Hello from Up North

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maryo

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Feb 18, 2008
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Eagan
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MN
Hello,

I recently heard about flowerchat.com from another chat room. I've been in the gift, gift basket & floral business for about 15 years. I have a website that has been up for 8 years which is the bulk of my business. I opened up my first retail store 2 1/2 years ago. 75 % of my business is gift baskets, with the remaining 25% fresh floral and gifts. Right now, I only do all occasion fresh floral but am seriously looking into doing weddings since I have a lot of requests.

I've participated in other chat rooms for the last 5 years and look forward to chatting with others in regards to the flower industry.

Mary
 
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Mary, welcome to our community...

Whats your web site address?
 
Welcome Mary
 
DITTO! Welcome ABOARD da BOARD!

Welcome Mary! Feel free to add to our knowledge and frustrations, as you deem fit!

Us WEE BEES have nothing else, other than OURSELVES, to share our WINS and LOSSES in the game, wee call FLORISTS.
 
Welcome

Do you think that expanding more of your business into the floral sector will increase your profits enough to make it worth your wild?

Does your gift basket business seem to be consistant or does it go up and down just during the holidays?

Whats your take on quality products compared to offering just inexpensive products. This could be directed to your gift baskets or floral.

Thanks
 
TOTO said:
Welcome Mary! Feel free to add to our knowledge and frustrations, as you deem fit!

Us WEE BEES have nothing else, other than OURSELVES, to share our WINS and LOSSES in the game, wee call FLORISTS.
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Gotta break down and pay you a visit one of these days.
Headin to Lake George in the spring ! Gotta detour !

Sempre Fi Toto !
 
You're an affiliate seller for growerflowers and just flowers? This is how you do your fresh flowers?

I haven't had coffee yet but I'm conffused.

Are you any kind of florist at all or are you purely "an alternative to flowers"?
 
Rhonda,

In response to the links; the vase of flowers under "noname" is mine and I only do local deliveries for all of my florals. The other two are affilitates which I've had on my website for at least 4 years. During that time, I've only received one order and got a commission of $4.00. I should take them off along with the Mrs. Fields cookies link.

I use to do a lot of fresh florals for special events and all occasions 11 years ago and have continued for special requests.

After 11 years doing 1000's and 1000's of gift baskets, my interest in doing florals especially for weddings has increased especially since I get a lot of requests since I opened up my retail store and I do a lot of wedding baskets for out of town guests.

I thought I would get some insight into the wedding floral market by joining this board. I've had two floral designers work for me doing baskets mostly and when I bring up adding weddings to my business, they tell me no since you're dealing with emotional brides and their mothers etc. etc. In fact, one of them who has over 20 years in the field said they will not do another wedding.

Has anyone hired an independent floral designer just to do weddings?

Mary
 
maryo said:
. I've had two floral designers work for me doing baskets mostly and when I bring up adding weddings to my business, they tell me no since you're dealing with emotional brides and their mothers etc. etc. In fact, one of them who has over 20 years in the field said they will not do another wedding.
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I would say all floral deliveries are emotional - sympathy, birthday, weddings ...... it's an emotional business. From my experience, you get what you emit - if you're nervous & uncomfortable, the brides you get will be nervous nellies who need everything spelled out. If you're confident and professional, you get brides who are easy breezey, who have confidence in you. There are always exceptions, but I love our most of our brides.

Sounds like your designers didn't like weddings, but weddings can be very profitable, so it may pay for you to learn how to deal with brides yourself. Can't speak about hiring a designer just for weddings - I've done them for other employers, and now for myself in my shop.

Oh, and welcome!
tracy

ps - you might want to have someone go over your website for spelling issues - some of your flower names are misspelled. Wouldn't look good to potential brides ..... :)
 
I can't imagine hiring anyone "detached" from my business to come in and do work under my name. Anything could go wrong and your good name could be ruined by their work.
I would either learn how to do the work properly yourself or refer to a suitable florist for weddings.
Mary, have you had any schooling in floristry?
 
Rhonda,

I've taken floral design classes through Ardith Beverage who operates a floral design school in my area 12 years ago.
 
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