Easter

[TGDragonfly]

EASTER is April 12th. Do you guys market this holiday?

 

[Johan]

It used to be really popular in the UK but it's not that popular anymore. We tend to carry on with the spring promo's which tend to be spring bulb planters. Very strong gardener population around here and anything that is gardener orientated goes down well. And spring hand tieds are also popular. We will slightly easter up the window display with feather and eggs that sort of thing but keep it subtle. We do get sales but we don't have to brace ourselves for the mad rush.

 

[Queen of Weddings]

Gosh I remember back in the day when this was a really grand holiday, with all those darn lilly's all over the place, icky hate that smell,,,I wondered about this as well early today,

 

[Johan]

We still have the church ladies ordering Longi lilies that they want you to open for them.
When my niece and nephew were younger it was my job to make them easter bonnets/hats and any costume they needed. I always made a top hat for easter that they shared. They were at different schools and the competitions were normally on different days. I would make my prize winning hat at work and I must admit I was asked several times if I would make them for customers kids. Maybe if it's quiet I may market them for easter. Even though my niece and nephew would normally win 1st or 2nd prize I don't think I could guarantee it!

 

[santosdesigns]

Easter in Long Island, NY is all about Blooming Plants, plants, plants. Some bouquets, tulips, sunflowers, daff. not as big as years back.

 

[Rhonda]

Easter left many years ago when grocery stores brought in $1.99 cymbidium corsages and $5.99 lilies. Never been the same since, even though we marketed and advertised close to the same.
I will have less than 12 lilies in the shop this Easter unless some church buys local instead driving over 3 hours round trip to the nearest Sam's Club.

 

[Gracie]

We'll have to do some thinking about this one.

Like others, we'll only carry a minimal amount of Easter Lilies (thankfully, because I agree with the Queen about the scent) and potted hydrangeas. Never had corsage business at Easter, maybe that's an American thing? We have, in the past, done ok with tablecenters and bouquets for hostess gifts.

 

[goodie]

we have seen a decline in easter flower sales...our local wholesaler sells to the church ladies, so you cant compete. I may promote it this year with a discount to church ladies?

 

[master J]

Easter may not be what it used to be but it still is something....people do order flowers, we need Easter, and look forward to that flower holiday!

I like your design Dragonfly....we will have to come up with some neat fun ideas for Easter....I also loved BJ's egg carton idea from the rose design contest!

 

[Victoria]

Thom, love that picture. Thanks for sharing.

With your permission I'd like to use it. I'll show you why later.

V

 

[Kristine]

spring break week for all 23+ area public school's and Easter will coincide this year.

With the crappy winter we have had - I would guess anyone with $$ will be heading south. Anyone without money will stay home, but they have no money so I doubt they will be spending on easter flowers.

Especially when we see lilies for under $5 at the box stores.

We will have some offerings and promote it with our marquis but I don't anticipate a big week.

Maybe it will be warm and we can start on our building and landscaping projects. But this is Michigan - we will probably have a frigging snow storm or... Ice....

 

[TGDragonfly]

With the crappy winter we have had - I would guess anyone with $$ will be heading south. Anyone without money will stay home, but they have no money so I doubt they will be spending on easter flowers.

So why don't you turn your statement around. I think you have forgotten the magic of flowers, or you statement is so negative that even I have become depressed. I think you should read the quote you are using on your signature:

"What you want to be eventually, you must be every day. With practice, the quality of your deeds gets down to your soul."

You are a business person who's business it is to spread cheer, your product is flowers, flowers spread cheer, people with no money as you quote need some cheer, especially at Easter. It may be a dead holiday, and you may not be able to compete with $5 easter lilies, but you can create something that would benefit people with no money. You know in the event industry there is a buzz to selling events these days. We are learning that we have to create a reason to hosting an event. We are becoming marketers to clients that would not of thought out side the box due to the economic conditions.

When I look at Easter as a gift giving holiday, I think that people give gifts to children. So think along these lines. What product can you put together that will bring happiness to children who live in a depressed world? Easter means renewal, rebirth, glee. How about a traditional basket with flowering bulbs, a shovel, cute gardening gloves, a watering can, a cute apron. Something of a educational value that depressed parents can consider and see the potential in as they consider Easter and what they will spend for their children. I don't care how bad things get or how bad they will get, people will always buy for the children and pets before themselves.

You prepared well for Valentine's day, and I'm sure you made a few bucks, but consider every holiday and put the same amount of energy in it to make a few bucks. If you need cheering up, paint your shop yellow. What ever it takes to give the aura of excitement. People will be attracted to that, trust me.

So I want to say that if you can start spreading cheer around, than that quality of deeds will get down to your soul. It's sort of a cosmic law thing.

 

[artistry in bloom]

Hi TG,
That was very inspiring. I usually do up a puppy basket for the children's ward at our hospital a few times a year so Easter would be a good time to do another one but this time I think I will try my hand at a Bunny instead. I could use the long Easter lily blooms for the floppy ears.I can't wait to try it.

Dianne

 

[twiggy]

TG- what a great post! you've gotten me inspired too! I'm so glad you have become a part of this community- your enthusiasm is contagious!

back in the day- the big holidays were promoted, as well as a few of the secondary holidays, in the magazines, and even on TV by the WS.
as they have scaled back, lots of florists have not stepped up to promote these holidays.
Time to step up in our own back yards to promote these holidays again. and maybe promote a different angle than in the past.
I have to toot my own horn- nobody is going to do it for me.

 

[Knife's Wife]

Hey Fly, You are absolutley right. While Easter is a dying holiday...Christ rose from the dead, florist need to do the same.

My store counter is already decorated for Easter with all our Easter product. Rabbit figurines (we will also incorporate into a centerpeice as a featured arrangement). Kids hatching eggs, easter pens that light up, singing duck stuffed animals, and cuddly lambs, pocket egg stones, and pocket crosses. All add on sales, as I have tried for ions to get people to see me as more than a flowershop and come here for everyday gifts without success. But when they are here buying flowers they will pick up all this extra stuff.

Last year I sold through all these type items and this year I made my purchases before the economy tanked, so I really need to get my game on.

With my new Strider site I intend on taking pics of each item and adding to the site to purchase individually or as an add on. Also, I will add a page for a "look inside our store at Easter" I want to do a Easter blog but seeing I suck at this blogging thing, I am having a hard time coming up with an idea for that. I take any suggestions!!

We do not sell near the blooming plants we once did for reasons stated above but we do sell a lot of blooming garden baskets, something you still don't see in the grocery store.

Think about this... If a family usually goes away for Easter and spends upwards of a couple thousand dollars on a vacation and this year they cannot afford it ,so they are staying home. Wouldn't it stand to reason that they would try to make it special being home. I want to be that florist that helps them make it special here for a few hundred. Don't you?


Joan

 

[PhillyPhlorist]

You bet I will be marketing this Easter!

Typically, a mid April Easter is a good one. It's closer to spring, warmer weather, and folks are ready to think spring! Easter flowers help them get out of the cool (sometimes) rainy weather and think warm thoughts.

We will go through about 250 Lilies, and it will be (hopefully) a pretty busy week. That said, if the economy worsens, it could be bleak. We will prepare and buy accordingly, and do some marketing. Probably stick to emails, maybe a post card or two with a free delivery offer...

Not at least TRYING to get Easter biz I think is a bit foolish... Grocery stores or not, you STILL have your own customer base to market to. (and, yes - I have an ACME market down the street from us - still will sell over 250 lilies...it's all in the presentation !!! )

- Herb

 

[Knife's Wife]

a good thread....



JOAN

 

[Kristine]

So why don't you turn your statement around. I think you have forgotten the magic of flowers, or you statement is so negative that even I have become depressed. I think you should read the quote you are using on your signature:

"What you want to be eventually, you must be every day. With practice, the quality of your deeds gets down to your soul."

You are a business person who's business it is to spread cheer, your product is flowers, flowers spread cheer, people with no money as you quote need some cheer, especially at Easter. It may be a dead holiday, and you may not be able to compete with $5 easter lilies, but you can create something that would benefit people with no money. You know in the event industry there is a buzz to selling events these days. We are learning that we have to create a reason to hosting an event. We are becoming marketers to clients that would not of thought out side the box due to the economic conditions.

When I look at Easter as a gift giving holiday, I think that people give gifts to children. So think along these lines. What product can you put together that will bring happiness to children who live in a depressed world? Easter means renewal, rebirth, glee. How about a traditional basket with flowering bulbs, a shovel, cute gardening gloves, a watering can, a cute apron. Something of a educational value that depressed parents can consider and see the potential in as they consider Easter and what they will spend for their children. I don't care how bad things get or how bad they will get, people will always buy for the children and pets before themselves.

You prepared well for Valentine's day, and I'm sure you made a few bucks, but consider every holiday and put the same amount of energy in it to make a few bucks. If you need cheering up, paint your shop yellow. What ever it takes to give the aura of excitement. People will be attracted to that, trust me.

So I want to say that if you can start spreading cheer around, than that quality of deeds will get down to your soul. It's sort of a cosmic law thing.

thanks for the pep talk! Just what I needed.

It's my SAD talking! I need some sun (as I sit here typing watching another 8" of snow fall )

 

[Dee Dee]

I don't want to thread jump so would a bunch of you go look at my ? post about Mrs. Easter Bunny please.
Thank you!