First thing this morning TF makes me ill..long rant...
- Thread starter lori042499
- Start date
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Boss I looked your website over, nice Strider site! I was wondering, since I am quiting TF as of Jan 1 & I am doing my own independent site, about your pictures on your website. I see most of them are John Henry pictures. How is that working out for you? One of my biggest problems with leaving my TF website is the pictures, there are so many of them & my customers really like them. I am worried I am going to lose some of my internet customers when I change. Do you get alot of internet orders off of your site? Also I see that you do not have alot of pictures in each catagory. TF has pages. I am trying to decide how many pics to put in each catagory. Any of your thoughts or anyones elses, for that matter, would be appreciated. I am very worried about breaking off with TF, but I feel, and maybe I shouldn't feel this way but I do, kinda like hostage to them. I just don't like that feeling, like I have to have them. One of my designers said when I told her I was quiting TF, "do you know how many TF orders we fill in a day?". I told her many of them were internet orders, which is true. But I am sure she is alittle worried too about cutting out that business. Any comments would be appreciated. I am trying to calm myself down!!! 
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Yea, I like it...it works well, and yes it gets orders...
As to TF's "pages" per category.... I prefer to have all images from a category on one page, Strider sites allow for this. I want to eliminate clicks for the consumer, and I don't think they look past the first page, maybe two. I know I don't when looking around online...
I use John Henry's images, and many of mine are from the 200 I bought from Florists Review too....(they're cheap)(but not all realistic)... never had a customer complain that I do not show wire service images, yet I have had many compliment on the ones we do show. Interestingly, my "Designers Choice" is one of our best sellers, and it's not even a designed image, only a pic of a Gerbra...
Palms
Well-Known Member
Lori just to comment on the idea that you may look small without a wire service. I can understand why you may think this but seriously you wont. All the money you will be saving and time will allow you to work on several other marketing avenues. Giving out free designs to populated public places, working with local venues, perhaps doing more bridal fayres etc etc to name but a few.
Honestly, once you stop making all these wire designs your time will be your own to work on you and your shop.
And, personally I noticed my cash flow improve almost IMMEDIATELY, so any money worries you have at the moment, i bet for sure will disappear.
If it was me, i would be willing to do without a pos for the time being.
Honestly, once you stop making all these wire designs your time will be your own to work on you and your shop.
And, personally I noticed my cash flow improve almost IMMEDIATELY, so any money worries you have at the moment, i bet for sure will disappear.
If it was me, i would be willing to do without a pos for the time being.
bootcampguy
Well-Known Member
Wow.....alot to take in. What I'm reading is that alot of you took the vendor to task, and if it did not perfrom then the vendor was gotten rid of. You don't let you wholesalers bring whatever flowers they want, you "supervise them". With the WS I send out over 1000 a year (high comm account base) and they've never done anything for me but buy me dinner (this weekend at Tenn State Tele did by me a bloody mary) but other than that, "nothing". Someone made the comment about marketing and that is what "I USE THEM". Here's my story like it or leave it. When Ws order comes in I "cherry pick" then order and if I can do it I will, but if it's for "Fancy your fanny bouq" then I hit one button and reject. If I can do the order then I send it. Then 3 days after the order out first step of our Marketing plan kicks in: A phone call, how we're our flowers?.........after response we engage and "educate" that the order came through a OG or WS (not a florist to florist order) one in the same. We ask to forward information as to "how we can save your son/daughter/etc.) money on flowers and get better service. 20% of the time I walk away with an address or email. Step2: A postcard or email (icontact) goes in and then we communicate that we had the privledge of serving "your ........." and that in the future you wont have to pay that $12.95 - $14.95 SC...........We then ask how would you like us to stay in touch with you?.........85% offer a way........it's all in the approach, we then flag the sale and next year (season or date) when then mail a postcard 5 days prior to the event. Our new customer retention rate is about 35% or so and it's cost us under $1.50.......2 postcards, stamps and time. The average (New Customer Aquisition) out there is between $50 - $60 per. lead. That's whay the OG and WS give the 25% deals to USAA, AAA, etc. They want new customer base.......One insider at Pro Flowers told me they will pay up to $100 per. lead/per. person. What you guys have opened my eyes up to is that I don't need all the fluff.......ie web/etc. that is better off on our own. I also pickback on the WS campaings, they spend thousands, I copy the print, ad my name and then ride that poney to the bank............2 years ago when TF did the favorite Mom I now do that campaign every year.......thousands of dollars. I took word for word (all legal, read your agreement). When you pay fees, you can or borrow for your onw behalf. Thye call this co-branding and florist do very well with with this. Be blessed, sorry for the long "windedness" (is that a word).
Clarabella
Well-Known Member
ftd has been beating my door down to get me to buy fall and winter containers....I am buying NONE and I did buy mothers day containers, I was told that I would get more orders if I had what was advertised, well I did like the containers I bought, first time in a long time, however I did not get orders for them and I am the only FTD shop in my town. I still have containers left, I sell them for orders that require that type of container but it was the last container purchase from FTD I will make. I have only them, have barely had a wire service order this summer and I reject the ones that are ridicules. I only use FSN to send orders out with and I have been very busy with "cash customers".....I am so glad I got rid of the other wire services and I actually never have to buy flowers to fill a wire service order anymore. I sell what I have unless the "cash customer" requires something else. I LOVE BEING WIRE SERVICE>>>almost FREE LOL......I'm just saying.....
Doug Munro
Well-Known Member
I love this statement.....lol
Obviously you have never sold anything on consignment. Trust me , over the years on a number of occasions I have and generally it is a disaster.
1) Since it costs nothing and there is no potential risk what shop would not take at least one case of every available vase. After all if you don't sell it you can always send it back. It doesn't take a genius to see the logistics and accounting problems here.
2) What would TF do in the case of say... one of its members closing shop and fire saling the containers for cash?
3) My experience has been that the only time that consignment works is when the retailer you are consigning the merchandise to has large volume potential, a strong marketing program for the product, and an equally strong sales force motivated to sell the product (does this sound like a typical retail florist to you). Generally what does occur is that the merchandise gathers dust. After all from a retail perspective what do you sell first the merchandise you have money invested in or the others guys product sitting in your shop?
4) Who pays the carrying costs on the merchandise? Would you be comfortable if TF charged a higher price per unit (say 10-15%) for the privelege of consignment.
Just my thoughts.
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
I don't know Doug... I think FTD still has 30,000 Barbies in a warehouse in Chi-Town someplace...
Consignment might be the only way to get rid of them. And BTW, I do consignment with local artists every day... never had an issue yet.
Consignment might be the only way to get rid of them. And BTW, I do consignment with local artists every day... never had an issue yet.
Mikey the Flower Guy
It's a GREAT DAY to live, and love!
- Nov 10, 2002
- 9,206
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- 72
- State / Prov
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Mikey the Flower Guy
It's a GREAT DAY to live, and love!
- Nov 10, 2002
- 9,206
- 3,792
- 113
- 72
- State / Prov
- Ontario
the critical part is that neither side trusts each other with ANYTHING that "belongs" to the other...I wonder how we got there??
anytimeflowers
Linda
Doug,
I have done consignment in my store. I think you took this the wrong way, though. When I referred to , "and if they sell one" I was referring to the ws. Because they don't seem to garner enough orders for the florists who buy into the whole "we'll get the orders for you".
I was being deliberately obtuse for a reason.
This type of behavior was the final straw for me at Bloomnet. They sent an e-mail saying they had pre-ordered a bunch of containers for me for Valentine's Day. In order to not recieve them, I had to jump through hoops. I had no interest in their containers, did not plan to offer their designs. Thier projections were that they would send me between 1-5 orders, but the quantities of these over-priced containers was between 18-24.
Now, had they agreed to send those containers on a consignment basis, I would have done it. Exactly my point. They would then certainly send enough orders to fill those containers so that THEY would not be stuck with the remainder. But they won't, because this is a huge money-maker for them.
Just my thoughts.
Mikey the Flower Guy
It's a GREAT DAY to live, and love!
- Nov 10, 2002
- 9,206
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I am in the same predicament. I have TF and FTD and want to quit one. It is getting more and more obvious tht FTD is the one to go because
of their fees, but most of all with the very impersonal service that you get when you call them. We have the best FTD rep but unfortunately
that does not help. Sure, I wish all the WS stop selling containers and let us use what we want to. Unfortunately this is not happening. I have
heard of IRIS network but haven't gone further to check into it. Does any one use it and if so how do they find it. Would appreciate your comment.
Pratima
of their fees, but most of all with the very impersonal service that you get when you call them. We have the best FTD rep but unfortunately
that does not help. Sure, I wish all the WS stop selling containers and let us use what we want to. Unfortunately this is not happening. I have
heard of IRIS network but haven't gone further to check into it. Does any one use it and if so how do they find it. Would appreciate your comment.
Pratima
anytimeflowers
Linda
Mikey the Flower Guy
It's a GREAT DAY to live, and love!
- Nov 10, 2002
- 9,206
- 3,792
- 113
- 72
- State / Prov
- Ontario
Pratima...are you "sure" that FTD charges MORE than TF??...last I looked, they are neck & neck, so, base your facts on which service gives YOU the best bang for your dollar.......TF has certainly been more "gentle", BUT, IS THAT TRULY what YOU are looking for??
Iris has limited network, and uses proprietary software!!
There ARE other options..I see that you are new to FlowerChat, there are massive discussions about "options"...do a search!!
I strongly do not recommend IFN, based on the extremely poor quality of their web sites and anecdotal information on their POS software.
duanermb
New Member
We can usually find someone to send to through FSN and I don't think we have had a complaint yet. I know the girls aren't quite as discerning about who they order from as I am, but like I said, no complaints yet.
Though on MD, we had a few to go out, only because some people wanted to pay cash. I used FC members, and got 12 roses to on coast and a big orchid vase ordered at 5PM on Saturday of MD, and delivered the next day! (Both had already stopped taking orders) I love having a network to work with! Just used a CC.
I would like to see some small changes to FSN though, because I am not sure how the "Let FSN pick the florist" function works. Best florist, or best FSN customer. I'd like to think best florist, but that would be tough to judge.
I took the time to select my favorite florists in FSN so that when I place orders in those towns FSN automaticly uses them. That saves me time and I can send it through FW very quickly.
Hello Mike, thanks for your input. You are right, they both are the same but when I weigh different aspects of TF and FTD
I feel better about TF. I want to keep one that send me the most orders because I use that as an opportunity to advertise what
our shop does to the community and I do get a lot of business because of this. Of course, you do not get full value with
wire service but what a cheap way to advertise your business - someone has paid for the flowers and you have showed what
you can do!
By the way, I have always used your shop for orders to your area. Have always had positive feedback.
Pratima
I feel better about TF. I want to keep one that send me the most orders because I use that as an opportunity to advertise what
our shop does to the community and I do get a lot of business because of this. Of course, you do not get full value with
wire service but what a cheap way to advertise your business - someone has paid for the flowers and you have showed what
you can do!
By the way, I have always used your shop for orders to your area. Have always had positive feedback.
Pratima