Christmas WS products compared.....

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joe Mioux

Joe Mioux

Well-Known Member
Dec 15, 2004
5,381
2,941
113
64
Carlyle
www.mioux.com
State / Prov
Illinois
Just curious....

We have received a lot of phone calls wanting either the TF Williamsburg thing or the TF gold ornament, which we did not purchase.

We have long beem sold out of the TF Kincade thing, which we purchased

We have received no inquiries regarding FTD's Christmas product, which we refuse to purchase.

Is my business the only one experiencing this trend?

thanks
joe
 
Joe,

I am not FTD, so I can't compare. I can tell you that many years ago when I made the decision to only remain with one wire service, Teleflora was selected partly because our customers like their specials. We are sold out of the Cozy Cottage, 3 left of the Sleigh Bells (gold & silver ornament) 4 Tartan bouquet left (which I despise...the container, that is!!!), 6 Winter Wonderland left, 2 Ho Ho Bowls left (sold most of this item to customers for their teen daughters), 1 Williamsburg Chapel left. Lots of customers came in with the $5.00 coupon this season. My staff and I bring in the Teleflora coupons from our local newspapers and offer them to our customers who select the Teleflora containers and don't have a coupon. Customers love that we will give them a coupon! I had a gentleman today tell me that I provided the best customer service he has had from a business! I smiled and said, "I'm all over that one...customer service is our #1 priority! Thank you for the compliment!" I've seen the containers featured by FTD and they don't even come close to the quality and appeal of TF containers.
 
Joe Mioux said:
Just curious....

We have received a lot of phone calls wanting either the TF Williamsburg thing or the TF gold ornament, which we did not purchase.

We have long beem sold out of the TF Kincade thing, which we purchased

We have received no inquiries regarding FTD's Christmas product, which we refuse to purchase.

Is my business the only one experiencing this trend?

thanks
joe
Click to expand...

We only advertised our own product locally.....yet people are coming in asking for TF product, we were sold out of the Kinkade cottage on Friday, sold out of Jingle bells today and only have 4 Tartan containers left, and had several requests for the Williamsburg thing but didn't buy it.

As for the FTD product we only bought the C1 and have had no local requests for any FTD product at all......we have however gotten a few wire orders for the C1 and have sent out some for higher value TC's with added flowers.

So in my opinion either Teleflora does much a better job of advertising their product nationally or people just plain like their stuff better.
 
As usual, TF is kicking FDS's ass around the block several times - at least 10-1 if not more.
 
Well it looks like all of of our old TF stuff will be gone this week. It has only taken 3 years to get rid of them. The hot seller out of them is the jewlled hurrican and then second would be our topiary in the ruby red bowl. Anything with cranberries is very hot. Our own designs have really taken off and I couldn't be more pleased with that. I am a little surprised that I haven't recieved any request for Thomas Kincade this year.

It seems to be so different compared to many of the post that I read with customers asking for the Teleflora products. I just could never move them and even though many of the containers and designs have caught my eye I just didn't get the response that many of you have.
 
bloomz said:
As usual, TF is kicking FDS's ass around the block several times - at least 10-1 if not more.
Click to expand...


We're the reverse, I guess it varies depending on your clientele. We ordered the same amount of FTD specials as we did TF - we have 4 of the FTD left and still have all the TF save 2.

Audra
 
Same as Eric here. This is our second Christmas with zero codified products. Our analysis showed we were primarily moving them as wire-ins and that our local customers were choosing designs with more dollar value in the flowers and less in the container.

We were also tired of getting the wire-ins with little or no dollars for delivery - even from real florists.

We've had a few requests for TF items. One was a wire out which we happily sent, one was from a walk-in looking for just the cottage - no flowers - and one was from a regular customer who decided on a different gift after we pointed out the size of the Spode pitcher (compared to the perceived size in the photo).

Incoming orders are down more than 60% from 2005 but overall sales are up approx. 12% MTD. COGS are lower since we're not carrying the codified products.
 
We are not seeing any movement on the TF Jingle Bell Bouquet (luckily I only purchased 12) The Cozy Cottage is moving slowly, my hope is that we will be out by Sat., mostly wire orders for that product. We still have a couple of those footed, jeweled holly bowls from several years back we are filling designer choice orders with just to get rid of them. I am not purchasing any of TF's Valentines Day product. Seems customers in this area just feel the price points are to high on those products.
 
BBJ (Big Bad John) said:
So in my opinion either Teleflora does much a better job of advertising their product nationally or people just plain like their stuff better.
Click to expand...

Considering the only television ads I've seen are 800Flowers, I don't think either FTD or Teleflora did whopper advertising this year, just in the weekend mags (not counting any subscription magazines). I have seen 0 mass advertising by either. Which doesn't even matter as I didn't purchase any WS containers and only had one person ask for Kinkade and one for the tartan bowl. I do know of the two Teleflora shops here - one bought kinkade from an out of town shop and one had the tartan container.
Our Hurricane design is selling well and our gold sprayed amber hurricane/vase in a designer ring is doing quite well for the price point in this area.
 
Lots of 800 Flowers.com ads, no FTD or TF ads that I've seen.

Not carrying any WS items this year - hasn't stopped Real Florists from sending us orders for them ... which we forward to other shops that are coded.

Two inquiries for the Kinkade, one for FTD. We bought the FTD container from another shop to fill that one order, and the TF inquiries were converted to other items. Especially after discussing the price.

Ryan
 
We seriously cut down our codified product that we carry - we're carrying 1/4 of what we use to. We have a few items left in FTD but a lot of the TF item - I'll get rid of them but it's not going to be easy.

This year we introduced several instore specials - the mid range ones are moving well but the larger ones haven't as yet. I blame that on our inability to get them marketed effectively because of the break-in - I already have comments in my OneNote about when I need to get that ready for next year!

One pleasant surprise is that we gained a fair sized account from a local church. Last year a priest walked in at the last minute and needed a gift for volunteers - I recognized him and helped him out. This year he came in, ordered all his decorations for the church from us and then placed a sizeable order for 14 volunteers. No haggling, no moaning, like one of the other churches we deal with. Just a nice simple list, 'have a blessed Christmas' and here's my credit card from him. Between him, two other Churches and a surprise corporate account, we're wiped out of poinsettias.

The single most frustrating part of this holiday for me has been that florist aren't looking at the codifications. Pardon the expression but WTF is wrong with people? You're looking me up either in a book or via a computer - both list codifications - use them!! I've forwarded and bounced so many orders I've got a pile of ws rejects that would stagger the imagination. Another nail in the TF coffin - I'm sick to death of TF HQ and their inept operators.

Audra
 
We Haven't Been TF For Years!

Still slowly moving the stuff we were stuck with when they came to town and signed up every Betty and Wannabe, plus the stuff we got when we bought out the contents of our closest neighbor when she came down with Lukimia (SP?) and closed down in one weekend!
We bought the FTD stuff when they were having a sale, and on our web site we showed everything twice, once by recepie, and once Akiko's ECONOMY VERSION substituting carnations for roses! It is moving well, both versions. Only 14 poinsettias left in the store, all sizes and colors are about 1 or 2 each left! Called the nursing home where we have unloaded any surplus on Christmas Eve for their dining room for years to tell them not to expect any!:musical: :kuddle: Year to date: Credit cards off 5%; wire in off 64%;
TOTAL SALES UP 47.5%:)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
Time for my annual statement:::

It ALL depends on your market...

So far, selling EVERYTHING...and coded for nearly all FTD and TEL containers. Waiting for the last case of C2's to come in, down to 6 C1's (from 48), sold out of Kinkade's (72 pieces), both bells, both Ho-Ho bubble bowls, and only 3-5 Tartans, Chapels, and Wonderlands left.

Within our delivery pool, we have a e-mail network in which we can post avail containers or containers in need (my brainchild,...) and so far, I have scarfed up 3 golden bells, and 3 spodes from other shops wanting to unload containers... There are NO cottages, bells, or ho-ho's around...

As for wire ins - down 30 some%.... we seem to be selling to the customer base. I tell ya, we sell our share of custom designs, but having those specials - pre made up in advance - is really helpful. That was the ONLY thing about 800 back in the days...you could mass-produce stuff and know it would move. But nowadays, no way....

Bought this year with my gut, and my gut was right!!!

- H.

PS - blowing out the points too....running out of the biggies - $50/$75 size, tons of 6 in 2 plant branched though.... They'll move out this weekend....
 
I can't tell you how good it feels not to have all the current WS product.

Kincade is profitable for me.

As some of you might remember, I bought out a shop's inventory of old TF and FTD thanksgiving, christmas product and some old Mothers Day stuff.

I bought this stuff for $2 per container. It is working out well, so far and I will be sold out of that old stuff by Saturday.

Poinsettias are selling well also. We are using up various sizes by putting two or three in double and triple Birch baskets. They look really good.

Joe
 
AKIKO'S said:
We bought the FTD stuff when they were having a sale, and on our web site we showed everything twice, once by recepie, and once Akiko's ECONOMY VERSION substituting carnations for roses! It is moving well, both versions. [/U][/B]:)
Click to expand...
Excellent idea! Thank you.

tracy
 
Hold The Phone!!

Just saw an ad for Teleflora's Tartan Christmas on HGTV at 9:24 p.m. on December 20th........geez, kinda late isn't it seeing as so many shops have sold out of their Teleflora products by now?? Maybe we'll see an FTD.com ad tomorrow or Friday? :hammer:
Love having merc on call forwarding........had fun asking what the sending florist code number was....did you say 91-****ZA, sorry don't fill for Flowers Sent Today/BloomsToday, etc...........and wish FTD would hire people who speak English. Had a wonderful conversation with someone who didn't know what a shop code # was.... and who had no idea how to transmit an order (isn't that one of our requirements?)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom
Back