I think Lori is right. People just aren't spending on discretionary items because of all the fear in the economy.
Is it me or are ftd orders non existent
- Thread starter Excptnl
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duanermb
New Member
Flowerchatter03
Co-Owner and Floral Composer
Not trying to single anyone out but....how many people do you see in the new member intro that state they have no professional training? There are a lot of people who would love to own a flower shop but really and truly do not have the skills. You can have talent but you still need the education if you want to ever be a top shelf professional florist and designer.
Lori, you are so right about florist with no marketing ability. This is the same situation, if one wants to have a business, one needs business skills. Even if one has the talent and design education, you need to educate yourself about how to run a business including new technology.
It is our own fault if we choose not to educate ourselves to improve our skills. It always comes down to this fact, not everyone is meant to own a business just like not everyone is cut out to be a chef or hair dresser or a candlemaker, etc.
duanermb
New Member
RC in Dayton and Cincinnati
New Member
I think florists should be licensed as well.
In order to be licensed they should be required to be open until at least 7PM and open on Saturday and Sunday. They should have no less than 800 sq ft of cooler space and carry no less than $5,000 in fresh cut inventory at any given time.
A licensing fee of $50,000 a year which will go towards a national advertising campaign to increase consumption should be mandatory.
This should weed out some of the hobbyist flower shops.
felicityflowers
New Member
Did anyone ever stop to think that maybe the decline in orders from FTD is because they aren't using florists to send their orders?
Someone touched on it but, there's a whole lot of drop shipping going on via FTD. Just saw their "most popular" selections....all of them are drop shipped.
Someone touched on it but, there's a whole lot of drop shipping going on via FTD. Just saw their "most popular" selections....all of them are drop shipped.
of course...would you trust the florists will all of your wire outs???? its a nightmare....that is why i keep saying that it's the florists themselves that are doing this....anyone with a dollar and a dream can open a shop...ftd does order checks...we've all seen what they look like from different florists...is it really any wonder ftd chooses to drop ship??? i'd do the same thing...why do you think i stopped advertising outside my market???? cuz many of the shops stink!!!
RC in Dayton and Cincinnati
New Member
For the month of March my incoming wire s are up 105%, and I don't even want them. Go figure.
RC
PS: Remember Easter was in March last year.
RC
PS: Remember Easter was in March last year.
Doug Munro
Well-Known Member
I think that as an industry we tend to be a disjointed overall. I recall when the Gerald Stevens group was formed and how they planned to pull everything together at the retail level. That certainly worked well.....lol
Same problem with USA Floral (although they tackled the wholesale and import sectors).
As we all recall both attempts were colossal failures. I believe this is because there are absolutely no unifying standards across the board. The vast majority of florists are "self taught", there is no required certification, it is basically "learn as you go". Add to that the fact that most flower shops are "mom & pop" business models, each with their own concepts of quality, pricing, marketing, etc.
The one thing I do maintain about the wire services (love them or hate them) is that they do attempt to bring some uniformity to the industry.
As an industry we tend to shoot ourseleves in the foot contiuously. The consumer in many cases will tell you that they don't buy flowers because "they don't last" or "they cost too much". Despite this there are still lots of shops that will buy aged product to save a few cents (which in many cases they don't pass on) per stem, or can't be bothered to sanitize buckets.
The one I really have to laugh at is when I hear the comment that "funerals are a great way to get rid of your older product".
In fact a quick review of some of the questions on this board is really eye opening, there are some questions that are so basic it makes one wonder how anyone can open and operate a flower business without knowing the answers.
Although we all consider ourselves professional florists,I don't know of too many industries where one is considered a professional without having some form of certified training (mechanics, meat cutters, accountants, etc.) And yes, i do realize that a "professional" is someone that is paid versus an "amateur" who is not paid. But I think you get my drift.
i love the shops that insist on taking your order by pen and paper....they are usually the ones in the sticks that refuse to adapt to changing times
Rhonda
Well-Known Member
this computer geek (not tech geek) will gladly take your order over the phone sometimes with pen and paper but mostly with a POS....and yes, I'm in the woods and don't "hug" trees.
You would be quite surprised at what lurks in the woods.............
(oh and a few years ago, I wouldn't take the OG'ered orders from Exceptional Flowers, pen, paper, or POS)
You would be quite surprised at what lurks in the woods.............
(oh and a few years ago, I wouldn't take the OG'ered orders from Exceptional Flowers, pen, paper, or POS)
cherrie
New Member
Speaking of branding and bad florist skills. I witnessed a great example of both today. Denver is in the throes of a major, blizzard, snowstore today.
I didn't have any drivers come in and did the funeral deliveries myself.
As I was dropping off at a mortuary, I saw with horror an arrangement that a very well know flower empire had left. It was disgusting.
A traditional fan shape in an 8" basket, with 5 stems of dead blue delph, about 8 stems of fushia stock that had about 2 inches of good florets left, a few very premature, crappy looking alstromeria, 5 white carns, and lots and lots of skinny emerald. This arrangement was spread out about 36 tall and 24 wide. At a minimum, someone paid 50 bucks for this digusting looking piece.
It came from Veldkamps. A sad story. Ben Veldkamp was the genious that developed the Mercury system. An icon of our industry. About 3 or so years ago, his son closed most of their multi locations and bought into 800 flowers. Now, their trucks say 1-800- flowers and Veldkamps.
It's sad, but any flower shop that sends out the level of bad work I saw today deserves to go under.
Plus, they make us all look bad.
The second large chain in my city, Lehrer's Flowers is closing several of their locations. The closest one to me closed a month ago. The windows saw "Closed for Remodeling", but looks closed to me, no equipment left.
I found that out last Saturday, when I captured $150.00 worth of sales from it's not being open and a possible wedding. I went and checked it out on Sunday.
They, too, have the branding and the name and sometimes send out horrific stuff. I've seen it.
As, everyone knows, I quit FTD this summer and am very particular about what I accept from Teleflora. I've probably mentioned how happy I am FTD free about 600 times.
I work fiercley on my own web site. My new everyday page is finally done. I'll be changing all of the pages soon. It's a lot of work.
http://www.cherryblossomsflorist.com/EveryDay.html
I get customers every day who pick me because my site is different from everyone elses and I have good google reviews.
Did I mention EVERY DAY??
And, the internet people spend money.
I'm busy. My sales were down a total of 4 percent in Feb from 2008 to 2009. This March I will be up a little from last year. I don't count the incoming wire orders. My profits are up, that's what counts.
The flow of my business day is different. Corporate sales are down, but internet stuff way, way, way up. It used to be that mornings were insane. Not so much anymore. A more even keel through the day. Not so many $25.00 sales, but a lot more $100.00 sales, and they add up quick!
I'm liking it and I don't have to staff so heavy in the morning, just to answer the phone and process incoming WI.
We can all control our business, just have to break away from the Wire Services. Their times have come and now are going away. Don't need them with the internet.
Personally, I don't want to be associated with the two big chains that try to capture much of the incoming business. And, don't seem to be faring so well in this difficult period of time.
I'm Cherry Blossoms, not FTD or Teleflora.
quote=Excptnl;232436]do you think that the florists themselves are the downfall of our industry???
I mean to be a member of a wire service that has rules and regulations, that the shops agree to, only to pick and choose what they will and wont do.
Also, we as an industry need to be licensed. No exceptions...there are way too many shops out there that do horrible work..
I personally believe that it is us, the florists that is bringing down our own industry...
Lastly, I dont remember the thread, but a lady asked why people gravitated towards the og's.. Well..........I believe that many people do not possess common sense...so they are duped by pro flowers and the other drop ship companies...also og's SPEND THE MONEY that most florists dont...they have BRANDING AND NAME RECOGNITION that most florists dont...
Sorry to be off topic....hope i dont get caught by the FC cops[/quote]
I didn't have any drivers come in and did the funeral deliveries myself.
As I was dropping off at a mortuary, I saw with horror an arrangement that a very well know flower empire had left. It was disgusting.
A traditional fan shape in an 8" basket, with 5 stems of dead blue delph, about 8 stems of fushia stock that had about 2 inches of good florets left, a few very premature, crappy looking alstromeria, 5 white carns, and lots and lots of skinny emerald. This arrangement was spread out about 36 tall and 24 wide. At a minimum, someone paid 50 bucks for this digusting looking piece.
It came from Veldkamps. A sad story. Ben Veldkamp was the genious that developed the Mercury system. An icon of our industry. About 3 or so years ago, his son closed most of their multi locations and bought into 800 flowers. Now, their trucks say 1-800- flowers and Veldkamps.
It's sad, but any flower shop that sends out the level of bad work I saw today deserves to go under.
Plus, they make us all look bad.
The second large chain in my city, Lehrer's Flowers is closing several of their locations. The closest one to me closed a month ago. The windows saw "Closed for Remodeling", but looks closed to me, no equipment left.
I found that out last Saturday, when I captured $150.00 worth of sales from it's not being open and a possible wedding. I went and checked it out on Sunday.
They, too, have the branding and the name and sometimes send out horrific stuff. I've seen it.
As, everyone knows, I quit FTD this summer and am very particular about what I accept from Teleflora. I've probably mentioned how happy I am FTD free about 600 times.
I work fiercley on my own web site. My new everyday page is finally done. I'll be changing all of the pages soon. It's a lot of work.
http://www.cherryblossomsflorist.com/EveryDay.html
I get customers every day who pick me because my site is different from everyone elses and I have good google reviews.
Did I mention EVERY DAY??
And, the internet people spend money.
I'm busy. My sales were down a total of 4 percent in Feb from 2008 to 2009. This March I will be up a little from last year. I don't count the incoming wire orders. My profits are up, that's what counts.
The flow of my business day is different. Corporate sales are down, but internet stuff way, way, way up. It used to be that mornings were insane. Not so much anymore. A more even keel through the day. Not so many $25.00 sales, but a lot more $100.00 sales, and they add up quick!
I'm liking it and I don't have to staff so heavy in the morning, just to answer the phone and process incoming WI.
We can all control our business, just have to break away from the Wire Services. Their times have come and now are going away. Don't need them with the internet.
Personally, I don't want to be associated with the two big chains that try to capture much of the incoming business. And, don't seem to be faring so well in this difficult period of time.
I'm Cherry Blossoms, not FTD or Teleflora.
quote=Excptnl;232436]do you think that the florists themselves are the downfall of our industry???
I mean to be a member of a wire service that has rules and regulations, that the shops agree to, only to pick and choose what they will and wont do.
Also, we as an industry need to be licensed. No exceptions...there are way too many shops out there that do horrible work..
I personally believe that it is us, the florists that is bringing down our own industry...
Lastly, I dont remember the thread, but a lady asked why people gravitated towards the og's.. Well..........I believe that many people do not possess common sense...so they are duped by pro flowers and the other drop ship companies...also og's SPEND THE MONEY that most florists dont...they have BRANDING AND NAME RECOGNITION that most florists dont...
Sorry to be off topic....hope i dont get caught by the FC cops[/quote]
didnt advertise in your area my friend, But there was always someone that would take the order....and that you will never change
lehrers recently sent me an order for 20 tulips in a vase for $29.99 told them that they screwed up so many of my orders when i used to advertise in denver, that it would be an honor to reject their ridiculously lowball order...
also, they told me that the $29.99 is a sale they run over there...i said great......but why would you expect another shop to honor that price plus lose 30% ??? of course they didnt have an answer....they were really hatefull when they responded and they basically wished me out of business.
also, they told me that the $29.99 is a sale they run over there...i said great......but why would you expect another shop to honor that price plus lose 30% ??? of course they didnt have an answer....they were really hatefull when they responded and they basically wished me out of business.
lori042499
Well-Known Member
- May 3, 2006
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I think this would weed out 90% of florists...800 sq feet of cooler space is bigger than my whole store...and I am not a hobbiest by any means...
I am a good florist doing the best I can everyday at being a business person...maybe not the best business person but better than some and at least a very good florist..
ummmmmmmm try about 99% of florists......a $50,000 yearly fee???? 7pm 7 days a week and $5k wholesale.... dont know if he's serious or just bragging
RC in Dayton and Cincinnati
New Member
I'm not bragging and not being serious, but rather trying to make a point.
We all would like to regulate, legislate, and certificate our competition out of business, but if you're so good and they're so bad why not simply run them out of business?
RC
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