Getting out of the "Big 2" altogether.

Status
Not open for further replies.
Q regarding F2F orders.

I gave notice to FTD today to quit. Mainly because I was risking losing a good customer or every month because of the screwups by the florist at the other end and FTD's refusal to make it up to the customers. Quality assurance is a tax without representation.
So now my question is this: If I call another florist directly to fill my order for $100.00 should I pass on $80.00 or $100.00
I send out 30-50 orders a month and would hate to lose out.
On the other hand have been filling all incoming orders to 100% of value. But have been very selective on the sending shop. OG and ftd.com gets automatic forward.
 
It's all up to you:)

LZR-

Congratulations on your new found freedom! As for the outgoing %, there has been much debate on this topic, but when it comes down to it, you can do it any way you want to!

Our shop would explain the process to customers, offer to handle the order for a $8 fee and send the order at 100%, itemizing it for the customer. We also filled all incoming orders at 100%. We never used the wire service and always explained to our customers how they could save money by ordering direct from the florist. We would provide them website info for directories, such as ours, yet a few would still have us handle the order and pay the $8.00. The rest were so appreciative that we explained the process, so that they could save $8.00, and get 100% value. Those customers referred so much business to us including many large events and weddings. Not to mention, they always returned for local floral orders, because we had gained their trust. Overall $$$ far exceeding what we would have made of the wire outs. Good word of mouth advertising. Best Wishes!
 
Very nice comments Ten

Really!, Many Flowershop business owner today are not the old school folks anymore since those classic owners are well into their retirement ages and their children said "No Thanks" on the tradition to carry on in this Industry of being a "Florist" and after all, "we Children of the BUD who have carried on within this endless no Money adventure find everything being talked about here on all these chat boards to be just HALF-TRUTH with too much sugar coating.

I'm begining to believe that were all seeing SCRAP ARTISTS? Which ever scraps they can hold on to will keep those members open for another day.

I sure hope everyone is planning for more out of pocket money this summer to keep the doors open.

Your customer just walked in and paid $50 dollars to fill up his car with gas for his or her commute to work and that purchase was only good for 3 out of that 5 day work week. American consumers will not have that extra $20 bill to spend on flowers this summer my friends. Summer of 05 is going to be very bad for everyone regardless.
 
Beg to differ...

Blue Oyster Cult said:
Summer of 05 is going to be very bad for everyone regardless.
Click to expand...

I'm not so sure about that Blue...I think the Summer of '05 will see a time of coming together, a time of re-thinking, a time of sharing, a time of working together, sharing information (not necessarily on the boards) and the building of a new model.

I am not saying it'll be easy or that many won't struggle, but that as things do get worse for some, others will step up and work for the good of the Real Florists and help to build the future for those same Real Florists.

Things are happening...like I have been asked to speak at a meeting in Detroit in April, hosted by a wholesaler, and this is exactly the kind of thing I am talking about. Various industry segments getting together for the good of all. Slow to move...yes...but the Turtle did wwin the race!
 
BOSS said:
Things are happening...like I have been asked to speak at a meeting in Detroit in April, hosted by a wholesaler, and this is exactly the kind of thing I am talking about. Various industry segments getting together for the good of all. Slow to move...yes...but the Turtle did wwin the race!
Click to expand...

Is this Rokay who is putting something together in April? Anymore information on this meeting? is it open to all folks?
 
Blue Oyster Cult said:
Is this Rokay who is putting something together in April? Anymore information on this meeting? is it open to all folks?
Click to expand...

Yep, April 12th, 6ish I think (?), and I would assume so.
 
Blue COULD be right,

or BLUE could be WRONG, but in either case, Blue Mikey has raised a concern for those shop owners that HAVEN'T begun to make their OWN survivor plans in this business.
Since HE has advocated dumping the wire services, and is doing what he believes to be right, and I, chose to stick it out with FTD, since I have figured out how to FULLY UTILIZE the program, NEITHER is actually right or wrong!
HERE, the classic case of should I/shouldn't I be a member should ONLY BE decided by the OWNER of the business...the ONE(s) that are taking ALL the risk!
MANY shop owners have chosen to "opt out"....and an interesting "side effect" is that THOSE of us left, MIGHT be in a better position to negotiate with the WS's, and MIGHT BE treated a little fairer......MIGHT BE!!
FOR the record....FTD/TF are NOT "bad or good" but, are suddenly facing having to fight for their business lives, with US, as well as amongst themselves, as well as OTHER market share pressures...and as witnessed by this past week's failure of JetsGo, NOW is a very dangerous time for the wire services, and similar, and I FOR ONE, think much of that has to do with REAL FLORISTS finally taking up the challenge, and doing something about it.....just like BLUE
 
I agree Boss, This summer might be tough but things are changing and for the better I think. It is going to be a long fight but it seems like the tide might be starting to turn. More consumer awareness, (and for real florist that is a good thing). The only ones that get really hurt by smarter consumers are the skimmers and unscrupulous florist. As many others on here have said we have ourselves mainly to blame for this mess but we are also the ones that can fix it. If we work together, educate the public, and market, market, market.

Sorry for the rant,
Bob
 
Mikey the Flower Guy said:
an interesting "side effect" is that THOSE of us left, MIGHT be in a better position to negotiate with the WS's, and MIGHT BE treated a little fairer......MIGHT BE!!
FOR the record....FTD/TF are NOT "bad or good" but, are suddenly facing having to fight for their business lives
Click to expand...

How true....especially in markets with only 1-2 member shops...

It will be interesting to see, as they jockey for position among Real Florists, if they wake up and emliminate TAXES for things a shop can not control like low sending fees. Also, which ever one steps up to the plate to help remove deception will likely garner the most Real Florist support.

That said, I think, if they wait too long, it will all be a moot point, as they just may see a more viable option emerge that will give them a run for the money, the orders, and the ability to make the BIG2 non-factors in the daily lives of many Real Florists.

Thing is, in many markets, they have seen fit to over-satturate with members, thus few gain an advantage by association, and many smaller shops would be much better served by a low cost, highly reliable method of connecting with other Real Florists to handle their long distance needs.

There is little to no benifit for a shop to pay upwards of 3-400.00 a month, that has only 20-30 outbound orders a month, likewise these same shops have been coerced into thinking that $2000.00/month card ads in the directories will help them get more orders, and thus more business, but they get in only 50 orders a month, thus making the cost per order $40.00 right off the top, then comes the buck to get it, and the 27% thats removed, and lets not forget delivery. I know one florist local to me, that has a full page, plus several smaller card ads...I just don;t get t!
 
I know one florist local to me, that has a full page, plus several smaller card ads...I just don;t get it!
Click to expand...
Most likely, the ads are comped or deeply discounted - maybe to appease a disgruntled shop owner, or to 'reward' a buyer of a new technology package, or as a result of a teaser rate that doesn't kick in with the real cost for a few months.

How many times have you been called to take 'free' stuff like magazine issues that require opt outs within 2 months or the full fees kick in? We seem to get these calls every month or so.

My experience is that big senders get lots of comped ads - large ads for their own towns, and decent-sized ones for ASB's. 'Only the little people pay.'
 
Mikey the Flower Guy said:
MANY shop owners have chosen to "opt out"....and an interesting "side effect" is that THOSE of us left, MIGHT be in a better position to negotiate with the WS's, and MIGHT BE treated a little fairer......MIGHT BE!!
Click to expand...

Can anyone say.... The FTD Store?

Think they are not exploring the idea? They control their own identity, open up shops across the country, and increase their brand exposure. Imagine that. FTD, your neighborhood florist.

Think it's on it's way to a town near you? No more worries about keeping everyone happy. They control the brand, they control the quality, and the best part is, they get someone else to put up the money!! Think anybody would buy this idea? Sure they will. FTD would have people standing in line.

Can you see it? I can.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
Rob -

I cannot see them wading into the quagmire of free-standing retail store ownership on a national basis but they could be considering a partnership with some big box retailer.

I can see them looking to franchise. The problem always comes back to 'Is there enough profit to make it worth it for the individual franchisee?' Based on my experience of having worked in the operations department of one of the largest franchisors in the US, a company now owned by 1800Flowers, I simply don't see enough $ in the pot with today's overhead to make franchises work for long. They could generate some buzz and pull in folks who always dreamed of being florists, ala Kabloom, but is the model sustainable?

Once again, the current FTD model is heavily reliant on the income generated from florist services. Can that be replaced with franchise fees? My experience says no.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
You got that one - CHR...

CHR said:
Most likely, the ads are comped or deeply discounted - maybe to appease a disgruntled shop owner, or to 'reward' a buyer of a new technology package, or as a result of a teaser rate that doesn't kick in with the real cost for a few months.

How many times have you been called to take 'free' stuff like magazine issues that require opt outs within 2 months or the full fees kick in? We seem to get these calls every month or so.

My experience is that big senders get lots of comped ads - large ads for their own towns, and decent-sized ones for ASB's. 'Only the little people pay.'
Click to expand...

Back in the early AFS days, we cut a deal to put a card ad in 50 towns - FREE for 2 directories - in both their regular directory and their 800 directory (heck, THAT was a scam in itself!). This was something our old AFS rep was selling, with the blessings of the AFS top brass. Back then, we were BIG AFS senders - had acquired 3 afs shops within a year (owners retireing, got them for a song). Anyway, we were threatening to leave AFS - so, hence the free card ad deal. The one kicker - we WOULD then be charged for the ads. To say the least, we got them pulled within the time needed!

A total scam - I have seen the most from TEL as of recent. Can't help to think that most of this "stuff" came along when Tom Butler did... Oh well, buyer beware...

- H.
 
Lady Biker Florist said:
Keep us posted to the exact date and time you'll be at Rokay, okay? Hey that kinda rhymes!
Click to expand...

ROKEY DOKEY :) will do, but you can check with them directly, I am not sure if space is limited or not...
 
IFA Selection Guide

Patty,

Just a couple of weeks ago we started looking at producing the new IFA Selection Guide. The new guide will have Photos from the IFA Photo Gallery.
We currently need about another 100 photos added to the Gallery and that will be completed this summer.

My guess is we should have the selection guide in the hands of our members by the end of the summer. Our vendor has already told us that the printing process would take about 3 to 4 weeks.

If you have any questions give me a call

Russ
 
So Boss,

(This thread has a couple different conversations going on. )

Boss, have you committed to speaking at Rokay yet? He's sure a nice guy! Will you let me (us) know when and if you committ to doing so? Thanks!!!

April 12th Tuesday night
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
Boss,

Lady Biker Florist said:
(This thread has a couple different conversations going on. )

Boss, have you committed to speaking at Rokay yet? He's sure a nice guy! Will you let me (us) know when and if you committ to doing so? Thanks!!!

April 12th Tuesday night
Click to expand...

I received a fax from Rokay today and it's Monday the 11th. We're probably going to go. Will you be speaking?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom
Back