Henk Onings
Onings America
It was 1997; the global market for lily bulbs was booming. Onings Holland Flowerbulbs, specialized in the export of lily bulbs, took a big step in the North-American flower market by setting up their North American branch; Onings America (officially ‘Onings Holland Inc.’)
Henk Onings, youngest of the third generation in the family company, moved to California to lead the Onings America to success, while brother Hans Onings and CFO Willem van den Berg supervised from the head office in the Netherlands. Hans also frequently travelled to the U.S. to visit customers.
A lot has happened in these 25 years, but Henk and his team have proven to be a well-functioning sales department for the American and Canadian customers of Onings Holland. Recently a new office and warehouse were built. This makes Onings America ready for the future.
Also the assortment is wider since Onings America started to offer other type of flowerbulbs to fulfil to needs of their customers and the changing market. Thanks to his experience in Italy, Henk got in contact with Biancheri Creazioni, a leading company in high quality ranunculus corms. “Thanks to the growing demand for special items from professional growers and the rise of small-scale flower farms in the U.S., the business in ranunculus has been a big boost for Onings America”, Onings explains. Millions of ranunculus corms are shipped all around the continent. Onings America also has direct channels with companies that produce high quality peony roots, daffodil bulbs and freesia bulbs. And let us not forget the tulip bulbs that Onings America can provide.
Although Onings America is 5.500 miles away from its parent company, the feeling of being a family business fully exists. Henk’s wife Trudy has been his sidekick for many years and his youngest daughter runs a small flower shop next to the office. The atmosphere inside the team is good. That is why the 25th year’s anniversary was celebrated with the whole crew and their partners.
Show Notes
If you have a heated space you can grow lilies almost year round. Maybe take a break for a couple of months in the fall when other things are in production.
A big advantage of specialty cut flower growers is that they can bring the latest varieties. Traditional flower growers with larger volumes have a lot of influence on the supply.
I love Henk’s motto, They fake winter so you can fake spring.
Take a look at Lillies again as a potential crop and if you buy bulbs, buy the biggest you can afford. The difference in the flower quality will be noticeable.
Colors of flowers hybridized for the United States are different from the colors bred for Europe or South America. They like more bright and bold colors, the States like more muted colors.
Honest Businesses need to be honest.
Stay tuned for part two!! We’ll chat about Italian ranunculus, anemones, and tulip bulbs.
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