Attention Flower Shop Folks!!!

[Queen of Weddings]

I just had to share with all of you, This morning on my way to the office, there is a huge catholic church , behind my house, and low & Behold there is a large wholesale company truck there deliverying all kinds of garlands,pointsettia, and wreaths, Then We here this screaming , way loud screaming, it is from a fellow florist person screaming at the owner of the wholesale company, as well as the driver, about taking there business from, Them so, then it gets real ugly the phones here have not stopped ringing, about this issue, So if you wanta know who took your large orders this year, It is probably in your on back yard. I know this happens all the time, do I feel it is right, No I don't, So what can you do to stop this, The shop who lost the order stated" We priced them 3 dollors over cost, just to do the order, and I am sure they must have mentioned to this company who the order was from, It is so sad, that this happens, So flower folks, take a close look at who you do business with. I feel for this shop. Karma has a way of coming back on things..What can we all do to stop this, I am hoping that I will get response to this post, and everyone takes the time to think about this, Business is hard to come by, we have to change the way we do things, in order to compete with a wholesaler now, I didn't think that we would have to do that, did you? So the knowledge has to come from within, I know some are afraid to say things as to hurt ones feelings. or even to share there knowledge, Well I don't have a probelm sharing what I know, with each and everyone of you. So lets startingsharing, as this board was meant to be about, not about dots, or anything. It really in the grand scheme of things that means nothing, We all know deep in our hearts who we are, and yes validation is always a nice thing, The love that one shares in the emotion of what we do, to make a difference in life is all that matters, the details of what you didn't do is what is important, WE can't always worry about what othere think, yes I have been know to be some what of a bbbb but, when I am it is for a reason, with all the many years , I have been in business , I have learned to love, care, be critical, and do what I do because I love what I do, yes I still cry to this day at weddings do you? Or when things are tough we all have our moments in life, when reading about the dot thing recently, was chatting about one of lovely person on her, who is always willing to share all ther knowledge, they have told me bad news, and I tell you what, we all are here praying for them to have all the strength to make it, following Annelise post right now puts it all in prospective, So when it gets at the lowest do something good for another, not just now at the holiday time, but everyday, Think back to when you opened your shop, Did you know it all ?? I know that I didn't, do I now ? No if I did then I wouldn't be on her asking and sharing with one another, For those of you out there, we are all the same, We love, care,share, have great hopes and expectations, of what we want in life, When all that is gone, we have nothing, When the learning stops, then what? Everyday should be a learning experience, not that of just a so so day. When you look at the beauty og what we do it all makes it look so grand. I know that I had told everyone that I wasn't going to post about the dot thing , but I guess it just came out in this post, As I sit here so humble to know that I am the luckest person in the whole world who can honestly,say that blessed as I am to truly blessed to know each and everyone of you. and to laugh, cry, with each of you. May all the riches in life come to each and everyone of you...Hugs

 

[lori042499]

Queen, unfortunately our quest for prices cheaper than the local wholesaler has caused all of this...We as a group have started buying direct from the grower for price, which is the same thing as the churches are doing. They are going direct to the wholesaler to save on price...

If we did not want the wholeslaer to sell to our customers we should have been loyal to them...Everyone needs to make a living and every change we make causes another change somewhere in the future...We want more incoming orders, we create a niche for OGs, We want cheaper wholesale prices, we create business for the growers to go direct...It is all cause and affect...Not sure we can change it now...Don't know what they answer is there...

 

[Bigted]

Queenie, thanks for being positive during these tough times.

 

[aileen_c]

That's really a sad thing for that owner....beautiful post Queen!

 

[bloomz]

Queen - why didn't you put that in business somewhere so we could give you green dots for it?

 

[Sara Seeger]

I agree with you - must form a partnership with your vendors - make them a true partner - sure, you might pay a little more $$$ up front, but they will bend over backwards to help you at any time and they won't undercut you with your very own customers. If I try to save a few dollars going direct to farm and circumvent the Wholesaler - how can they stay in business to pull me out of the fire when the wedding flowers come in moldy/bad/dead from the farm?

 

[mcf]

Dillards is selling live poinsettias this year ~ I wonder when they got an ag license???