Eiffel Tower vases and only 3 red roses? What to do?

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coppercountryflowers

coppercountryflowers

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We have a senior charitable organization whose trademark is the red rose. We have an exclusive contract for about 1500 carnations that they hand out to elderly throughout the year. They get them 1/2 price as a "donation" from us and we don't want to lose this "community contact". With that said...

For the last several years they have asked us to create/donate the centerpieces for their twice per year fundraiser dinners. It was whatever we wanted... make it spring and fun. Easy and fun to create...

Last year a new "senior" took over planning the tables and said they wanted three red roses and white carnations for the centerpiece. No problem. However, a month before she informs us they want to rent the 29 inch tall eiffel tower/maestro vases (with 1.25 inch openings) to handle these flowers. I explained that they would have to be put in a wedding bouquet holder to fit in those vases and more flowers would be needed than we normally donated. She didn't care. Our price of donation went from $40 each arrangment to $150 each by the time we were done. Then, they failed to post us as a "major contributor" as it was "just flowers" according to several of the "senior planners".

Again this year they asked us to donate the flowers. My other half explained that we would donate the centerpieces again, however, we would at the least need to be listed as a major sponsor. The CEO of this group said that since we weren't donating "cash" that wouldn't be possible. So Dale explained that the $3000 in flowers/labor/supplies last year was "cash" as it came out of our pockets. The CEO said he understood, but everyone else who donated items would want to be listed as a "major sponsor", too. Again, patient Dale explained that they weren't donating $3000 in flowers or anything else as we were. The man agreed and said we'd be listed that way.

So.... one of the elderly planners called today, (for the Ap 26 event,) and said that they would once again be renting the vases and they want only 3 red roses, baby's breath, and some greens in the top of the vases. I suggested that the vases are not designed to have something just "stuck in them" and if they want to wow their donors to consider other options. She said, the committee decided that is what they want and that is what they are ordering! They want samples for a meeting in early April. Ugh!

Any suggestions for what to design for the 29" vases with only 1.25 inch opening with three red roses, baby's breath, and greens? How do I "stuff" them into it without using the bridal bouquet holder... and is it really possible to make this look nice with just those flowers???? How about the wedding bouquet holder with baby's breath and just red roses petals glued in and wired ribbons???

I've lost all my creativity on this one! Any suggestions from my wonderful florist friends is greatly appreciated!!!
 
Hi CCF.
Well...
Me being my cynical self would do this...

Attach an Oasis Mini Deco holder to the top of that very tall vase.
Gently place three red roses, a touch of greenery and some Gyp in it.
Then WOW them with the miniature arrangement that you can do on top of that very tall vase!!!
Then do an arrangement like you think it should be and incorproate their signature flower and place it next to the miniature arrangement and ask them to choose.
If you are donating the flowers it seems to me that you should be able to have some say as to what the arrangements are going to look like. As the professional you will be able to incorporate their signature flower into the arrangements.
Good luck!
 
Not sure the vase opening is the same size, but we deliver a single rose in the 20-24" eiffel tower vases. Of you use enough shrub-type foliage at the neck (oregonia, pitt, boxwood, etc...) the roses will easily stay in place. Willow, beargrass or lily grass can open the designs up and make them appear larger, too.

The-Ultimate-Single-Rose-HW0_115266.jpg


I'm somewhat in agreement with Ted, though. Are the rental vases your own or someone else's? The labor for delivery, pick-up and clean-up of those vases is a pain and takes time. The labor cost on these pieces would be far greater than the cost of the fresh materials.
 
I don't know about the rest of you, But I hate this vase, it should only be used as a bud vase, also just an FYI when this is used in some hotels they have some sign off that they are not resposiable if the things tip over, and I do concur with that, I have seen them fall and crash many times, thank goodness they were none of ours, I do like the pic of the one here, very cute,,,,,,,,,,,,,
 
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Bigted said:
In my not so humble opinion it's time to reign them in a bit. You need to set the parameters on what you're willing to do. Otherwise, they will continue to get more demanding.
Click to expand...

Ditto that - your flowers - you get to make a call, as long as you can incorporate their trademark red rose.

Are you making money the rest of the year on them? Sounds like a lot of labor and product they're asking for. A donation of $3000?

ummm, no, not in my world.

We get annual people that want a donation every single year that never spend a dollar with us. Freebies and nothing but freebies - one would ask oneself - why? Are we a charity organization?

I think it's time for me to reassess that as well. Our donation form cuts a lot of new requests off at the pass, but some long standing ones get around it.
 
Donations are a real pain in the buttocks for all of us! Remember formost that it is a donation, not a request for a party centerpiece, that is what you charge for!

We have to stand up for ourselves, and make tough choices. Sometimes you have to explain to them up front that you are making a major contribution and expect their best publicity or listing for this donation.

The "new" person could be seeing how you will react. If you are uncomfortable with the requested look, show them at the sample meeting what you can do and what you expect in return.

If you need the exposure thats a different story, but sounds like you do not need it.

Good luck, and stand tall in your decision. IT is YOUR money, YOUR reputation!
 
We implemented a new policy this year. We have every organization fill out a donation request form and we decided to only donate X amount of dollars a month. It gets to be too costly with everybody with their hand out, especially when they don't buy from us regularly. You would be amazed at how many people wont even come by to get the form! Unbelievable laziness!
 
Does anyone have donation form they would be willing to share? It seems like there is a new cancer patient benefit every single day around here and they all stop by for a donation.

Sheila
 
Our store does 24 donations a year. Only to those that buy from us or that live in our general area. I purchase 12 special vases with a note that reads, we will fill it one time for free. ( I want the person receiving it to come in to my store) We work with the schools , church's, scouts, or who ever ask first. I also give a door prize (my choice) to a local Womens Council of Realtors that meets monthly. Those people support my shop big time. I would have a hard time justifying a donation as large as $3000. It seems to me they seem to keep asking for more! I choose if I want to participate. I still have my favorites. Most of my REAL customers realize I'm not in this business to give away the store. I may make a special deal for special events, but only to customers that buy from us. I've learned the hard way, "No good deed goes unpunished!" My new motto, "If it ain't fun, I ain't doin it!" This doesn't sound fun to me.
 
Wait... am I reading this right? They want to DICTATE what you DONATE? That only happened to me once. I told the woman, "You want me to make a donation and you want to pick the colors, flowers, containers and have my staff arrange them and eliver them?... emmm... NO. Doesn't work that way. *I* tell *YOU* what *I* and willing to donate and *YOU* find someone willing to pick up *MY GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION* and arrange them."

Sheesh... Da Noive of some people! ::BS

Tim - North Port Floral
 
I agree with setting parameters. It's your store, your donation, so it's YOUR RULES.
I had a huge problem last year with a donation and the people ended up dictating what they wanted like they were a paying client. I had to put my foot down and tell them that since I am paying for everything, I'll decide how to do the arrangements. If they want to tell me how to do them, they can pay me. I told them if they didn't like those terms, they were more than welcome to go see another florist.

Seriously folks, we put up with so much crap from actual PAYING clients... How the heck do we end up eating crap from those who don't even pay????

As for ideas, I really like the way Cathy presented it. Stick in the 3 red roses at different heights and add whatever else YOU want. You could have Ivy trailing down the side too...
 
In looking at the donation request form, I noticed that you don't specify the return. I would add that in return for the donation, You get a verbal acknowledgement from the podium or main stage/ main speaker, a business card sized ad in the program, and your shop included on a printed list of people who donated.

You should make sure that you get some type of return for your donations.
 
I agree its your money YOU decided what you want to do with it. Or tell them here take the money and do it your self. At the florist I work in the donations go on the owners terms. She will donate what she wants and in return the donatee must acknowledge them in flyer, speach, ect, and agree to do business with them in next 12 months following donation. Seems harsh but she has donated so much and has nevergotten anything in return. Now we have returning customers from events and such. The more they buy the bigger her donation the next year. It works its self out in long run.
 
Agreeing with others here, it would be wise to put restraints on this situation ASAP.

Our donation form came directly from a Florist Review magazine, and I'll be happy to fax anyone a copy. It stops most people because they don't even bother to fill one out. When we do receive a completed one, the first item that we look at is, "How many times did this organization order from us during the last year?" If the answer is none, the form is filed in the round file and the request is denied.

We recently had a situation in which the person requesting donated centerpieces completed the form and called back later to tell my staff exactly what she wanted in the centerpieces. Since I was out of town, they told her that they were not authorized to make them. I had not approved the donation, but she kept insisting that I had told her that we would do them. The staff said that they think that when she learned that I was out of town, she decided to badger them into making the donations.

One must be on one's toes at all times.
 
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