CHEEPCHEEPCHEEP!! What would you do?

[conchandler]

just throwing out another thought on this job. I like the simple ideas suggested for the three styles. However, presenting such simple ideas may be exactly what she's looking for so that she can do it herself. Just something that crossed my mind. Sometimes, these people who don't want to spend any money will simply "pick your brain" and then take the ideas and do it themselves.
OR, it could turn out to be a fabulous marketing opp. It's probably worth a shot at quoting it.

 

[anytimeflowers]

I want to thank all of you for all of the wonderful insight into this.

Firstly, I should say that I did not turn her down flat, or even (hardly) batt an eye at her price. I just told her that I needed to get past the holiday, (Easter) and then I would start brain-storming for her. (Meaning I would immediately post here and see what my friends had to say!) She and her volunteers are willing to start collecting sticks and paint them, which I suggested instead of the tower vases because you still need either an adapter for the tray on top, not to mention the tray....or you need a bouquet holder. All of these things cost money.

My intention, should I decide to do anything for it, is that they would purchase containers themselves on my recommendations. She is willing to work with me, and I am willing to try to come up with something. I have to point out that if the dance was in the spring, she would have been told that her budget just simply would not work.

But it's in January, when I would certainly have the time to zip something out, especially when much of it would be non-perishable because of the price.

That said, I am extremely uncomfortable in agreeing to such a miserly budget, exactly BECAUSE of the budget. This is NOT something that I would like to be known for. I routinely charge at least $10 per piece for design....not labor......design. I CAN do it for $5, I'm a super quick designer, especially when repeating. Dozen roses takes 2.5 minutes, designed into my hand, cut, and put in the vase. I cannot get past the $5, I feel like a whore! But $300-$400 in January sounds good.

I'll keep you posted on it, I have not yet made a decision but your answers have been invaluable for me. I thank you!
Linda

 

[marie g bushnell]

Shannon,

You must have that creative vein with a roll of pennies looking at you while coming up with a $5 centerpiece!
Nice goin with all those ideas.

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

Thanks Marie,

I am sincere always and also a bit "what's in it for me" when doing jobs like this.

HONESTLY- if I didn't thik I could get more work out of it somehow, I wouldn't do it.

 

[domineaux]

Just goes to show there will always be people willing to to try to find a way to make a little money, even when the odds are totally stacked against you

I can understand when someone says they want to do wedding flowers for $2,000. At least you have a sensible budget... even if they do want too much for their money.

It is possible in those instances to tweak things to make the $2,000 sale and put something togther that isn't too bad.

Good luck to any florists than can make silk purse from a hog's ear.

"On the come work" doesn't get it. By that I mean promises or expectations of future work... pie in the sky stuff doesn't pay bills.

"On the come work" I recall this swimming pool contractor that built a fabuolus swimming pool in front of his business with waterfall, spa and did other exceptional landscape work as a demonstation pool.

This guy spent over $20,000 on the demo pool, never thinking of how long it would take to recover the costs of the pool.

Needless, to say he was broke within 2 years and the next tenant filled the beautiful pool with dirt and ploughed over all the beautiful landscape and put in a parking lot.

All work should stand on it's own. If you must give away or do work that doesn't make you money use stuff you already own, or flowers that have been in the cooler a ltitle too long,etc.

 

[shannonlovesflowers]

Bottom line is if you give it some thought- you could come up with SOMETHING!!

Good Grief! We are suppose to be creative and talented people.

Did ya EVER stop to consider a "centerpiece" doesn't have to have a water source?!

How about laying a large fatsia leaf down with a hot pink gerb on top of it? .30 for the fatsia, .40 for the gerb. Done! .70 x 3x markup = $2.10 with 20% labor that's only $2.52 per table.... Then you have almost $2.50 to put toward the others....

I don't know- I think some of you guys just give up too quickly.

 

[lori042499]

Shannon, i think that some have a hard time thinking outside the box...I think that initial thought when the customer says centerpiece we all picture a round full arrangement in the middle of the table and then we hear $5.00 and the brain screeches to a halt instead of going into overdrive thinking about what they can have...I think that we also do not have the confidence that they will want something other than what we see as a centerpiece..You are absolutely right, if we sell it they will take it or leave it...for $5 I think that if they want something other than what you can give them and are going to be picky and say Oh I thought it would have more flowers they were a lost cause in the first place....however with a small budget like that I think that they would give you kudos for even trying to accomodate them any way your creative little brain could...but giving up easy is what I have basically been saying all along, we keep losing business to the grocery stores because they offer things on the small side of the budget...because we give up too easy usually at $40 dollars...florists can't see any possibilities beyond that number many times...

 

[KABERS]

We have father daughter dances here too. Those girlscout moms are very creative and come up with great themes. I would be happy to provide loose flowers or any other floral supplies at a discount. BUT i'm very leary of MY time being sucked away at no profit. I'm spread way too thin now at the expense of my family. This is a business that needs to be profitable to survive.