In the Spotlight: Featured uBloomer, Brad Beck, National Sales Manager of Design Master COLORTOOL, inc.

It’s ALWAYS interesting to find out about the people who’s job it is to bring us the incredible products we work with everyday in our shops, studios and homes that help us to make the fabulous floral designs we create. Since Design Master is the SPONSOR for our NEW Design Contest AND a PROUD SUPPORTER/SPONSOR of uBloom - I thought it would be fun to MEET one of the great folks at Design Master who works hard to Create, Develop and Market Design Master products. Plus, you’ll get the "inside scoop" at the goings on behind the scenes at Design Master! Enjoy the Interview!Brad Beck is the National Sales Manager for Design Master COLORTOOL, inc. based in Boulder, CO. Design Master provides aerosol sprays for the Flower, Craft and Creative industries.Among his many advisory positions, Brad has served as a Director on the California State Floral Association as well as Chairman of the Wholesale Florist and Floral supplier Association of Young Executives. He is currently serving on the WF&FSA Educational Committee.Brad is married to Kathy and they have 4 children and 3 grandchildren. Brad resides in Erie, Co.Tell me a little about the business beginnings of Design Master.Design Master was started back in 1961 and was the brainchild of Lee Dick and Mark Addison. Their vision was to create a product that provided clean, crisp color that could be sprayed on fresh flowers and still look natural. They quickly built a reputation of producing color that was consistent and of high quality.Mark Addison worked hard to get Design Master established with Wholesale Floral Distributors and forged strong personal relationships with wholesalers by listening and learning the needs of the wholesale industry’s customers.Today, Design Master’s commitment to quality color and successful relationships with wholesalers as well as retailers have made it the best selling brand of spray color for the creative industries.What are your top 3 selling colors?Our top 3 COLORTOOL colors are: Glitter Silver, Flat Black and Glitter Gold.Our top 3 Floral Spray colors are: Hydrangea Blue, Delphinium Blue and Fresh Green.What was the first product that you marketed for sale?Floramist spray and then COLORTOOLCan you share any "sneak peeks" of upcoming colors?All of the colors currently in development are a carefully guarded secret. We did however, just release 2 new Just For Flowers Spray colors in Lemon and Pink Petunia. These two colors were greatly requested by florists and we worked hard to provide the colors just for them.What is one product that you feel that MORE people should know about?Ultra Leaf Shine. It is a fantastic, waterproof plant cleaner and shine enhancer. It sprays clean and with very little odor so that it can be conveniently used indoors.What, in your opinion, is the Biggest Positive Influence in the flower industry and the Biggest Challenge facing the industry?The biggest positive influence I believe is the internet. It makes available a wealth of information for both the professional and the consumer. One can find many different websites and articles devoted to the care and handling of flowers, floral products, floral design education and services. Oh, and of course…JTV!I feel that one of the biggest challenges to the floral industry right now is too much governmental regulation. This comes in the areas of: Transportation, Labor, Pesticide use, Imports, Health Care and High Taxes. In the Governments efforts to try and "help" the workforce, it ends up punishing the small and mid income businesses.Does Design Master have any "Green Initiatives?"Yes. We were one of the first companies to eliminate CFCs from our aerosols…way before the government mandated the change. Our aluminum cans are fully recyclable when empty. We encourage all of our customers to recycle!Now, a little about you. What is your favorite flower?Oh, wow! That’s the first time anyone has ever asked me that question. I’ll have to say that my favorite flower is the rose. I especially like green roses. I also really like foliages and greens.What is your favorite consumer magazine?I read two in particular. One is Archaeology Magazine and the other is called Parabola - Myth, Tradition and the Search for Meaning.What do you have loaded on your iPod right now?Everything! I listen to Classical, Bluegrass, Country, Rock and Jazz. I enjoy it all!What are your top 3 favorite movies?Citizen CainRear WindowKagemusha (a Japanese film by Akira Kurosawa)What is your favorite JTV webisode?Any one with Design Master in it!Who is your favorite Floral Designer?I like several. Sharon McGukin, AIFD; Kim Morrill, AIFD; and Rene’ Van Remes. I do have other favorites, but those are my top 3.