Bloom Net

[carol]

I am totally amazed at the number of people who expressed opinions on this thread that have never been BMT. Now I supposed all of those people could have been approached by 800F and read their long contract and discussed the issues that Sher was asking about..but after re-reading the thread it seems more people are out to push their personnal agendas than to share valid information.
I find this chatboard full of information but it is always necessary to remember who is talking, how long they have been in the business, whether they are able to pay their bills, and what their personnal agendas are; since these all color their responses.

This wire service vs non-wire service mentality is stupid!! When I started our shop 30 years ago I had so few outgong orders that transferring orders was not a concern, but incoming orders did help me promote my business. Things have changed greatly, but now I NEED A METHOD TO TRANSFER MY OUTGOING ORDERS EFFICIENTLY and all of you anti wire service people can scream all you like but the fact is that my customers like,want, need this service from me and are willing to pay for it. It sure sounds like sour grapes with you all telling me that I am morally wrong to be a part of this process.. I think you would rather be in my seat than in yours..but I have spent many many hours, days , years to get into this position.
That said.. I do not like any wire service system in effect now and would gladly change to one that fit my business model better.. but there isn't one yet.. why can't we somehow work on that problem instead of beating up on each other.??? With all the internet knowledge spinning around among flowerchat members it would seem we could re-invent the wheel and set up a system that really does work for our benefit.

 

[BOSS]

Discalimer: I have not been in nor do I know enuf about BMT yet to offer much in way of advice in regard to them!

it would seem we could re-invent the wheel and set up a system that really does work for our benefit.

WARNING: Change of subject.

Yes Carol, I agree, you would think that we could. But for the new folks to FC and anyone esle for that matter the reasons we can not are pretty simple. Florists for the most part will not, do not, agree on what that system should look like or what it should do. Some say OS, some say they already have the answer, but still they can not agree.

The other problem, and although minor is very costly. A clearinghouse. Now some will say the heck with a CH, we can use CC's...yes I suppose that would be an option for some, but not for all. A clearinghouse gives a bit of insurance to all who utalize it. A clearinghouse can not operate at 0%, it must generate at least enuf funding to make it selfsufficient.

Could someone open a clearinghouse...yes they could *if* they can get thru the red tape the Feds require. Remember a clearinghouse is just a different type of bank. The simplest way would be for a group or an individual to purchase the clearinghouse of ETFA or FSI and then build an HONEST, for the florists system. Should this happen in my lifetime I see it as the end of the BIG2.

For now, 800F **appears** to be heading in this direction, based on my limited experience to date. Lower fees, choices in filling, rebates applied to the same months statement (if I rermember right)...
___________
BOSS thought: Should one WS decide their future is WITH the florists, and should said WS make changes in the best interests of the florists, keeping in mind they must make a profit as well, then that WS will be the one to maintain for the longevity of the industry...the others will wither to shells of their former selves...

 

[fairfield]

I find this chatboard full of information but it is always necessary to remember who is talking, how long they have been in the business, whether they are able to pay their bills, and what their personnal agendas are; since these all color their responses.

I find it far more important to remember WHAT is being said, rather than WHO is saying it. Over time you kind of find out who says what, but once you begin discounting the message based on WHO is saying it, a good-ol'-boy mentality is formed.

This wire service vs non-wire service mentality is stupid!! When I started our shop 30 years ago I had so few outgong orders that transferring orders was not a concern, but incoming orders did help me promote my business. Things have changed greatly, but now I NEED A METHOD TO TRANSFER MY OUTGOING ORDERS EFFICIENTLY and all of you anti wire service people can scream all you like but the fact is that my customers like,want, need this service from me and are willing to pay for it. It sure sounds like sour grapes with you all telling me that I am morally wrong to be a part of this process.. I think you would rather be in my seat than in yours..but I have spent many many hours, days , years to get into this position.
That said.. I do not like any wire service system in effect now and would gladly change to one that fit my business model better.. but there isn't one yet.. why can't we somehow work on that problem instead of beating up on each other.??? With all the internet knowledge spinning around among flowerchat members it would seem we could re-invent the wheel and set up a system that really does work for our benefit.

The WS vs. non WS argument is stupid??? It is only stupid if nothing is learned. Your anti-WS observation is a little loaded and that's OK, but you make no sense to me when you step down off the box and say you don't like the entity you have just chastised me for loathing.

I am not going to wait around for the re-invention of the wheel. It is obvious to me that the traditional WS is limited and unstable (and bad for the industry) now. I hope to be in business next year and every time I hear of a shop dropping a WS, I get a little more hopeful. Too bad more WS florists don't see the forest for the trees.

 

[Eric S]

Ex BMT Member

This is one of my first threads

I think it's that time to remind and share with the new flower chat members that are joining the forum. The ones that are looking for the same answers as i have done over the past 3 years. Shops are being sold to the next generation of florist and some are making it and some are not. This is a great place to share our experience with others and learn from the ones that are willing to share.

What is the agenda? I think its the same for every single one of us and that is to make sure that our own business succeeds and continues on. To build relationships with others within the industry and learn and share ideas with each other.

 

[CHR]

Eric, one of my favorite posts of yours was when you decribed the epiphany of realizing that doing a great job filling OG orders primarily kept buyers returning to the OGs for future purchases.

Fairfield, wire service membership is indeed dropping. FTD's CEO has been giving weather report numbers during quarterly conference calls but declined to share them in last weeks go-round. He thinks the numbers are *unimportant* which means they're likely to make the stock price fall if disclosed.

 

[bloomz]

I am totally amazed at the number of people who expressed opinions on this thread that have never been BMT. Now I supposed all of those people could have been approached by 800F and read their long contract and discussed the issues that Sher was asking about..but after re-reading the thread it seems more people are out to push their personnal agendas than to share valid information.
I find this chatboard full of information but it is always necessary to remember who is talking, how long they have been in the business, whether they are able to pay their bills, and what their personnal agendas are; since these all color their responses.

This wire service vs non-wire service mentality is stupid!! When I started our shop 30 years ago I had so few outgong orders that transferring orders was not a concern, but incoming orders did help me promote my business. Things have changed greatly, but now I NEED A METHOD TO TRANSFER MY OUTGOING ORDERS EFFICIENTLY and all of you anti wire service people can scream all you like but the fact is that my customers like,want, need this service from me and are willing to pay for it. It sure sounds like sour grapes with you all telling me that I am morally wrong to be a part of this process.. I think you would rather be in my seat than in yours..but I have spent many many hours, days , years to get into this position.
That said.. I do not like any wire service system in effect now and would gladly change to one that fit my business model better.. but there isn't one yet.. why can't we somehow work on that problem instead of beating up on each other.???

Excellent post Carol - thank you.

It's frigging ridiculous - I think some people would love for us to think small, maybe make doilies.

Fairfield, wire service membership is indeed dropping. FTD's CEO has been giving weather report numbers during quarterly conference calls but declined to share them in last weeks go-round. He thinks the numbers are *unimportant* which means they're likely to make the stock price fall if disclosed.

My guess is its dropping proportionate to the number of florists declining.

We've all been around here many years on the chat boards - what have we really seen - a couple dozen that drop the wire services - if that many? And many of them went back. And some of those went out of business too.

It's hardly the huge movement a few would like to hopefully think it is.

opinions vary.....

Sunday blessings

 

[Eric S]

FTD's CEO has been giving weather report numbers during quarterly conference calls but declined to share them in last weeks go-round. He thinks the numbers are *unimportant* which means they're likely to make the stock price fall if disclosed.

I really feel this is so true. I think when the truth comes out it will hit the stock hard.

 

[12BucksFor2Dozon]

I really feel this is so true. I think when the truth comes out it will hit the stock hard.

I think "the Street" is much more sophisticated than that, and are hardly going to be fooled by some CEO of a very small-cap gift company...the rise in share price has nothing to do with "member florist" and everything to do with brand recognizing and FTD's re-organization from Florist Transworld Delivery to non-floral direct ship gift company.

I may be wrong, but we will see time will tell.