With workers feeling financial pressure in their personal lives employee fraud is on the rise. We all think it can't happen to us but it probably is in some way. A local shop owner was having lunch at a café up the street from his shop and saw some old flowers on the tables that looked a little to familiar. When he confronted an employee about her side business in old flowers, she said she didn't know what she was doing was wrong. Be sure to check your bank statements and the back of all cancelled checks. You can also buy insurance against "employee dishonesty" and have employees sign ethics policies when they start. It won't hold up in court but it will send a message that you're wise to the temptation.

Also watch out for the fraudulent orders where they put it on a credit card and ask you to put cash in the envelope with the card and "Bill" will be picking up the order. This scam was run over Valentines Day in several cities. Be on the alert for the upcoming Mothers Day orders.  

Some good news; 2008 retail floriculture sale were 20.9 Billion dollars compared to 2007 at 20.5.