How many designs do you offer on your website?

[CHR]

After saying we had 'too many arrangements' on our site earlier in this thread, a regular customer walked in today with several print outs from websites to place a sympathy order. She said, 'You don't have very many selections on your site."

I told her we offered what we were ready to make most every day and that most sites with large selections heavily substituted the flowers shown. (I honestly don't think most consumers understand that at all. Many/most truly see sites as catalogs where the exact items will arrive as shown.)

She ended up ordering something entirely different than any of the pictures she'd printed out...

 

[Palms]

I dont think that most sites heavily substitute. I would not attempt to presume what most other florists do.

 

[goldfish]

Sandy,

After a long long thought when I was developing our web site, I've decided not to offer in our web site any specific pictures a visitor can click on. The visitor is forced to choose one of the design styles, "garden style" "tight and compact" etc, not any specific arrangement. In the funeral section also, we offer only the design style.

I confess this is not my idea. I copied the concept from Jacob Maarse's web site. Take a look at the attachment. That's their order form.

Our approach frees us from posting a picture of arrangement that we know we can't duplicate.

Now, I know that this approach goes against the conventional wisdom of e-commerce. They may be right, but may be wrong though. While I agree that some online visitors will never order without a picture, but many do, as long as (here's the key) they feel comfortable with the competence of the florist. That's what phone orders are all about after all. Same thing with online orders.

 

[Dazeal]

I dont think that most sites heavily substitute. I would not attempt to presume what most other florists do.

I think they do ONLY because I ran a poll here on FC a couple months back and according to florists on FC, 70-80% of the time the design does not look like the ones in the pics the customers ordered and the substitution method is used.

Maybe in England it is different, but part of the credibility issue here is people order A and get B. Or they order A and don't know what they are getting. It's a huge problem since day one 99 years ago.

 

[Dazeal]

(the heavens open up and the planets align)

I agree Goldfish. I know this is rare, but you are right when it comes to a certain market. I think I do lose custoemrs though because it's not the shopping cart thingy most peopel are used to, but I refuse to substitute, even though you tell peopel you might have to.

We've been using that method ever since we discovered it through Bbrooks a few years back. But we go further that his form and offer 'Styles' for the consumer to choose from to get an idea of style or shape, etc..

I love jacob's OG / local site, very honest and up front when you want to send flowers out of the area. OGing for Bbrooks honestly. Good for him and way to evolve!

 

[cherrie]

I have many, many pictures to chose from on my site.
I never feel like I have enough, or enough categories.
Have been working on a birthday/babies page.


Here's my disclaimer

Substitution Policy:Flowers are a function of nature. Sometimes, specific flowers and specific colors just aren't available on a given day. We will try our best to make a suitable substitution . If the arrangement substitutions become too extreme, we will call you to suggest other alternatives.


I show this on every arrangement when you click on the description page. Never had a problem.

I also have my wedding, sympathy, and corsage pages linked to an online picasa album.
I no longer use a wire service guide book. I keep an old imac on my counter, guide customers to my web site, them to the picasa link.

My site is my selection guide. I change it constantly.

 

[Palms]

I think they do ONLY because I ran a poll here on FC a couple months back and according to florists on FC, 70-80% of the time the design does not look like the ones in the pics the customers ordered and the substitution method is used.

Maybe in England it is different, but part of the credibility issue here is people order A and get B. Or they order A and don't know what they are getting. It's a huge problem since day one 99 years ago.

I dont think it is a huge problem you know, as long as you have something written in like Cherrie and I and are honest. I have never had a problem but then i dont heavily substitute. Daze, i know you did your poll but as much as i really respect the view of yourself and others on fc, we do not form the majority of florists.

Lots of pictures show them different design styles and different colour schemes and show them your skill as a florist.

I also explain to outgoing orders that it will be similar to the picture and that realistically the other florist may have to substitute. I dont actually think substituting for a similar flower and colour and price is that bad.

This is of course only my humble opinion... doesn't really matter as we all do whats best for our business anyway.

 

[BOSS]

Now, I know that this approach goes against the conventional wisdom of e-commerce. They may be right, but may be wrong though. While I agree that some online visitors will never order without a picture, but many do, as long as (here's the key) they feel comfortable with the competence of the florist. That's what phone orders are all about after all. Same thing with online orders.

I sell a good number of THESE ..... go figure...cookie cutters be danged!:rofl: