Flowershopnetwork.com

[Griff]

Please tell me that you are not going to fall victim to gossip. Or do you believe everything an anonymous poster says? Why don't you call FSN and get the scoop for yourself? Ask them for their opinion on OG activities and whether or not they support or foster those activities.

I don't think I'm falling victim to any gossip. The original question was about opinions concerning FSN. The question has to be that if you invest money in ANY directory, what kind of return can you expect. Flowersmith is happy, but they have 2 sites and also are located very close to PIttsburgh. Is it this closeness to a major market that gets them a good response in FSN? I don't have the answer. Connie in Piedmont is the only florist IN Piedmont in the FSN listings, but 6 others are also listed as also serves. Does anyone have some facts that confirm whys she has had less than favorable results with FSN or is it because she doesn't have a website and some of the also serves do? I don't have an answer for that either. Eric stated he is less than thrilled at his results in Tustin, Ca and there are 14 florists listed for that city. Does the number of florists listed for each town downgrade any results because FSN search is not done by zip code. I suspect that it does, but I don't have any facts to back that up. Cindi in Houston seems to be very happy with her results, but again we are talking about a major market. In the FSN search on Houston, there are 43 florists listed but only 18 actually located in Houston. Is it a fact that she has a better website or the fact that there are only 14 florists listed in houston that give her a better than average result. I don't have an answer for that either. It doesn't seem to matter whether you have a website or not because there are some florists in Houston that have 2. From all appearances, it seems that the larger the local market and the fewer the florists listed, the greater the advantage for those florists.

Wesley Berry does operate a real florist shop last I knew. Maybe I am wrong. As for Palatine, Il, I didn't see anything alarming. Maybe you could post the suspect shop.

Many of the OG's today ARE FLORISTS! Ask any florist in Michigan and they will advise you the Wesley Berry is an OG. It is not a rumor. Yes, 99% of all people who list on a directory on doing so to gain incoming orders. It also is not to any advantage to an OG, who is a WS member, to transmit orders through to florists on a directory and only get 20% and still have to pay $3.99 for transmission. No advantage unless there is no florist in an area within the WS that will take the OG's orders and then a directory becomes the place of last resort. That's not a slam against any directory or any F2F 20/80 sending program and that means all of them! However, NO ONE is going to be able to screen out all the OG's from their system. Many OG websites today have the real ownership very well hidden. So as more and more florists leave the WS, more and more OG's will be forced to use alternatives to send their orders. That's not a rumor - that's a pure fact.

If you don't like their 20/80 F2F program then you don't have to participate. It appears that some shops don't benefit from their directory listings as much as others, so maybe your shop will not benefit at all from FSN.

Opinion is one thing, rumors are another...

As I have said from the very beginning, I'm not a candidate and I'm not trying to "trash" anyones program. The point of all this is it seems to work for some and for others it doesn't. The important factor to determine, what MAKES it work for some! For example, Fairfield, I can find you when I search for a FLORIST in Eugene, or a FLOWER SHOP in Eugene or DELIVER FLOWERS in Eugene. I can find you on locateaflowershop, I can even find your website through Yahoo yellow pages and superpages, but NOT through FSN at least not in the first 2 pages of any search. No, I don't think it is a regional thing. I have to use a Yahoo browser that comes with my DSL, but so does a great many other consumers today. I have been doing searches through various regions of the country and run into the same problem. The whole idea of directories is to make it easy for the consumer to find florists, but it doesn't seem to that be easy. Shouldn't florists have some expectation or guideline that tells them before you invest your money, you can expect some amount of return? How about a limit as to how many florists can be listed as also served for anyone town? How about if you already have 2 or more florists listed and have B & M for the same town, no also serves are necessary? The larger the town, the more florists that can be listed. If the directory doesn't charge for extra listing, no one really benefits, do they?

 

[fairfield]

From all appearances, it seems that the larger the local market and the fewer the florists listed, the greater the advantage for those florists.

Well, here's a tough one. FSN is a directory service for what? A directory for customers to find florists or a directory for florists to get customers? Big difference. It may not be appealing to a florist to sign with a directory that will allow every florist in town to sign. If you are a customer, however, it is all about choice. The directory also makes more money with more listings. So, if you run a directory, how do you set it up? You will make more money and offer more choice to the consumer if you sign every florist, but that offers little exclusivity for the florists' that signed-up.

Many of the OG's today ARE FLORISTS! Ask any florist in Michigan and they will advise you the Wesley Berry is an OG. It is not a rumor. Yes, 99% of all people who list on a directory on doing so to gain incoming orders. It also is not to any advantage to an OG, who is a WS member, to transmit orders through to florists on a directory and only get 20% and still have to pay $3.99 for transmission. No advantage unless there is no florist in an area within the WS that will take the OG's orders and then a directory becomes the place of last resort. That's not a slam against any directory or any F2F 20/80 sending program and that means all of them! However, NO ONE is going to be able to screen out all the OG's from their system. Many OG websites today have the real ownership very well hidden. So as more and more florists leave the WS, more and more OG's will be forced to use alternatives to send their orders. That's not a rumor - that's a pure fact.

Wesley Berry has a real flower shop and that is allowed in FSN. As far as his OG efforts - FSN has no technology to support order gathering. It is not an OG friendly organization.

For example, Fairfield, I can find you when I search for a FLORIST in Eugene, or a FLOWER SHOP in Eugene or DELIVER FLOWERS in Eugene. I can find you on locateaflowershop, I can even find your website through Yahoo yellow pages and superpages, but NOT through FSN at least not in the first 2 pages of any search.

Curious here - what keywords did you search?

No, I don't think it is a regional thing. I have to use a Yahoo browser that comes with my DSL, but so does a great many other consumers today. I have been doing searches through various regions of the country and run into the same problem.

When I say regional I am speaking to the success of the SEO work. Directories may have more success in some areas over others. I don't know for sure, but that is my theory. Haven't found an answer yet.

The whole idea of directories is to make it easy for the consumer to find florists, but it doesn't seem to that be easy.

I am sure I heard Al Gore say that his internet was supposed to be a resource that would put the world at our fingertips. My opinion - Finding something specific on the internet is like trying to find that rare coin your dog ate last night.

Shouldn't florists have some expectation or guideline that tells them before you invest your money, you can expect some amount of return?

Any one of the wire-service reps will have this information for a florist. My point - If they told you, would you believe them? Everybody tells you they will make you money.

How about a limit as to how many florists can be listed as also served for anyone town? How about if you already have 2 or more florists listed and have B & M for the same town, no also serves are necessary? The larger the town, the more florists that can be listed. If the directory doesn't charge for extra listing, no one really benefits, do they?

I do agree with you, but I'm always reading a post that says we are all in this together. We need to do this and we need to do that. That's all fine and dandy, but when it comes right down to it, are florists' really willing to share the wealth? Or do you want to be the one listed?

 

[goldfish]

For example, Fairfield, I can find you when I search for a FLORIST in Eugene, or a FLOWER SHOP in Eugene or DELIVER FLOWERS in Eugene. I can find you on locateaflowershop, I can even find your website through Yahoo yellow pages and superpages, but NOT through FSN at least not in the first 2 pages of any search.

FSN usually ranks much higher if you search for "flower shops in <state>". Note "shops" (plural) not "shop".

 

[Griff]

Well, here's a tough one. FSN is a directory service for what? A directory for customers to find florists or a directory for florists to get customers? Big difference. It may not be appealing to a florist to sign with a directory that will allow every florist in town to sign. If you are a customer, however, it is all about choice. The directory also makes more money with more listings. So, if you run a directory, how do you set it up? You will make more money and offer more choice to the consumer if you sign every florist, but that offers little exclusivity for the florists' that signed-up.

Any florist directory should be for the benefit of the FLORIST. The consumer is not paying any money for this directory. The florist is paying money to be listed so they can be connected directly with consumers. The consumers don't help get it listed or designate where it's listed. That's the responsibility of the people that created the directory. You stated that the directory makes more money when they offer more choices to the consumer. If the florists are the ones that are paying for the listing, doesn't the directory have some responsibility to those that have financially supported them to aid in helping the consumer towards the best florist for a specific area. If you have 4 B & M florists actually located in a town and only one of those florists is paying for a listing in your directory, why should other florists in the surrounding area have the opportunity to also list for the same town. Those additional listings didn't net the directory any more money, but did dilute the chance for the florist who is actually in that town, to receive any orders.

Wesley Berry has a real flower shop and that is allowed in FSN. As far as his OG efforts - FSN has no technology to support order gathering. It is not an OG friendly organization.

It does not matter if the technology exists within the directory. When you combine any directory that was originally designed to attract consumers directly to your flower shop and mix it with the same data base that is using a 20-80 commission program and have the ability to send f2f orders through the system without the receiving florist knowing who the sender is, this is a problem just waiting to happen. Why are florists so upset with WS for sending HQ orders with no desigination as to actually is sending the order?? Becasue OG's who couldn't get the order filled origianally are now in STEALTH mode.

I am sure I heard Al Gore say that his internet was supposed to be a resource that would put the world at our fingertips. My opinion - Finding something specific on the internet is like trying to find that rare coin your dog ate last night.

Yes, it is tough to navigate the internet. That's why it iws so important to find someone that really has the florist's best interest at heart. As a consumer, I have no problem finding florists listed in Eugene, Oregon or Houston, Tx or Piedmont, SC, however it is only because of my experience as a florist do I know that everyone listed in these towns are NOT FLORISTS ACTUALLY IN THOSE TOWNS. We can't expect the consumers to understand that and we can't expect the internet to make everyone play fair. Florists are not normally computer people and therefore have to rely on the people selling them on websites and directories to help cut through all this crap and to be more interested in the florist suceeding then themselves. If the florist doesn't get orders from listings in a specific directory, someone should be able to tell them why they didn't. Don't you agree? It doesn't matter how many hits you get. It's about how many orders you received and how much you had to pay to get them. An unsatisfactory answer on their part should mean they lost a customer - YOU!

 

[BOSS]

Many of the OG's today ARE FLORISTS! Ask any florist in Michigan and they will advise you the Wesley Berry is an OG. It is not a rumor. Yes, 99% of all people who list on a directory on doing so to gain incoming orders. It also is not to any advantage to an OG, who is a WS member, to transmit orders through to florists on a directory and only get 20% and still have to pay $3.99 for transmission. No advantage unless

UNless he uses the directory to get orders, then takes them to the WS for transmission...that is...

 

[BOSS]

Wesley Berry does operate a real florist shop last I knew. Maybe I am wrong.

Oh yea...he does operate a flower shop, and just for the record, Wesley IS a target, in my personal attack on deceptive order gatherers, just so you understand my bias...

Like I said, he does operate a flowershop, actually he claims to operate tens of thousands of them, just like this one in Eugene Oregon, I'd bet it's right down the street from yours if you call them up and ask them. They say they **Deliver to** all those zip codes and hospitals and funeral homes...SO THEY MUST BE THERE...right?

Fairfield, do you really want Wesley listing in YOUR CITY? I sure don't want him in mine, thats why I do not accept his orders.

Nothing against FSN here, but they do allow cross listing if you feel like paying for it, my city has florists listed 30 miles away, do you really think they deliver here? I doub't it. I did not see listings for Wesley on FSN, if they are there I did not find them, but others are. I do take exception with their "Keep it simple" item on every page, suggesting we can not handle complicated orders...but thats another story...

One last thing, as I have said, Wesley is a target I fully intend to deal with thru the proper channels...it's just that your the first florist I have heard kind of defend him in a long time...sorry you got caught in the cross-hairs...Wesley is scum in my book.

 

[Griff]

UNless he uses the directory to get orders, then takes them to the WS for transmission...that is...

NOW BOSS, you don't think any of these nice people would do anything like that, do you???

Glad to see you made it back. Strange how some paths cross isn't it?

 

[fairfield]

OK... Show me the door.

Griff,

FlowerShopNetwork.com is a great organization with the best interest of the real local florist in mind. I know. I am a member. Some don't like them because they tried it and didn't like it. You sound like you've killed the project before you started it. Like I said before - Call them and ask them directly.

I think that if there is a listing for a town that doesn't "serve" the town would be remedied with a simple phone call. Maybe I'm wrong, but if I called them on a bogus listing and nothing was done it would be my ass they saw walking out on them.

I just thought I would enlighten you to some truth as I know it about FSN as this topic comes up occasionally.

Jason

 

[fairfield]

Oh yea...he does operate a flower shop, and just for the record, Wesley IS a target, in my personal attack on deceptive order gatherers, just so you understand my bias...

Like I said, he does operate a flowershop, actually he claims to operate tens of thousands of them, just like this one in Eugene Oregon, I'd bet it's right down the street from yours if you call them up and ask them. They say they **Deliver to** all those zip codes and hospitals and funeral homes...SO THEY MUST BE THERE...right?

Fairfield, do you really want Wesley listing in YOUR CITY? I sure don't want him in mine, thats why I do not accept his orders.

Nothing against FSN here, but they do allow cross listing if you feel like paying for it, my city has florists listed 30 miles away, do you really think they deliver here? I doub't it. I did not see listings for Wesley on FSN, if they are there I did not find them, but others are. I do take exception with their "Keep it simple" item on every page, suggesting we can not handle complicated orders...but thats another story...

One last thing, as I have said, Wesley is a target I fully intend to deal with thru the proper channels...it's just that your the first florist I have heard kind of defend him in a long time...sorry you got caught in the cross-hairs...Wesley is scum in my book.

JEEZUS KRYST BATMAN!!! IS THAT A SWARM OF BEES IN THE BLUE BOX ABOVE???

Actually Boss, I learned about ol' Barely shortly after my floral conception took place. My comment was simply to show that he qualifies for a directory listing for his B&M locations. And no, he is not located down the street from me. That fake location is taken by Guaranteed Florist Inc. (better known as flowershopping.com) Oh wait! They won't be for long since I registered their name this morning with the Oregon Corporation Division. Can't wait to see them NOT in next years phone book.:thumbsup

 

[BOSS]

JEEZUS KRYST BATMAN!!! IS THAT A SWARM OF BEES IN THE BLUE BOX ABOVE???

Told ya it was personal :soapbox:

Glad to hear you are being proactive on your end....!!! Keep t up!

 

[wilson39154]

Still it beats the heck out of FTD and Teleflora! Getting rid of them was like lifting a HUGE load off my back! No "recipe books" to buy and no crazy containers for code products either. It works for me. I'm sure if I had extra tiime or extra staff I could do my own website and save that $$, but I just don't have the extra time to keep a website updated. I have not received ALOT of orders from FSN, but I have had several customers per month call me directly and mention seeing my website.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[JERRYEIZ]

Pros and Cons of anyone that is using this service. The website has a joining fee of $299. They also have websites available for additional $300 and no other fees according to the sales rep. Anyway, I would like opions.

Their pricing is more flexible than that. You should be able to negotiate a membership and website for under $400. Their website is easy to use. They put mine up in a few days. If you want to see what they did go to www.floral-scentsations.biz .

 

[bloomz]

Their pricing is more flexible than that. You should be able to negotiate a membership and website for under $400. Their website is easy to use. They put mine up in a few days. If you want to see what they did go to www.floral-scentsations.biz .

Jerry - those sites are very good, and the images are top notch as well - wonder if they shot them all themselves?

If I may give one small bit of constructive criticism - I would ask them to remove the flowershopnetwork logo from below the navbar, cuz your clients may want you to take care of their long distance delivery needs and it just encourages your customers to go around you and go direct, effectively losing you very profitale sales.

I want to be all things to my customers.


PS - what is a "pocket dragon?" (on your about us page)
Is that anything like a monster in your pants?

:bangles:

 

[David]

www.floral-scentsations.biz .

Jerry,

I see you have three web sites. If I was you I would have only one site and point the url ending in .com to it.

 

[BOSS]

TIf you want to see what they did go to www.floral-scentsations.biz .

Pretty good... Like Bloomz, I'm curious about the images...theirs? or Yours?

 

[FlowerGirl1972]

Pretty good... Like Bloomz, I'm curious about the images...theirs? or Yours?

That is Flowershop Networks images. There websites are like the TF and FTD websites, you know same images just different names. They are trying to get me to sign up with them is how I know, LOL. Just thought I would share what I knew. They told me membership is $249.99 that is for a year and to use there web-sites is $350.00 a yr ( over the $249.99 membership fee). They do 20/80 on orders that you send thru them, and you pay $3.99 per order you send thru them. Said there main goal was not to be a "wire sevice" but to link customers to "real florist", they do not sell containers or etc or ask you to purchase anything of that nature from them. If you decide not to go with the web-site they will link your own shop web-site to your ad. They also said they only take a certain amount of shops per town/city. We haven't decided if we are going to go with there services yet! :thumbsup I have been reading more about it and trying to see if it would be worth our wild to try. I've heard good things and I have heard that the service didn't help shops so.............????