Bloom Net

[BOSS]

once you hit that 71 orders recieved, NO MATTER THE $ AMOUNT, you're in to them for $199.00/month + BMT fees. This IMO makes them more costly than FTD.

They actually HAVE a system used with their LFC's.
- H.

Then all that needed is to make sure you remain below the 71 orders a month (I got 3 all last month, no biggy)...

As to their Tech...far as I know all the LFC's have is a Bloomlink Terminal (will check with my friend in Boston) or two to receive orders and send delivery confirmations. Since they have no need to send orders, accept cash or CC's they do not need a POS in the LFC's. That said, however when they open their retail locations as every LFC is required to do, then they **may** need more than a Bloomlink as they will take orders for both local and LD delivery, as well as cash and carry sales.

 

[PhillyPhlorist]

One thing about 800 that still puzzles me is when AFS sold to TEL, 800 was pretty well entrenched into AFS for their order transmissions. They even had a separate section on the AFS statements of what orders came from them. Why wouldn't they have bought AFS, or put in an offer? AFS had a good base of florists for fillers, two tech. platforms at the time (Rosebud and Eagle), a good education program, and had good dealings with FTD as far as order transmission goes. Now, I can see the FTD part (800 really wanted no part of them & hated Mercury) but they could have EASILY ported Bloomlink's web-based system into AFS and used Mercury until BMT was up and running...which in essence is what they did anyway.

It would have kept them in the w/s game sooner, and they would have not had to build something from the ground up, and MAYBE cost a lot less. Dunno...maybe AFS had too much baggage (i.e.- what to do with Tom Butler...)...

- Herb

 

[Villageman]

Villageman

I guess I am still puzzled why so many florist are bent on jumping in bed with our competition, That is what 800 is, and now florist are wanting to help them make an even larger profit by paying them to fill the orders they are stealing from the florist. I know someone will say that is what FTD is doing, I know that is why we dropped them, and Tel . is not far behind. We will never see a change, until we realize they want a profit and they could care less if we make one., as long as we can pay the dues.

 

[PhillyPhlorist]

I guess I am still puzzled why so many florist are bent on jumping in bed with our competition, That is what 800 is, and now florist are wanting to help them make an even larger profit by paying them to fill the orders they are stealing from the florist.

I admit that filling for 800 all those years probably helped them gain marketshare (in the Phila. area) from the retail florist. After all, we were putting out a product with the same quality of flowers and design as our "regular" orders - all backed by our guarantee. The sender did not always know who FILLED the order, only that they ordered it through 800 and "they did a good job" on the order - hence, will use them again. The moral issue of filling for the King of OG's was a factor we considered when we dropped them, but not the main one. Profit margin was the #1 reason...

- Herb

 

[BOSS]

I guess I am still puzzled why so many florist are bent on jumping in bed with our competition, ................We will never see a change, until we realize they want a profit and they could care less if we make one., as long as we can pay the dues.

Some of us need a viable method of order transmission based soley on volume outbound....

And I agree, they have little concern for our profitability, however, that is MY job in MY store, and I make @@@@ sure that everything we do is profitable or we don;t do it....simple as that...

I'm not promoting 800F and I stopped promoting FTD a long time ago, I'm just saying that based on the current offerings of the BIG3, 800F has a more freindly fee (tax) structure than the other two, basing it on incomings which you yourself can control.

 

[12BucksFor2Dozon]

I guess I am still puzzled why so many florist are bent on jumping in bed with our competition, That is what 800 is, and now florist are wanting to help them make an even larger profit by paying them to fill the orders they are stealing from the florist...

Thanks for stopping by, V-man...you ask a question that has been a staple here for 3 years now. Here is the quick answer...

short-term $$$ by the smart ones and total ignorance by the...well, "not-so-smart" ones.

 

[carol]

So.. Mark, there is no penalty if you reject or refuse an order from them (or the f2f side of it))??
You can choose to accept only 3 or 5 or 50 incomings a month to keep your fees low,, and of course your cogs

I am guessing you signed on with them.. and I also assume it wasn't for the incoming orders.. so is it true that they now have enough florists around the country for us to send to?? and they have become a viable alternative to the other 2?? 2 years ago when I did the figures for our area they were just too expensive to the bottom line.. and Herb from Philly ran the numbers also.. but things are a changin,

I am confused as to the LFC's now.. I thought the new ones were all independent, but with special deals from 800f. I am under the impression that 800f is not openning up any company stores..but making deals with someone to own/operate/profit maybe?? these LFC. The last time I saw a contract it stated 800f or filler could cancel with very little notice..so the liability still exists for the incoming order faucet to be turned off immediately with little or no warning leaving a LFC or anyone else with alot of product & labor & expenses

 

[sfox]

Something else

Some of us need a viable method of order transmission based soley on volume outbound....

And I agree, they have little concern for our profitability, however, that is MY job in MY store, and I make @@@@ sure that everything we do is profitable or we don;t do it....simple as that...

I'm not promoting 800F and I stopped promoting FTD a long time ago, I'm just saying that based on the current offerings of the BIG3, 800F has a more freindly fee (tax) structure than the other two, basing it on incomings which you yourself can control.

What Boss states here is something I think most florists miss. Take care of your own business and do what's best at this time for your business.

Both of the wire services are out for themselves. Both gather orders from consumers. 800FLOWERS is no different. But if the fees structure they offer is better for you, then save yourself the money. I can almost guarantee that the fees structure at Bloomnet will change once they gain enough dues and fees paying members.

 

[Jerry]

Quote for the day

Here is the quick answer...

short-term $$$ by the smart ones and total ignorance by the...well, "not-so-smart" ones.

Someone, someday will write a book on the "Rise and fall of the floral industry"

And this quote will be in the last paragraph of the book. The End.

 

[specialoccasion]

So.. Mark, there is no penalty if you reject or refuse an order from them (or the f2f side of it))??

The penalty is... the more you reject, the less orders you will receive direct from them. However, on the f2f, if a florist wants to send orders directly to you there is no penalty. Their money is made on the fee side. Bloomlink reps can't even pull the orders up, and if there are problems with an order you sent f2f or any order that was sent to you f2f, they will tell you that you have to contact that florist directly, there is no way for them to even access the order. Sometimes, this is a problem when the florist on the other end does not take good care of your order or doesn't send you a rejection until 2pm the day the order is suppose to be delivered. (yes... it does happen.)

 

[Sher]

Thanks for stopping by, V-man...you ask a question that has been a staple here for 3 years now. Here is the quick answer...

short-term $$$ by the smart ones and total ignorance by the...well, "not-so-smart" ones.

12Bucks...not sure if you are referring top me as being ignorant but if so I do not appreciate your labeling. When you pay my bills, work my hours and see my profit at the end of the year then feel free to label me as being savvy if you'd like ...until then, try to keep it at an adult level of conversation if you would. Often, many of us have reasons for what we do that are really no one else business...and we all run our shops and have different profit levels and business expectations. I run my store full time....I am here everyday that I want to be. I do not have another job outside the industry so perhaps I have a handle on what I am doing.
I asked a question about opinions of Bloomnet...hoping to get mature responses and for the most part I did...yours I find rude.
Sher

 

[BOSS]

What Boss states here is something I think most florists miss. Take care of your own business and do what's best at this time for your business.

I can almost guarantee that the fees structure at Bloomnet will change once they gain enough dues and fees paying members.

Thanks for noticing the *key* sfox...and yes perhaps they may at some point change their fee structure, but from talking to people that work there that I have a great deal of respect for, Doug Parks for one, and Mark Nance for another, I do not think it will happen any time soon, if ever, they want to give the florists something, and thats something the other BIG2 do not want to do.

I am guessing you signed on with them.. and I also assume it wasn't for the incoming orders.. so is it true that they now have enough florists around the country for us to send to?? and they have become a viable alternative to the other 2??

For now I have, and in my case it's still in the courtship stage...still feeling it out to see whats up...and no, it was not for the incomings...you already knew that....

I will tell you, I have had no coverage issues, remember I am still with FTD as well. One thing, the way my system works we merge all florist directories into one directory, so I see who is a member of which WS all on one screen, in many cases BMT florist are also members of another WS, I think this is probably because they have not decided which way to jump yet. But I also notice many BMT only florists as well.

Each florist will have to decide if they are viable for themselves...for me, it's too early to tell, but I can say I have had zero issues to date and it's been a couple months now...again, I'm not promoting...just sharing what I know...

 

[bloomz]

Thanks for stopping by, V-man...you ask a question that has been a staple here for 3 years now. Here is the quick answer...

short-term $$$ by the smart ones and total ignorance by the...well, "not-so-smart" ones.

So you are obviously include Sher in the latter???


In her defense - It may be worth noting that she knows how to spell "intelligence".


How's that job search coming Mark?

 

[specialoccasion]

I will tell you, I have had no coverage issues, remember I am still with FTD as well.

We have had them for over a year now, and occasionally we do run into coverage issues. However, like BOSS said, we have another wire service as well that we can use if coverage is not available. The only time the coverage situation has been a problem is when the arrangement ordered was for a specific codified, that obviously would not be available by FTD or Teleflora shops. Usually solved easily, by letting the customer know that not all shops carry the same product and an alternative bouquet of equal value will be substituted if no florist in the recepient's area has the particular selected arrangement.

 

[CHR]

Wow - I totally read 12Bucks statement differently.

In fact I agree with what he said. Smart florists use WSs for the $ - real profits - they can bring to their businesses. But there are a bunch of stores that can't read a P&L, think they get paid 100% on orders and fill themselves 'til they're nearly BK.

In no way would I consider Sher a florist in the later group, nor did I read that into what 12Bucks said.

 

[BOSS]

occasionally we do run into coverage issues.

And like the other guys, BMT does have a Domestic Retrans office I have used on occassion, they always call or send a message to tell me what shop they used...then I add that shop to my directory for future reference...

 

[12BucksFor2Dozon]

bump CHR...............

 

[PhillyPhlorist]

And like the other guys, BMT does have a Domestic Retrans office I have used on occassion, they always call or send a message to tell me what shop they used...then I add that shop to my directory for future reference...

And to show that I am a "keep it real" guy (no Kool-aid drinkin' here), I'll point out that BMT's International retrans service is FREE (at least according to their last price sheet I have...). Another good selling point for small shops.

- H.

 

[Eric S]

It?s a shame.

Incoming orders are one of the biggest problems within this industry today. Why can't others realize that $5000 in incoming orders translates into such a small profit margin and only continues to enable 800 flowers.

If you are the only florist in town why would you want to partner up with a company that will out advertise you steal customers from you because their prices are lower then yours and then do all the work of storing designing and delivering your product only its not yours its theirs.

It?s their brand you promote and that?s what you need to realize. If you could just take the same amount of effort and do the same thing with your own business the results are truly amazing. Every single arrangement that is delivered keeps them in business that much longer and that much closer for you to be out of business.

I don't care what kind of smoke you blow. The expense involved in filling incoming orders is not just limited to the 29% that you forfeit or the fees.

It's the brand that you label your business with that you continue to give away for free.

Take the time analyze all of your data because it?s the same conclusion. Be smart and get off your butt promote your brand and take back your own business!

 

[Connie]

Wow - I totally read 12Bucks statement differently.

In fact I agree with what he said. Smart florists use WSs for the $ - real profits - they can bring to their businesses. But there are a bunch of stores that can't read a P&L, think they get paid 100% on orders and fill themselves 'til they're nearly BK.

In no way would I consider Sher a florist in the later group, nor did I read that into what 12Bucks said.

That was my take on 12's comment also. The florist whom I know who recently signed with BloomNet is going to make $$, I'm certain. He is one smart guy, and, without a doubt, he has considered every angle with this.

For me, I'm happy as a lark to be WS free. The only way I can see becoming a member of a WS again would be if they paid me a monthly fee to consider filling their orders. LOL :fdevil:

I know my shop. He knows his. And we remain friends.