’re sitting down with Marco Groot, CEO of Hilverda De Boer USA to discuss:

• his childhood growing up in Holland and the role flower farming played in his formative years
• why he has a life-sized cutout image of Elvis in his office
• why he decided to go the ‘trade’ route rather than the ‘farming’ route in the floral industry
• how one summer changed the course of his life and landed him in the US
• how the Dutch Flower Auction works
• why it’s sometimes difficult for family farms to change hands from one generation to another
• the Hilverda De Boer Webshop and mobile app (Just go to the app store on your device and search for ‘Hilverda De Boer B.V.’)
• how Hilverda De Boer can aid designers in sourcing blooms for destination weddings
• logistical details of flower deliveries
• how he and his partners continue to grow the company with their clients in mind
• what he looks for in a salesperson when hiring