about to drop TF, any suggestions?
- Thread starter petalandbean
- Start date
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Yes, there is no reason to drop the service of sending flowers out of town or out of state for your customers. The internet and real florist directories like ours or locateaflorist.com or the directory associated with floristdetective.com make it so easy to find a real florist in most any area you will need.
You will have to scour the net, your local wholesaler, and pick your designer's brains for those neat, creative, cool, holiday specials that are unique to your shop.
You will have to scour the net, your local wholesaler, and pick your designer's brains for those neat, creative, cool, holiday specials that are unique to your shop.
Dropped them last month after 26 years...and haven't had any reason to look back. Every business has to take the time to realize what's best for them in the long run. Financial decisions are never easy, but they're reality.
Know your customers, know your business and make the best decisions for both. Good Luck to you.
Know your customers, know your business and make the best decisions for both. Good Luck to you.
lizzie ann
Well-Known Member
Take the money you have spent each month on your TF membership/fees and advertise in your local market. I don't belong to a wire service,don't want to either .....15yrs in business. Invest in a good web page also
good luck....and don't look back!
TOTO
New Member
YUP! Join IFA!
Like us, you had to make a BUSINESS DECISION for YOUR SHOP.
We were FTD since 1970 and FTD ONLY! since 1984.
We dumped FTD in 2001 and rejoined Teleflora, only to have to dump them in 2007.
Fact was that, for the money we were paying them, they did NOTHING FOR US, in our efforts to make OUR CASH REGISTER RING with the consumer's 100% SALES and their 100% $ervice charges.
All we ever got in return (for our investment) was incoming JUNK ORDERS from their DOT.CON WEBSITES or their OG, DOGs, or non-local phoney florist partners for items which had TOO LOW SRPs and caveats which would make you crazy, plus NOTHING FOR DELIVERY!
Log into www.myifa.org and join them!
For only $20 per month, and ONLY WHEN YOU SEND ORDERS OUT, this group will enable you to provide out-of-town floral delivery for your customers and at the 80%/20% commission structure.
The filling florist does much better since, they get they entire 80% to fill your orders versus the 71% they would've gotten through a WS, and they get their money in 48 hours via your major credit card versus the WS which does their reconcilliation in 30 t0 45 days.
The days of the WSs are DEAD! They KILLED IT themselves! And now, it's time for US WEE BEES to MOVE ON and work for ourselves and with ourselves, while eliminating the LIABILITY on our spreadsheets which, they've now all become!
As to credit card processing, I'll give you a great lead if you need one.
Like us, you had to make a BUSINESS DECISION for YOUR SHOP.
We were FTD since 1970 and FTD ONLY! since 1984.
We dumped FTD in 2001 and rejoined Teleflora, only to have to dump them in 2007.
Fact was that, for the money we were paying them, they did NOTHING FOR US, in our efforts to make OUR CASH REGISTER RING with the consumer's 100% SALES and their 100% $ervice charges.
All we ever got in return (for our investment) was incoming JUNK ORDERS from their DOT.CON WEBSITES or their OG, DOGs, or non-local phoney florist partners for items which had TOO LOW SRPs and caveats which would make you crazy, plus NOTHING FOR DELIVERY!
Log into www.myifa.org and join them!
For only $20 per month, and ONLY WHEN YOU SEND ORDERS OUT, this group will enable you to provide out-of-town floral delivery for your customers and at the 80%/20% commission structure.
The filling florist does much better since, they get they entire 80% to fill your orders versus the 71% they would've gotten through a WS, and they get their money in 48 hours via your major credit card versus the WS which does their reconcilliation in 30 t0 45 days.
The days of the WSs are DEAD! They KILLED IT themselves! And now, it's time for US WEE BEES to MOVE ON and work for ourselves and with ourselves, while eliminating the LIABILITY on our spreadsheets which, they've now all become!
As to credit card processing, I'll give you a great lead if you need one.
Chezbloom
Well-Known Member
Connie
New Member
Relax and enjoy your new-found freedom! And follow TOTO's advice. We also use IFA. Never, ever had a problem with them or with any order placed via them.
We have just resigned from TF again, before the "free trial" period was over. I had to battle with them every month about what FREE meant. Lesson learned.
thanks for the support!
thanks flower chatters! I appreciate all the inspring words to bring in a new era of transition for our shop.
all the responses are very enthusiastic and find flower chat in the last few months, I believe this is the support we have been looking for.
you can't find this pic on TF!
thanks flower chatters! I appreciate all the inspring words to bring in a new era of transition for our shop.
all the responses are very enthusiastic and find flower chat in the last few months, I believe this is the support we have been looking for.
wildflowerschicago
New Member
I just quit Teleflora myself after 12 years. So far, have notices NO difference! Once I firgure what I was getting from them (in terms of orders) verses what it was costing me to belong (membership, Dove, POS maintenance and all thier BS fees...plus only getting 73% of the orders)...I was actually losing money. I love all the advice and support here!!!!!! I no longet feel like it's little me against the giant WS.
marigold
Well-Known Member
Petal and Bean, life is good without teleflora. It is like having a huge tumor removed!
go for it!
Dore,
Stems
IFA is a good service, but this quote shows more wishful thinking than anything else.
The wire services aren't dead, and they aren't going away anytime soon. This industry needs a transfer system like they offer. IFA isn't big enough.
Don't get me wrong. A lot of the things the wire services do makes me want to choke the S**T out of someone. BUT, they still provide a service that I need.
AND, even though they don't admit it, there are a lot of florists here that keep hoping for more "incoming orders".
lori042499
Well-Known Member
- May 3, 2006
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Ain't this the truth.....
Congrats on your decision.....I applaude you on the bravery that it takes to do this...it is more than I have. I hope you do find a good replacement for sending your orders and the advice here is very good....
Oh by the way, petal and bean....I love, love, love your logo....
Chezbloom
Well-Known Member
Even though I've been reading FC for almost 2 years, I still don't seem to know what a FAWC is. Anyone? Anyone?
I know its not: Farm Animal Welfare Commitee or
For Anyone Who Cares. Hmmmm..
I know its not: Farm Animal Welfare Commitee or
For Anyone Who Cares. Hmmmm..
TOTO
New Member
Could it be................
FWAC=Florists Without a Clue
Inquiring Minds want to Know
FWAC=Florists Without a Clue
Inquiring Minds want to Know
TOTO
New Member
Change is Inevitable!
Perhaps I should've added, "They just don't know it yet!"
IFA continues to grow each and everyday as members of the old WS Business model reach the point of NO RETURNS on their investments, CRY UNCLE, and throw in the WS towel.
And, as you indicated, all WEE REAL FLORISTS need is a simple ORDER TRANSFER SYSTEM which is what IFA offers.
90% of the REAL FLORISTS out here are small Mom and Pop hardworking folks who can no longer afford the monthly fees charged by the wire services, which can range anywhere from $300 to $500 per month.
Also, they can no longer afford to fill all of their HIGHLY DISCOUNTED RUN THROUGH THE WRINGER DOT.CON orders at net 73% less the another (-2%) for FREE ORDER TRANSMISSION less another (-10%) base cost of delivery, for which NONE OF THEM PAY ANY OF US for THAT $ERVICE.
Add that, the fact that, the WIRE ORDER PIE continues to shrink as the total volume of orders dwindle due to the internet, and the crumbs which are left are being distributed even less.
Even if those FILLER FLORISTS hang on to a WS because THEY WANT MORE INCOMING ORDERS (wrong reasons), the reality winds up to be that, THEY PAYING MORE to GET EVEN LESS and LESS.
I can't put a timeline on their demise, but unless they CHANGE THEIR OLD BUSINESS MODEL, the reaper is waiting in their wings.
The reality, and you are aware of it too, is that, THEY FORGOT WHO THEIR BEST CUSTOMERS WERE! After which, they went one step further and made a business decision to COMPETE AGAINST THEIR OWN MEMBER FLORISTS for the FLORIST'S OWN 100% SALE CUSTOMERS.
Their only argument seems to be: Well, if we don't CAPTURE THOSE SALES FIRST, someone else will, and then, YOU'LL GET NOTHING! So, JUST BEE HAPPY, even if you only get reimbursed for your COGS and COL. After all, you have us to KEEP YOU BUSY even if, YOU'RE MAKING NO MONEY!
Could anyone ever imagine, sending one's hard earned money in REAL 100% DOLLARS to another company who has set out to STEAL YOUR OWN CUSTOMERS, run them through their PROFIT CENTER WRINGER, and try and subcontract your own sales back to you at 71 cents from their dollar less another (-10%) in order acquisition costs as it applies to their ANNUAL DUES and other ancillary FEES.
Will they CHANGE or MORPH, is the bigger question.
I'm inclined to believe they'll try and MORPH again, but in the meantime, they will continue to WORK THE MYTH while collecting as many passive streams of FLORIST REVENUE as is possible, until such time as, ALL THEIR LIFE'S BLOOD IS GONE!
The only question any Mom and Pop should ask themselves is: When was the last time MY WS PARTNER MADE MY TELEPHONE or CASH REGISTER RING with a NEW CUSTOMER'S 100% SALE?
If any florist can't remember when's the last time that REALLY HAPPENED, that's gotta tell them something, ey?
Perhaps I should've added, "They just don't know it yet!"
IFA continues to grow each and everyday as members of the old WS Business model reach the point of NO RETURNS on their investments, CRY UNCLE, and throw in the WS towel.
And, as you indicated, all WEE REAL FLORISTS need is a simple ORDER TRANSFER SYSTEM which is what IFA offers.
90% of the REAL FLORISTS out here are small Mom and Pop hardworking folks who can no longer afford the monthly fees charged by the wire services, which can range anywhere from $300 to $500 per month.
Also, they can no longer afford to fill all of their HIGHLY DISCOUNTED RUN THROUGH THE WRINGER DOT.CON orders at net 73% less the another (-2%) for FREE ORDER TRANSMISSION less another (-10%) base cost of delivery, for which NONE OF THEM PAY ANY OF US for THAT $ERVICE.
Add that, the fact that, the WIRE ORDER PIE continues to shrink as the total volume of orders dwindle due to the internet, and the crumbs which are left are being distributed even less.
Even if those FILLER FLORISTS hang on to a WS because THEY WANT MORE INCOMING ORDERS (wrong reasons), the reality winds up to be that, THEY PAYING MORE to GET EVEN LESS and LESS.
I can't put a timeline on their demise, but unless they CHANGE THEIR OLD BUSINESS MODEL, the reaper is waiting in their wings.
The reality, and you are aware of it too, is that, THEY FORGOT WHO THEIR BEST CUSTOMERS WERE! After which, they went one step further and made a business decision to COMPETE AGAINST THEIR OWN MEMBER FLORISTS for the FLORIST'S OWN 100% SALE CUSTOMERS.
Their only argument seems to be: Well, if we don't CAPTURE THOSE SALES FIRST, someone else will, and then, YOU'LL GET NOTHING! So, JUST BEE HAPPY, even if you only get reimbursed for your COGS and COL. After all, you have us to KEEP YOU BUSY even if, YOU'RE MAKING NO MONEY!
Could anyone ever imagine, sending one's hard earned money in REAL 100% DOLLARS to another company who has set out to STEAL YOUR OWN CUSTOMERS, run them through their PROFIT CENTER WRINGER, and try and subcontract your own sales back to you at 71 cents from their dollar less another (-10%) in order acquisition costs as it applies to their ANNUAL DUES and other ancillary FEES.
Will they CHANGE or MORPH, is the bigger question.
I'm inclined to believe they'll try and MORPH again, but in the meantime, they will continue to WORK THE MYTH while collecting as many passive streams of FLORIST REVENUE as is possible, until such time as, ALL THEIR LIFE'S BLOOD IS GONE!
The only question any Mom and Pop should ask themselves is: When was the last time MY WS PARTNER MADE MY TELEPHONE or CASH REGISTER RING with a NEW CUSTOMER'S 100% SALE?
If any florist can't remember when's the last time that REALLY HAPPENED, that's gotta tell them something, ey?
perhaps in time...
Perhaps if those who are so married to the WS would consider divorce for the best interest of the industry as a whole, There are plenty who have taken the plunge and lived to tell the tale, We could conquer goliath and save the industry. We need to band together, toward a common goal--defeat the WS monsters, before they get any stronger. They weren't "big enough" when they started either. We don't need their product to make our business strong and if we can work together on incoming/outgoing then the industry of professional florists can become stronger. We can live without the crutch. There are other options for all of us. Best wishes mrflowermarket:squish::squish::squish::wave::wave:
Perhaps if those who are so married to the WS would consider divorce for the best interest of the industry as a whole, There are plenty who have taken the plunge and lived to tell the tale, We could conquer goliath and save the industry. We need to band together, toward a common goal--defeat the WS monsters, before they get any stronger. They weren't "big enough" when they started either. We don't need their product to make our business strong and if we can work together on incoming/outgoing then the industry of professional florists can become stronger. We can live without the crutch. There are other options for all of us. Best wishes mrflowermarket:squish::squish::squish::wave::wave:
FWAC = florist with a clue
FWOAC = florist without a clue
That's how I was learned to use it.
LJVF
Well-Known Member
I really don't see the demise of the WS anytime soon. They have aggressively adapted to the ever changing times. The directories look as thick as ever full of willing filling florists.
As long as the internet is the biggest directory for consumers to find a place to order flowers, the WS and OG will continue to reap rewards. Look at the first page for keywords "Florist", "Flowers", "Flower Shop", etc... There a no mom and pop shops to be seen. If anything wire services have grown with the internet and there will always be a florist willing to take the orders from them.
TOTO, your continued promotion of the IFA on these boards did get my attention. I did sign up and am hoping to add to the success and growth of it. I also hope that I am wrong and you are right.
You nailed it...
There's the crux, and who's fault is that?
Mom and Pops could be there - it just takes work and aggressively adapting. You can't really fault the wire services for playing the game, but you can fault the Mom and Pops for not playing.
Like anything else in business. :walking:
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