1800flowers is the WORST

[Mikey the Flower Guy]

with the whole family being involved in this shop, one needs to stand out, you just MAY BE "the one".......one day, whether your shop survives or fails, he WILL "recognize" your zest for change, so HERE is an "option" for you, that MANY of us have faced in this similar scenario...offer to TAKE OVER the business, and PAY D-I-L a wage, and remove the responsibilities from his shoulders, like the day to day drudgery of banking, and payroll, and taxes, and taxes, and taxes, and heat, and hydro, and supplies, and flower purchase, and website control, and shovelling the snow, and fixing the leaky toilet, and more taxes, and repairing the delivery vehicle(s), and road taxes, and fuel costs, and...well. you know......
Lay it out...YOU'LL do "this" and HE can do "THAT", lay down some ground rules......so that there ARE some!!
IF you are as good, caring, and "important" as you consider yourself, you may face....."or what??", that ever pervasive personal attack of your integrity...IF you back down, you're part of the "problem"......

 

[KTudor625]

OK a little more history of our business. We used to have 3 shops, that dwindled down to the one we have now. It was my mother, step-father, cousin and I that ran the shop. Occasionally my step-brother worked on holidays (he wants no part in the business as he has a landscaping business). My cousin left to pursue her career and I only helped out when needed. So then it was my mother and step-father. After I completed college I took over my mothers position, she went out in the workforce after 30+ years of working in the floral industry. Their main concern was health insurance.

I thought I knew A LOT about the industry until I realized I knew NOT A LOT. I would answer phones, clean up, do deliveries, send out orders, etc. I did some designing, but not a lot. I had to bother my step-father to teach me how to make a cross, make a heart, etc. It took him a while to teach me, so I just started to do things on my own. I knew he trusted in the work I had done when he said he would go on vacation. WOW I have the whole store to myself, YES! WOW rude awakening.

The old funeral home that went out of business, the mother died. So the funeral work started to come in. I worked into all hours of the night. BUT I did it. I thought the change was then. It NEVER came. I did offer to buy the business, but then the question was, "How are you going to do that?"

So its my step-father that runs the business by himself and when needed I go in. I do all the wedding and events as well as work on Saturdays, whoohoo. I want more but there really isn't a need for me. I realize that I have to focus on Kristin and not worry about the business. It is sad, but its my reality.

I just found out today that he wants to rent the space out. Whether or not it is going to happen is another story. I again realize I have to FOCUS on me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this subject.

 

[Mikey the Flower Guy]

OK a little more history of our business. We used to have 3 shops, that dwindled down to the one we have now. It was my mother, step-father, cousin and I that ran the shop. Occasionally my step-brother worked on holidays (he wants no part in the business as he has a landscaping business). My cousin left to pursue her career and I only helped out when needed. So then it was my mother and step-father. After I completed college I took over my mothers position, she went out in the workforce after 30+ years of working in the floral industry. Their main concern was health insurance.

I thought I knew A LOT about the industry until I realized I knew NOT A LOT. I would answer phones, clean up, do deliveries, send out orders, etc. I did some designing, but not a lot. I had to bother my step-father to teach me how to make a cross, make a heart, etc. It took him a while to teach me, so I just started to do things on my own. I knew he trusted in the work I had done when he said he would go on vacation. WOW I have the whole store to myself, YES! WOW rude awakening.

The old funeral home that went out of business, the mother died. So the funeral work started to come in. I worked into all hours of the night. BUT I did it. I thought the change was then. It NEVER came. I did offer to buy the business, but then the question was, "How are you going to do that?"

So its my step-father that runs the business by himself and when needed I go in. I do all the wedding and events as well as work on Saturdays, whoohoo. I want more but there really isn't a need for me. I realize that I have to focus on Kristin and not worry about the business. It is sad, but its my reality.

I just found out today that he wants to rent the space out. Whether or not it is going to happen is another story. I again realize I have to FOCUS on me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this subject.

this is now clear as mud....do YOU "want" the business, or do you WANT the business to "need" you??
Most of our great aspirations is to "have" that we which we "can't" have but continue to dream, which is TOTALLY OPPOSITE of actually BEING the business...it no longer is a want or need, it's actually a living breathing thing that YOU MUST continue to apply life saving techniques to......

 

[Doug Munro]

I need to vent a little here. My family is a 1800flowers filling florist. I can not change their mind that we need to get out. When it says you can substitute what does that mean? That if something isnt in stock you can substitute with something else. How do I get my family to GET RID of them. They are a corrupt company (1800flowers). How can I get them to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our shop has been slowly declining. So they feel we need to hold on to get orders. We have hardly any walk in and phone sales. I feel like I am lost. Sorry I need to vent, what do I do?

In reading this I will say I see a much bigger issue in your store than simply whether or not you win the battle to turf 1800 Flowers.
For a moment forget about the 1800Flowers issue and focus on your statement " We have hardly any walk in and phone sales".

Considering that walk-in and phone sales make up the bulk of the sales for the large majority of flower shops you have a serious problem. My question would be "What are you doing to save your busioness other than b**thing about 1800 flowers?"

I would suggest you come up with a game plan to increase walk in and phone in, and create a solid web presence. Yes this will take time, but if successful, dropping 1800Flowers will be an easy argument, you will no longer need them.

From the sounds of your current situation dropping 1800Flowers should not be your focus right now, in fact doing everything to keep them should be. With little walk in or phone business 1800Flowers is probably all thats allowing you to keep the lights on.

So redirect your focus and quit venting about 1800Flowers, build some busines of your own. That should be your mission

 

[KTudor625]

Thank you everyone for such GREAT comments. After reading everyone's comments I think the best thing for me to do is actually walk away from it, b/c there is only so much one can suggest and NOTHING ever get done to move us in that direction. I don't want to get frustrated anymore than I already am. As I would love to continue the family business, I think it is in my best interest to walk away and build MY DREAM. I will let everyone know what happens in the coming months as I am still going to help my family out as they have always been there for me through everything. Thanks again!