No offense but I really cant post more than one place and right now it seems like this would be the most reasonable place to be..to me the facebook is very social and has a good idea but I personally want to keep my thoughts here on this board..will visit you there when I am making so much dough I can relax..Sher
From the Wire service who won't compete with us..they said so!
- Thread starter Sher
- Start date
- Status
We have a private room on Facebook...no one else can be there and the nice thing is that it's organized, with topics, posts, photos, video, etc. all on the same page...we have several committees within the same 'Group' so no need to hunt for info....we'll all definitely stay with FC too!!!
I hate to rain on the torches and pitchforks parade here, but does anyone want to notice that the Amber Glow is florist delivered?
They've been deep discounting for years - anyone seen USAA discounts?
This is nothing new - yes they apparently eat the discount.
And generally speaking - if you don't want to fill it your competition will.
And like Rich says - who cares? If it contributes to their own demise - right the fook on - it gets us that much closer to being the last man standing.
This "we gotta band together" talk has gone on now for well over 10 years. It just ain't happening people.
Call me selfish or call me realistic - I'm for taking care of my backyard.
opinions vary
They've been deep discounting for years - anyone seen USAA discounts?
This is nothing new - yes they apparently eat the discount.
And generally speaking - if you don't want to fill it your competition will.
And like Rich says - who cares? If it contributes to their own demise - right the fook on - it gets us that much closer to being the last man standing.
This "we gotta band together" talk has gone on now for well over 10 years. It just ain't happening people.
Call me selfish or call me realistic - I'm for taking care of my backyard.
opinions vary
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Gotta agree again Jon.... I have no problem letting my local competition fill those highly discounted orders, and they get everyone they can handle, they're welcome to them. I'll keep the capacity open for local customers.
And sadly, yes there have been many a rallying cry over the years. I called for boycotts many times to no avail. We've launched websites time and time again, like www.realflorist.com only to have them fade from the minds of florists that are already too busy in their day to day businesses to continually attempt to drum up support within the industry.
As the economy continues to chew away at the ability to hire people to do what I need them to do, my time is more and more at a premium, leaving little to carry the battle flag and sound the trumpet. I'm taking care of my own "backyard" waiting for the local competition to fall by the wayside.
Playing to be the Last Man Standing.... I remain....:ssmoke
There are some of us that are willing to stick this out. I am one of them. Yes, we are busy and yes it may take time to do this but I am willing to work on it.
In the span of a few days, we have volunteers, committees, and now a website.
I will take on the finance committee lead until it grows and we vote on it. And I will join the marketing committee.
In the span of a few days, we have volunteers, committees, and now a website.
I will take on the finance committee lead until it grows and we vote on it. And I will join the marketing committee.
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Never said I was not willing to stick it out either, it's just that many of us have ... been there, done that.
www.floristdetective.com took years to get where it's at, and still requires much time to maintain and build.
www.realflorist.com made a noble effort on replacing boxed roses, even with paid press releases that cost a lot of green... to little avail.
One of two things have to happen to make a meaningful change in this industry.
1) A majority of florists have to decide to embrace an effort that is already well on it's way to fruition like Marilee's Retail Florist Association that already has a selection guide that can be used by any florist willing to join up, creating standardized imagery for transfered orders. Said "association" to be viable in my opinion has to break the 80/20 mold, but sadly not enough florists are willing to give up their cut to build a new model.
Or
2) There needs to be a dedicated PAID staff, that works on and builds a new model as their "day job".
Current wire services are sucessful because they have "feet on the ground" going into shops everyday to sign up new guini pigs to replace those that either get smart and quit, or simply die off because of too much discounted work.
I'm in this game for the long haul, have beend for nearly 4 decades now, and I don't plan to go anywhere for the next 7 years, 2 months and 19 days....but I do plan to be...
The Last Man Standing in my market!
I absolutely wasn't speaking of you specifically. You, in fact, offer so much to the cause that we all have a lot to learn from you.
You bring up viable points. So I would agree that a paid staff may be needed. I also agree that the 80/20 just doesn't work. But there has to be something in it for the member florist and money left over for operating expenses. Instead of the old business network model why not just create a different model altogether that would work? Research the florist market and just ask them what they would be willing to pay for a membership and what benefits they want out of it.
Here's my two cents......I would be willing to contribute with others to the cost of a website. Why do we need a paid staff if we have a good website? Put in a zip code, the order emails to the member's email address. How to get a membership base? Start here.
The problem as I see it isn't that florists object to a network outside of WS or that they object to a common selection guide or even that they object to any costs. The problem is getting this thing organized and squeezing it into everyone's tight schedules. These are solvable problems. It may be chaos at first and it may take awhile to get the momentum going but I have to believe there exists a way to make this work.
I will check out the networks you speak about above. Maybe the momentum is going and it just needs tweaked?
Here's my point--there's a great deal of arrogance to say someone else is stupid or wrong or clueless because they're doing something different than you are. In the case of this board, WS membership. And there's a lot of that being said.
Don't worry about other people, you need to look out for #1. Let other people take care of themselves. Whether it's to be the last man standing, or because they may be running their businesses in a way that they can make a legitimate profit on WS orders, it's not really anyone's place to try and save another's business soul. Just look out for yourself, lead, and let those who feel it's in their best interest to follow, do so.
Like JB said, I'm seeing in this thread the same old blah as 10 years ago. The rhetoric hasn't changed, but we have, because we were looking out for #1.
dhamil6490
Active Member
We need to send the WS a very short email: "Without us, you don't exist." There is a Teleflora "Advocate" by the name of Andy Potter. His email address is [email protected]. He used to be very responsive to the plight of the florist. Any more, it's business as usual. If he and FTD's Advocate (if they have one) received a flood of emails with this message, they'd at least have to sit up and take notice. A one-day embargo of WS orders would also get their attention. In combination, we'd get their attention. Our next step should be getting this message out to as many florists as possible, and picking a date. Who's interested?
duanermb
New Member
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
lizzie ann
Well-Known Member
I don't belong to a wire service......I have been in business 15yrs. I would rather spend money on my web site and advertise locally. I do direct orders from people I know and when a customer wants something delivered elsewhere,I give them a number and tell them to call direct. Spend your money where it will benifit your business,not the order gatherers.
Ive spoken to andy plenty of times.....he has that corporate mentality....and it's tough to get him to understand that we dont make any money with teleflora
I will never undersatnd any shop that will tell their customers that they dont want to take their money....but would rather they spend it elsewhere..:hammer:
duanermb
New Member
I agree completely with this concept. Focus on your core business and your own territory and let other florists make money for their territory.
We also don't subscribe to the wire services, and our customers appreciate the fact that we don't charge them 20% plus a wire fee for something that technology now lets them do for themselves. If they choose to let us do it for a fee, we gladly do it for them by calling another shop. (Always paying 100% to the filling florist, plus the nominal fee for ourselves)
The OGs will NEVER get their hands on your local walk in business, focus on what you can control. Provide value and service. Lifelong customers.
I guess I should add one of these: :soapbox:
If they choose to let us do it for a fee, we gladly do it for them by calling another shop. (Always paying 100% to the filling florist, plus the nominal fee for ourselves)
ummmm, cough, if you take a nominal fee there's no way you send 100%.....the only way to send 100% is to, well, send 100%.
sorry to rain on the feel good factor, but.....:soapbox:
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Maybe not... but some of us do... many customers are so appreciative of the "service" and the savings. Also it often eliminates problems on our end.
As the market (read economy) changes, and the mindset (read: internet saveyness)(is that a word?) of the consumer evolves, along with the change in the age makeup of our clients getting younger, it will be more and more difficult to balance the money spent on a wire service with the volume it generates.
duanermb
New Member
- Status