800 flowers, martha stewart

[Eric S]

You know we just have to accept that there are

Independent Shops Not Afraid To Promote Their Own Products

Fillers that just want to move flowers.

Senders well you know what that is.

Bottom line is its business. Face it money turns the electric on, rings the phones and powers the bloomnet connection. Shops are fine with what 800 and martha are doing. They just have to figure it out themselves. how many times have we seen a shop owner come on here and say they love FTD TF or 800flowers and 6 months later they are quitting?

None of us can tell each other what to do but we can suggest and give them the tools so they can quickly learn from their mistakes.

Its money and its all about who can make it first and make more of it.

 

[floraldesignson99th]

Martha Stewart

I Can't Imagine Anyone Falling For This !

Florists Are Pretty Much Right Brain/ Creative Individuals Who Have No Business Sense..

This Is One That Really Proves This !

For All Martha Has Done To Promote Flowers For Everyday Use...i Can't Imagine Her Alliance With 1-800 Will Profit Anyone Except Martha And Jim !

Good Luck To All That Have Fallen For This New Scheme To Capture Your Hard Earned Profits !

 

[BOSS]

BOSS's Second Quote of the day!!

For All Martha Has Done To Promote Flowers For Everyday Use...i Can't Imagine Her Alliance With 1-800 Will Profit Anyone Except Martha And Jim !

And the beat goes on...

BTW, I major in left brain with just enuf right to be creative

 

[gabndab]

i signed up for martha stewart and received a box today with tissue paper and flower food and guarantee cards that we are supposed to send. HELL NO!! It has 1800 flowers all over it, and there is NO way I am sending that from MY shop. Nowhere is my name at all. I cannot imagine florists wanting to do this. we pay the shipping, we buy the containers, pay the design and labor and they take ALL the credit. I am pretty sure I am going to send it ALL back because this CANNOT be equitable for the shops. Does anyone have this opinion? Has anyone received an order yet? This seems like total BS!!

 

[BOSS]

i signed up for martha stewart and received a box today with tissue paper and flower food and guarantee cards that we are supposed to send. HELL NO!! It has 1800 flowers all over it, and there is NO way I am sending that from MY shop. Nowhere is my name at all. I cannot imagine florists wanting to do this. we pay the shipping, we buy the containers, pay the design and labor and they take ALL the credit. I am pretty sure I am going to send it ALL back because this CANNOT be equitable for the shops. Does anyone have this opinion? Has anyone received an order yet? This seems like total BS!!

He he he....read through this thread, those very items were the reason many said no....

800 and Marfa are not going to promote you!, But they do expect YOU TO PROMOTE THEM! And pay for the right to do so...silly florists!

 

[mrflowermarket]

Is anyone really suprised????

As I have mentioned in this and other threads, They are riding their test market on your(not mine) tired aching back. All that happens any time we fill a WS order, MARTHA or not, it builds their brand. I for one am not willing to do that. I build my own brand and no-one elses. I think all business people would be wise to do the same. But when you see a Martha flower boutique(the names already there--see 1800 website) :faint::faint::faint:at MACY's or some other Ivory tower-- Just remember I told you so. Best wishes mrflowermarket.

 

[coppercountryflowers]

Response from 1-800 regarding flawed, chipped, gloppy painted MS containers

Dear Jenifer,
I inquired about your message with the Bloomnet purchase department. I was told to tell you to go ahead and use the containers. They have been hand made and there was expected to be some imperfections. If you cannot use, we will pick them up and have the shop removed from this program. Please let us know, your decision, asap.

The Martha Stewart program is not for retail, but only for shops to receive orders from 1800flowers.com. There are negotiations underway to offer the shops to sell retail but this should be about six months away.

Thank you for your message
Karen, Bloomnet

 

[Rhonda]

sounds like if the containers are not A++ and you complain, you get dropped out of their program....hmmmm....

 

[virginia_Bob]

What else did you expect from 1800? FTD? TF. When will we all learn you are only their "partner" when it is to their benefit and somehow they can get the REAL FLORIST to foot the bill.
If I sound bitter and cynical it is because, as you all have undoubtedly noticed lately, I am.
Again if being a worker bee for the WS of any stripe makes you money go for it. But be really really careful and be really really cynical when they ofter to "partner" with you or do anything for what they say is the good of your shop. There is usually a "but" in there somewhere.

Bob

 

[Chezbloom]

Translation

Funny, I translated that email to:

How dare you complain about our crappy containers!!! The nerve of you. If thats how your going to behave, we will just pick up the containers and you can't play our game anymore. Then wait to see how long it takes them to credit you for the containers.

 

[BOSS]

The Martha Stewart program is not for retail, but only for shops to receive orders from 1800flowers.com. There are negotiations underway to offer the shops to sell retail but this should be about six months away.

Thank you for your message
Karen, Bloomnet

So, reading the above reply from 800Flowers:

YOU are NOT allowed to sell these items directly to your customer nor display them in your store for sale! YOU are ONLY allowed to use them to FILL 800Flowers INcoming orders! You MUST stock all applicable flower types while YOU WAIT for us to send you orders!

And, Like I needed any other reason, here's another...glad I never signed up for this joke...

 

[mrflowermarket]

You expected top quality from MArtha?

Martha sold her wares at Big K now she's trying to upgrade to Macy's, to me it looks like same stuff different box, hiigher price point. She wants to play with the Big boys, but struggles to fit in. I was reading in a Gourmet magazine the other day and they were talking about cookware--as an afterthought they mentioned the Martha line from Macy's is reasonably good for the price. No other mention. I think as I have said before. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, Must be a duck. so duck now before you get hit with a flying blob of @#@!. Best wishes to all and lots of luck to all the MARTHA-teers. mrflowermarket

 

[inferno63]

If I had made an investment in those containers and then was told I couldn't retail them in my shop, I would be flipping out! Thank goodness I never signed up for this... but kept getting the marketing materials and they sent me a camera to take a pictures of my shop to be approved! I called them and told them thanks for the disposable camera but I would not be participating. So a few weeks later I receive the design guide with the contract. Called again and told them no thanks. Everyday I have more reason to be happy that I am dropping WS!

 

[BOSS]

Ladies and gentlemen....

MARTHA-teers.

We have a new floral term!

Martha-teer

LOL...thanks mrflowermarket, FlowerChat has long been the place to coin new industry terms/words many of which are now in use by some lofty publications... maybe someday we'll see your offer up in lights!

 

[eastcoastrose]

Martha Stewart

I hope you read the contract very carefully and made an informed decission. I reject this program very loudly. It has no benefits for us florists and seems to benefit only MS. You can see my thoughts on another thread.

I have signed up....we will see how it goes...she is still very popular and as a florist I like her stuff, I think she has done amazing things for the floral industry...It is because of her that we use hydrangeas and rununculus like the carns and daisies of the 50s-70s.....

 

[coppercountryflowers]

Update on crappy containers....

After sending an e-mail to both 1-800 and Martha's PR department, (found on the web,) regarding the crappy paint jobs, scratches, etc. on the containers, I got a phone call three days ago. Could we please photo the problems with the containers and e-mail them to 1-800. I asked, "Why? You already told me to use them or get kicked out of the program." The lady stated that never should have gotten that e-mail and to please forgive them and send the photos. They want to make it right. Do you think posting the e-mail here or sending an e-mail to the PR department got the word out that this nasty florist is letting people know how crappy their containers are???

I told her if I have the time I'll send photos, but I'm really busy filling orders and don't really have time to do quality control. I suggested she send someone her to photograph them.... it's currently 32 and snowing!

We have yet to receive an order from this lovely program.

 

[lori042499]

After sending an e-mail to both 1-800 and Martha's PR department, (found on the web,) regarding the crappy paint jobs, scratches, etc. on the containers, I got a phone call three days ago. Could we please photo the problems with the containers and e-mail them to 1-800. I asked, "Why? You already told me to use them or get kicked out of the program." The lady stated that never should have gotten that e-mail and to please forgive them and send the photos. They want to make it right. Do you think posting the e-mail here or sending an e-mail to the PR department got the word out that this nasty florist is letting people know how crappy their containers are???

I told her if I have the time I'll send photos, but I'm really busy filling orders and don't really have time to do quality control. I suggested she send someone her to photograph them.... it's currently 32 and snowing!

We have yet to receive an order from this lovely program.

Funny the day I posted that I hadn't gotten any orders I started getting them...2 in total now....