Big FTD Announcement (?)
- Thread starter BloomingFlorida
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I know...
On August 18, 1910, fifteen American retail florists got together and agreed to exchange orders for out-of-town deliveries. Originally called "Florists' Telegraph Delivery", FTD was the world's first flowers-by-wire service.
So Let's PRETEND that FTD REALLY wants to help the florists... (of course I am dreamin' here..) but Maybe in 2010 - Celebrating 100 years of FTD they will again become a "FLORIST OWNED" non-profit... they will take their 6 millon per quarter profits and divide it equally between all members! Yea! WERE RICH!
On August 18, 1910, fifteen American retail florists got together and agreed to exchange orders for out-of-town deliveries. Originally called "Florists' Telegraph Delivery", FTD was the world's first flowers-by-wire service.
So Let's PRETEND that FTD REALLY wants to help the florists... (of course I am dreamin' here..) but Maybe in 2010 - Celebrating 100 years of FTD they will again become a "FLORIST OWNED" non-profit... they will take their 6 millon per quarter profits and divide it equally between all members! Yea! WERE RICH!
Mikey the Flower Guy
It's a GREAT DAY to live, and love!
- Nov 10, 2002
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please check your forehead, for "fever" related issues!!
I just checked MINE, and I'm "sweaty" TOO!
Please DON'T jump to "conclusions" when you hear what's coming down...hope you TRULY like "surprises".....
When it comes to "surprises" from FTD - I am "TRULY" frightened!
theflowershop
New Member
Let me ask you a question. Why do you even have a store? With a 158 walk in customers in a year, you could cut overhead and work out of an industrial site or your garage.
Filling incoming orders is not a business plan that has a chance of success.
We know that. That was the previous owner's numbers. We took it over in March. Since taking over, we have started an agressive marketing/advertising campaign, and in the 5 months have more than doubled last years total walk-in figures (328 as of yesterday). We have also increased in gross sales by 41.5%, and decreased the ratio of wire service dollars to local dollars by 6%. We have a long way to go, but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. As the local dollar numbers increase each day, we feel more comfortable eliminating the w/s's one by one.
The previous owner was not the sharpest tool in the shed, and believed you could make a successful business on wire service alone. He was surviving, but was leaving a lot of money on the table. We saw the tremendous opportunity, and we're running with it.
Believe me, our goal is to w/s free (or maybe keep one as a service) by end of 2010.
Oh, and the rent on the store (1400 square feet) is crazy cheap where we are.
We know that. That was the previous owner's numbers. We took it over in March. Since taking over, we have started an agressive marketing/advertising campaign, and in the 5 months have more than doubled last years total walk-in figures (328 as of yesterday). We have also increased in gross sales by 41.5%, and decreased the ratio of wire service dollars to local dollars by 6%. We have a long way to go, but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. As the local dollar numbers increase each day, we feel more comfortable eliminating the w/s's one by one.
The previous owner was not the sharpest tool in the shed, and believed you could make a successful business on wire service alone. He was surviving, but was leaving a lot of money on the table. We saw the tremendous opportunity, and we're running with it.
Believe me, our goal is to w/s free (or maybe keep one as a service) by end of 2010.
Oh, and the rent on the store (1400 square feet) is crazy cheap where we are.
Sounds like you have a good understanding of the business and it seems you are on the road to success. Good luck.
My FTD rep came in last week and gave me a two page printout of how much money I have made from FTD orders this year. I haven't had a chance to look at it yet. It also show how much more I will make if I get FAH, their website, etc. Been there - done that.
We will see if they have included all the charges I get monthly in that report.
We will see if they have included all the charges I get monthly in that report.
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Interesting... does it account for labor, COGS, Delivery etc?
Be cool if they actually admitted that you make maybe 0.0001% NET
And Mark you are right! They try to tell you that you make money but there is a COST of doing business with them that many florists don't take into account. After making that simple subtraction, I found that I didn't have enough red ink to write the numbers out!
Likewise. I looked back at the previous owner's statements for the year preceding us taking over the store (Feb 08 - Feb 09), and he grossed a whopping $2400 over the year. He thought he was making money with them, but that didn't include the cost of flowers or labor. I was generous, and assumed that all arrangements to fill their orders used containers that were purchased from them, which would have been on the statements (of course that isn't true). It didn't take a rocket scientist to realize the association was/is a money loser. January can't come quick enough!
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT:idear:
After very little thought I'd like to make an educated guess on what comes next:boggles:
I'm not sure what the FTD regs are elsewhere in the world but here in the UK you have to be a "florist" to be a member ....... be it sending only or order executing. I'd like to bet a bottom dollar they'll roll out the sending facility to any "Tom", "Dick" or "Harry" that'll pass 'em a commission. They'll be kiosk in every shopping centre and an order taking facility at every supermarket and street corner.
Just an educated guess ...... I'll wait with bated breath. How happy all the members will be at the promise of lots more orders to execute for the love of it alone:wallhead:
After very little thought I'd like to make an educated guess on what comes next:boggles:
I'm not sure what the FTD regs are elsewhere in the world but here in the UK you have to be a "florist" to be a member ....... be it sending only or order executing. I'd like to bet a bottom dollar they'll roll out the sending facility to any "Tom", "Dick" or "Harry" that'll pass 'em a commission. They'll be kiosk in every shopping centre and an order taking facility at every supermarket and street corner.
Just an educated guess ...... I'll wait with bated breath. How happy all the members will be at the promise of lots more orders to execute for the love of it alone:wallhead:
PreciousTreasures
New Member
Not sure how true this is, but my partner heard from our rep that FTD will be under new ownership and that it will benefit the florist in many ways. Maybe he said that because they are trying to keep us as a member.
Hope whatever it is, it's good news. I dropped TF this week. They still haven't given me a definitive answer as to when it will end. I was told "he" would have to make the determination! Huh? They were supposed to get back to me today with the answer "he" has determined, but alas, they did not. I think they need to study Customer Service 101......... I'm only sticking with FTD because I have their POS, and am under contract for some time on it........
Right - just like the yellow pages guy told me about the thousands of orders they sent my way. The monthly WS report has plenty of info to let a florist know if they are making money.
The easiest approx. is to take your 20% of wire-outs, 80% of wire ins and any rebates, and subtract a standard amt for cost of goods (25 - 30% of the wire-in amt) and all the fees that you can find. Don't even worry about labor, rent etc. Then, if the amount you end up with is postive, you are probably making money. If you are break even or worse on this simple exercise, you're in big trouble.
Our rep stopped by and gave us the same printout. I too haven't looked at it yet (don't really see the point). Was given a 2 pages of interviews of the new owner of FTD, and how wonderful he is, and the magical things he did with the shoe industry. Yay.
Supposedly, this new announcement is going to provide us (all of us) with a huge increase in orders. Uh-huh.
We'll see this coming week I guess.
Oh, and they already have kiosks to take order, as shown in another post.
Supposedly, this new announcement is going to provide us (all of us) with a huge increase in orders. Uh-huh.
We'll see this coming week I guess.
Oh, and they already have kiosks to take order, as shown in another post.
A huge increase in orders at what price? Most will just see an increase in $19.99 orders. There are a few things they could announce that might help but I doubt I will see that!
Gia (@GrowAFlorist) just tweeted a story on Twitter and I wonder if this is FTD's 'big news'.
FTD® Becomes Floral Provider for USAA
Another shuffling of alliances but no more real dollars to local shops - in fact it will be less since FTD will undoubtedly promote drop-ships and bypass locals entirely.
FTD® Becomes Floral Provider for USAA
IIRC USAA was Teleflora's first and largest alliance. USAA members received 10 - 20% off regular prices and TF made their profits off the 7-9% clearinghouse fee, receiving fee and service fee charged to the consumer. TF's CEO at the time said they received a tremendous amount of marketing info off their relationship with USAA.
Another shuffling of alliances but no more real dollars to local shops - in fact it will be less since FTD will undoubtedly promote drop-ships and bypass locals entirely.
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
You can bank on this part...
And Teleflora probably did get a huge amount of information, and now FTD will have it, and they will be direct marketing to these consumers who are likely already our customers.
And the game just keeps getting better....
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