Eric S
Demoted Webmaster
Yep its taking me 5 years and few months.
But imagine if you just made one arrangement a day what kind of a libary you would have in just a few months.
Dropping Teleflora
- Thread starter dhamil6490
- Start date
Yep its taking me 5 years and few months.
But imagine if you just made one arrangement a day what kind of a libary you would have in just a few months.
I'd rather see a florist with a unique collection of 50 arrangements rather than 200 WS photos.
I realize my facility is photo friendly - a greenhouse so all I have to do is roll a seamless background cloth that hangs from the trusses down over a banquet table and I'm ready to shoot with diffused natural light. But if you carve out a little niche in your store for a permanent photo area those impromptu shoots take just a few moments. You'll learn lighting and exposure control as build your portfolio.
As I crop and uniformly size the photos, I save 'hi-res' sizes in addition to the ones destined for the web, and the 20-something staff uploads those to Ritz Pics to create our own selection guide so we don't have to put out that awful FTD book, at least for local orders.
There are lots of things we shoot that never make it to the website, but at least we've got a selection to chose from. And because it's easy, those same 20-somethings take photos even if I'm not around. If they have a few minutes they might create a couple of arrangements or hand-ties to photograph.
Now I just need to teach them Photoshop ...
I realize my facility is photo friendly - a greenhouse so all I have to do is roll a seamless background cloth that hangs from the trusses down over a banquet table and I'm ready to shoot with diffused natural light. But if you carve out a little niche in your store for a permanent photo area those impromptu shoots take just a few moments. You'll learn lighting and exposure control as build your portfolio.
As I crop and uniformly size the photos, I save 'hi-res' sizes in addition to the ones destined for the web, and the 20-something staff uploads those to Ritz Pics to create our own selection guide so we don't have to put out that awful FTD book, at least for local orders.
There are lots of things we shoot that never make it to the website, but at least we've got a selection to chose from. And because it's easy, those same 20-somethings take photos even if I'm not around. If they have a few minutes they might create a couple of arrangements or hand-ties to photograph.
Now I just need to teach them Photoshop ...
Regardless, just photoshop those pictures is a very time consuming task.
You really simplify things if you put up 12 arrangements... if you knew what people would buy.
Basically with 12 arrangements or 50 it's like saying take or leave.
The problem is buyers are fickle, and what appeals to one person will annoy someone else.
The Ideal situation is designer's choice, but some people don't want to buy the pig in a poke. LOL
Makes sense to offer a broad selection, provide good search and sort tools for customers to find something quick and easy.
The reason TF has 400+ arrangements is clear to me. They are doing what works, and they have the research and sales to substantiate it.
So, why fix something that isn't broke. Follow the leader, but do a better job of it.
You really simplify things if you put up 12 arrangements... if you knew what people would buy.
Basically with 12 arrangements or 50 it's like saying take or leave.
The problem is buyers are fickle, and what appeals to one person will annoy someone else.
The Ideal situation is designer's choice, but some people don't want to buy the pig in a poke. LOL
Makes sense to offer a broad selection, provide good search and sort tools for customers to find something quick and easy.
The reason TF has 400+ arrangements is clear to me. They are doing what works, and they have the research and sales to substantiate it.
So, why fix something that isn't broke. Follow the leader, but do a better job of it.
And I respectfully disagree somewhat. You've got to be fresh and unique. You can't have that same old WS look.
I take a long, hard look at bounce. And page views and time on site. I doubt that potential customers will wade through even 50 arrangements. If they don't see something that attracts them in the first few moments, they're gone. Web designers will tell you you've got something like 20 seconds to capture that visitor before they hit the back button.
I would bet you that we sell the 'featured' products (anywhere from 12 to 18) from the front page 75% of the time. And frankly, we get far more phone calls referring to something they've seen on the site rather than actual web orders. They may not have seen exactly what they've wanted but they've liked what they've seen.
As to photoshop, it used to take me quite awhile to manipulate photos, now I can darn near do it in my sleep. It actually takes me longer to upload the photos, create the actual product descriptions, cross sell items and then document the whole thing.
Doug
I take a long, hard look at bounce. And page views and time on site. I doubt that potential customers will wade through even 50 arrangements. If they don't see something that attracts them in the first few moments, they're gone. Web designers will tell you you've got something like 20 seconds to capture that visitor before they hit the back button.
I would bet you that we sell the 'featured' products (anywhere from 12 to 18) from the front page 75% of the time. And frankly, we get far more phone calls referring to something they've seen on the site rather than actual web orders. They may not have seen exactly what they've wanted but they've liked what they've seen.
As to photoshop, it used to take me quite awhile to manipulate photos, now I can darn near do it in my sleep. It actually takes me longer to upload the photos, create the actual product descriptions, cross sell items and then document the whole thing.
Doug
anytimeflowers
Linda
Agree, agree, and...agree. I have my photo shoot area set up now to where I seldom even have to edit at all except for re-size for web. I only just a week ago figured out I should be saving in full-size mode too, for print marketing. Duh.....
Photoshop becomes "routine" once you have done several as long as you don't try to get too fancy. I only got photoshop in late January, and Joan had to help me at first, and now I totally understand "my" basic edit tools.
As for my "photo" studio, I'm using my small cooler that I only use now for major holiday. Three pieces of foam core, one as a floor, two side pieces have velcro on them so I can take them down quickly. Two lights that came with photocube, and a tripod.
My featured spring arrangment is selling, even done two of them for funerals, although I originally designed this for an Easter centerpiece. The key is having something completely different than the other sites that the consumer is hitting on. I got my strider site late January. I have had FIVE people order directly on line. I get many calls daily now saying "I'm looking on your site", they mostly just want to look and then call to order. Fine. My March sales are up 20%, Feb was up 3.5%. I credit this to my own site.
The online tools that are out there today, not to mention this board, are ripe with help for anybody to get their own site going. It doesn't have to be today, or tomorrow, but if you never get started on it, you'll never get it done.
Oberer's is a $10 million/year florist and they only have about 50 different everyday product shots on their site - plus their weekly specials.
Winston's in Boston is also a multi-million dollar operation and they have under 30 everyday products featured online each month.
You only need 400 images if customers don't know and trust you.
And we all know the majority of those 400 items actually delivered by local florists require much in the way of substitutions.
Identify your shop's best local sellers, shoot them, publish them online and then be 'you' to consumers who both know your company and those who want to get a feel for what they'll really get delivered.
Shooting your own catalog takes a lot of work. That's one of the major reasons why shops continue to be WS members; because the cost of creating their own catalogs can be more than the cost of WS dues - esp. if they don't know how to use digital cameras and PhotoShop.
Winston's in Boston is also a multi-million dollar operation and they have under 30 everyday products featured online each month.
You only need 400 images if customers don't know and trust you.
And we all know the majority of those 400 items actually delivered by local florists require much in the way of substitutions.
Identify your shop's best local sellers, shoot them, publish them online and then be 'you' to consumers who both know your company and those who want to get a feel for what they'll really get delivered.
Shooting your own catalog takes a lot of work. That's one of the major reasons why shops continue to be WS members; because the cost of creating their own catalogs can be more than the cost of WS dues - esp. if they don't know how to use digital cameras and PhotoShop.
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
I defintiely feel 400+ arrangements is too much.
Yes, I also think that highlighted arrangements and few in number is probably the best way to go.
Yet, you still have to be pretty darn sharp knowing what people will buy and all.
Yes, I also think that highlighted arrangements and few in number is probably the best way to go.
Yet, you still have to be pretty darn sharp knowing what people will buy and all.
anytimeflowers
Linda
My short foray into Bloomnet taught me one important thing. Whatever arrangement they were featuring on their home page was the one I was going to get a lot of orders for.
If people are actually going to place their order on line, as long as it is appealing to the eye and the wallet, that's the one they will probably buy. If they are going to look and then call, they probably want to browse your selections, as Cathy pointed out, to get a feel for what they may expect, because they generally DO expect you to need to make substitutions.
That is also why I continue to allow my selections to "float around" on my site. It gives the appearance that the selection is ever-changing, when in reality, just the order that they appear in is changing.
Boss - you should have plenty of time to get better at ps since you're semi-retired, I think someone just doesn't want to do it. I can ALWAYS make time for the things I WANT to do, and those other things, I'm just too busy.:>
If people are actually going to place their order on line, as long as it is appealing to the eye and the wallet, that's the one they will probably buy. If they are going to look and then call, they probably want to browse your selections, as Cathy pointed out, to get a feel for what they may expect, because they generally DO expect you to need to make substitutions.
That is also why I continue to allow my selections to "float around" on my site. It gives the appearance that the selection is ever-changing, when in reality, just the order that they appear in is changing.
Boss - you should have plenty of time to get better at ps since you're semi-retired, I think someone just doesn't want to do it. I can ALWAYS make time for the things I WANT to do, and those other things, I'm just too busy.:>
Our featured products also appear in a random order with every page view. In addition I can schedule when I'd like an item to be featured in advance so I can somewhat automate the process.
conchandler
Well-Known Member
I didn't actually see which ONE, as the link just took me to your home page. But I have to ask, "Is the vase arrangement in your header a Strider icon?"
anytimeflowers
Linda
I assumed it was the designer's choice, which is very good imo, that really is the best......
I wondered if that design came from Smith's since it is in MY site header, too.
conchandler
Well-Known Member
This thread has taken a curve with setting up your own website, which is what I'll be in the market for, as I too have taken the plunge - but wanted to announce, too, that my termination letter is in the mail to make us WS free by end of May. Saying no to any incentives to stay. Thanks to all of the help of people on this site, I had to face the truth that the WS are just not profitable for our shop. I have joined the ranks, and I feel good! dunnah, nunnah, nunnah, nuh.
conchandler
Well-Known Member
anytimeflowers
Linda
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
anytimeflowers
Linda
Boss, the link still takes us to designer's choice.
By the way, how do you get a fantastic composite gerb like that, is it in photoshop?(grinz-n-giggles)
I love it!
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
That's where it's supposed to go... our number one online item is not a design image at all but a "designers choice" (what we have that's nicest/best for the occasion) ... that was from an earlier discussion in this thread.
And no, that Gerb (variety escapes me right now) is a natural flower, from Rosa-Flora Gardens in Canada.
And no, that Gerb (variety escapes me right now) is a natural flower, from Rosa-Flora Gardens in Canada.