C Of C Speech About OGs

Status
Not open for further replies.
kt4ye

kt4ye

Well-Known Member
Oct 15, 2007
837
1,149
93
Charlotte
www.flowerhut.com
State / Prov
NC
Last week, I attended a section meeting of the local Chamber of Commerce.


As luck would have it, the featured speaker was ill and the chair decided to give each attendee floor time for a short "sales pitch." Mine was a short quiz for the other attendees:
  • "If all things are roughly equal, would you prefer to do business with a local company or one that is out-of-town?" All hands for LOCAL
  • "In considering a product/service purchase, if the prices are roughly equal, and you learned that one supplier's price was NET and the other supplier's price included 30% to 50% in fees and commssions -- all of which were sent out of state -- which would you choose?" All hands for NET.
  • "Over the last two years, how many of you have bought flowers through FTD, Teleflora or 1-800-flowers?" About two thirds of the attendees hands went up.
  • "How many of you know that with purchases through those companies, 30% to 50% of your money went to OUT OF TOWN fees and commissions? ONE hand went up.
  • "How many of you know that over the last 10 years -- roughly the time period that these companies have been direct marketing -- the number of florists in NC has plummeted from 800 to 600? Nobody raised a hand.

ONE problem, my fellow ladies and gentlement of the floral industry. is that the general public DOES NOT KNOW that they are being ripped off. And until they do, this OG situation will get WORSE; not better.


Bill
 
  • Like
Reactions: 26 people
Good things come in three's also. Excellent post.

V
 
My Turn Tuesday AM

Our Chamber of Commerce has invited me to a meeting 7am Tuesday with a 10 minute time to plug my shop.

Your model of conducting a survey is excelent. You did very well doing that off the cuff.

I will exercise that same approach.
 
Bill,

Great and timely post, as I was recently advised by two people calling from out of state, that our own C of C was telling them Royse City didn't have a florist, and was sending them 25 miles away!! My Gosh, people really are stupid.

Of course, the Chamber did know we have a florist. Goes to show you that the general public, does not pay attention. They hear the words, FTD, 1-800, and TF and just head straight for them instead of to the local shops that pay the taxes and stock the flowers, and stay late for them when they need us. Oops, getting on the soap box again, better go to bed.

It is up to Florist to get together on this battle, or we will lose the war.
 
Bill, by the way you got a greenie from me as well.:headbang:
 
Tom Carlson said:
Our Chamber of Commerce has invited me to a meeting 7am Tuesday with a 10 minute time to plug my shop.

Your model of conducting a survey is excelent. You did very well doing that off the cuff.

I will exercise that same approach.
Click to expand...

Good Luck, Tom.

BTW I did this in about 2 minutes. (I made an outline ahead of time.)

Bill
 
Greenie from me also coming your way Bill
 
roysecityfloristand gifts said:
Great and timely post, as I was recently advised by two people calling from out of state, that our own C of C was telling them Royse City didn't have a florist, and was sending them 25 miles away!! My Gosh, people really are stupid.
Click to expand...
Are you a member of the Chamber? If not, perhaps they're referring callers to a business that is....
 
Another green dot for this stupendous post!
 
Wonderful post ! :musical:
 
Report mtg with Chamber Commerce

Bill [kt4ye] gave me an idea: Go before our chamber of commerce.

This a.m., I made a presentation before the Small Business Council and during the 10 minute presentation I did a "survey" similar to Bill's report about 7-10 days ago.

The local chamber invited me to "showcase my business" and instead of that, I talked about the need for a "Buy Local Independents" campaign.

My survey got the same response that Bill got. They all knew about 800flowers, FTD/TL/Proflowers.com and all of them had either used them or knew of someone who has/does.

When I explained where the money goes, they were completely surprised.

I blew the agenda for the meeting completely off schedule. The discussion turned to my presentation instead of their agenda and the meeting had to be adjourned without finishing their agenda.

The first item on the agenda for the next meeting is to discuss a Buy Local Independent Campaign as suggested by a local, independent merchant.

hey instructed the Chamber secretary to come back with information about the organization I suggested the Chamber joins so they can get a program up and going without having to start from scratch.

THANKS TO BILL AND THE POWER OF FLOWER CHAT.

Tom Carlson
Fairview Florist, Janesville, WI
[email protected]
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5 people
Tom, that's super!

It sounds like you got the same kind of reaction that I did. It's amazing that not only are people getting ripped off by these Floral Pirates, but that they don't even know it!

This greenie's for you!

Bill
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
My greenie was bigger than RWK's greenie! lol

What an excellent post....how did you get your states info on the number of shop losses...I think this would be a great blog! Maybe even one on the RF blog or your blog...or someones blog! Great post!
I need a snack
Sher
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
Bill what a fantastic idea. Our local Chamber of Commerce did a buy local campaign a while back, I wish I would have had this idea back than. However, there is always future meetings to bring this up. Great job Bill and Tom for helping to spread the word and promote "us" versus them OGs.
 
Alabama numbers approx

the same as NC.

Sher said:
What an excellent post....how did you get your states info on the number of shop losses
Sher
Click to expand...

Sher,
You might be able to contact the Florida State Florists Association for that info. They might want you to be a member though. :dunno:

I know, as the newsletter editor for Alabama, the mailing list just keeps getting smaller. I have confirmed this with the TFTD guys also.

PS: Bill, your post deserves a gold star (I don't just hand these out like candy).
attachment.php
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom
Back