FC Florist2Florist Wire Service.

[zedright]

I see a lot of posters complaining about Wire Services without any constructive alternatives. Therefore, the first step by real florists: Building a network of Real Florists. How about a F2F psuedo wire service?
Few simple rules:
1. Fill orders ot 100% value.
2. Designers Choice as second choice.
3. Sender 25%/Filling Florist 75%........no rebates/no cc/no sales tax nonsense. MAS and FS can keep an accurate score.
4. Shop t0 Shop Reconciliation at the end of the month by check. Any problems within the florist, arbitrated by the owner and the moderators of the board or by a committee appointed by them. If a member is not stright forward, the whole board will be alerted.
5. Post your zip codes and minimums.
6. Orders can be transmitted by phone, email or fax.

Thats a start.
Having said that, I count all members of FC in good standing until informed otherwise. Following is my shop info:

Shop Name: 101 Flowers (818) 876-9101
Location/Zip Code serviced: Woodland Hills, CA/91364,91367
email: [email protected]
Fax# (877) 3456-101 (toll free)
Minimum Order: $45.00
Dozen Roses Arranged in a Vase: $75.00
Conditions: All orders must accompany recipient's phone number. No wrapped flowers delivered due to high temps. here in so CA (only in a vase or basket).
I can smell an OG a mile away, so OG's dont bother.


Who else is in?

 

[Mikey the Flower Guy]

A1florists.com

has exactly what you are looking for then...no need to re-invent the alternative non ws wheel.
BBJ brought such a system to us 2 years ago...wonder if anyone has taken advantage of it??...me neither...what a goof he was to put all that time and effort into something cheap, reliable, and fool proof...and no one noticed!!
Here's a back smack for you John!!

 

[Connie]

Is A1florist.com only for Canada?

I surely do not mind sharing my shop's information, but we have FAS, not MAS or FS. Would that matter?

Shop Name: Powdersville Wren Florist
Locations served: All Zip Codes in Greenville, Easley, Piedmont, Pelzer, and Williamston, SC
email: [email protected]
fax: 864-269-3403
minimum order: $35
dozen roses arranged in vase: $49.99 (60+cm)
conditions: no wrapped flowers delivered here either. We must have a correct phone number.

 

[theRKF]

Let's not forget the FlowerChat Find-A-Member service that about 4 people signed up for. There is also the Link Sharing project ... are we up to 15 shops yet? The FC Blog florist directory?

It seems sometimes people are much more willing to complain than to act - 5 minutes, free service = no interest.

Maybe if we charged $100 / mo and had a 14" think printed directory?

Ryan

 

[Griff]

sameo, sameo

As I have tried to discuss in the past, offer the same programs with a new paint job and you get the same results - nothing! Until you are willing to truely look at the problems of the industry and not just try to preserve your personal postition, nothing is going to change and we all continue to lose.

Cathy previously laid out 3 areas of concern for the industry and when you or anyone can come up with a solution that will address all three of those and fairly to all, then you may have a workable program.

 

[zedright]

It should not matter. Any POS program that lets you keep tabs on your incoming and outgoing orders will do.
Or you could use Excel or a sheet of paper and pencil.

Is A1florist.com only for Canada?

I surely do not mind sharing my shop's information, but we have FAS, not MAS or FS. Would that matter?

 

[Frank]

??????????

Let's not forget the FlowerChat Find-A-Member service that about 4 people signed up for.

Ryan

What FlowerChat Find-A-Member service? I looked for it after reading this post but could not find it?

 

[Griff]

POS systems as stand alones as easy

"It should not matter. Any POS program that lets you keep tabs on your incoming and outgoing orders will do.
Or you could use Excel or a sheet of paper and pencil.

What makes you think that every florist is a candidate for a POS system? If you answer YES, then based on current facts, everyone would have to have the same POS system, right. Because in addition to it being a POS it is also a sending and receiving order system and the only way you can have all these systems be able to communicate with each other is either stay with the WS or all florists have to have the same independent POS even if they don't need a POS. Personally, this is going no where quickly.

And no one seems to be willing to talk about data base. Even if you could all agree on A system and all were willing to invest in it, how would you establish a data base to be able to send and receive orders or does everyone think that ALL consumers will just start contacting you directly? If you can't decide if you need a sending and receiving system or just a master website. how can you determine what system or whose system you need??

 

[zedright]

I did not imply that...I was merely suggestion that most POS have a way to reconcile the amount payble/receivable. One could just use a pad.

As far as a universal database is concerned, I think the best way and the least expensive way would be a script on an email template....sitting on a server, using the template one would email an order, the receiving florist completes the form by putting in the delivery date and time and it goes back to the server and all clients are adjusted and notified.

What makes you think that every florist is a candidate for a POS system? If you answer YES, then based on current facts, everyone would have to have the same POS system, right. Because in addition to it being a POS it is also a sending and receiving order system and the only way you can have all these systems be able to communicate with each other is either stay with the WS or all florists have to have the same independent POS even if they don't need a POS. Personally, this is going no where quickly.

And no one seems to be willing to talk about data base. Even if you could all agree on A system and all were willing to invest in it, how would you establish a data base to be able to send and receive orders or does everyone think that ALL consumers will just start contacting you directly? If you can't decide if you need a sending and receiving system or just a master website. how can you determine what system or whose system you need??

 

[Connie]

What FlowerChat Find-A-Member service? I looked for it after reading this post but could not find it?

I cannot find it either.

 

[theRKF]

I cannot find it either.

The project was halted to sue lack of interest, but can still be found under the Quick Links menu. Has been there for 2 years.

Disclaimer: Some links within the Find-A-Member service might not be working, since I haven't updated it since the last time we changed web hosts.

Ryan

 

[Frank]

The project was halted to sue lack of interest, but can still be found under the Quick Links menu. Has been there for 2 years.

Disclaimer: Some links within the Find-A-Member service might not be working, since I haven't updated it since the last time we changed web hosts.

Ryan

Ryan, The apparent lack of interest might actually be the inability for members to log in: I tried to log in using my name and password and it did not work!?

 

[rich]

Florist2Florist Wire Service

I also have tried to log on to it--will accept user name but not the password
rich

 

[theRKF]

Ryan, The apparent lack of interest might actually be the inability for members to log in: I tried to log in using my name and password and it did not work!?

I think I mentioned this earlier. The login hasn't worked since we last switched webhosts ... but the project died a year or so before that. We sent out emails to every member, posted in the forums a few times - nothing.

I might be interested in revitalising the project if people are actually going to use it.

Ryan