Let's be REAL

tomfromcrossroads

tomfromcrossroads

Member
Jun 28, 2010
37
69
18
United States
State / Prov
NJ
I am a florist for 40 years, a member of AIFD and absolutly love my career! I cannot wait to go to work each morning and immerse myself in my designs! THIS IS MY FIRST POST TO FLOWER CHAT! I see & feel the fustration of all of you about wire serveces and especially order gatheres. I would like to develope a logo to designate a "REAL" florist from order gatheres and wire service sites. I want to promote this logo by licencing it to "Real Forists" for a nominal fee, not for my profit , but to use the funds to market the phrase " "support your local florist":, along with the logo! For some crazy reason, I think this might work, and help us. It will designate us from the "enemy" who will never be able to display this "logo". Give me your feedback along with any ideas you may have.
 
Tom, That's an interesting idea but what is your criteria for a "real florist" and how would you draw the line when so many "real" florists are also OG's? Is anyone that sells flowers and actually handles the product considered real? I think there was a discussion here about the definition of a real florist and it seems to me we couldn't really agree. That always seems to be the problem in our industry; a lack of consensus. Ultimately, the consumer gets to make that decision so I'm all for educating them, but I'm not sure a logo is the way to do it and I doubt you could get many florists to buy it. As impressive as AIFD is to florists I don't think the general public knows what it means so how would they recognize a logo as meaning anything? Don't get me wrong, I think you have the right idea, but maybe it needs something more than a logo that can be purchased. No easy answers, that's for sure. Welcome to FC and enjoy the debate!
 
  • Like
Reactions: bootcampguy and anytimeflowers
I like the idea and can see the problems with "real florist" statice. Most of our wireouts are for funeral #1 and other events such as birthday, getwell, new baby, etc. I'm looking for florist that survive on that daily work - it's my bread and butter.
There are fabulous wedding and event florist on this site but I wouldn't send them funeral work nor do they want it.
Would they be offended to not be considered "real florist" @@@@ straight.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bootcampguy
Tom, you have come to the right place, but as for "real" florist..You will find as many of us found that this is a very fine line...You will find that the very florists that you want in your exclusive club may not have funds to help your cause because they have been filling for too long and the florists that have the cash, you may deem OG's...and there aren't enough of them to make your idea float...we need some sort of florist owned program, that way there is no conflict of interest....
 
tomfromcrossroads said:
I am a florist for 40 years, a member of AIFD and absolutly love my career! I cannot wait to go to work each morning and immerse myself in my designs! THIS IS MY FIRST POST TO FLOWER CHAT! I see & feel the fustration of all of you about wire serveces and especially order gatheres. I would like to develope a logo to designate a "REAL" florist from order gatheres and wire service sites. I want to promote this logo by licencing it to "Real Forists" for a nominal fee, not for my profit , but to use the funds to market the phrase " "support your local florist":, along with the logo! For some crazy reason, I think this might work, and help us. It will designate us from the "enemy" who will never be able to display this "logo". Give me your feedback along with any ideas you may have.
Click to expand...

I have to agree with most of the previous comments. As great of an idea as this is it would be impossible to administer. As a florist who is AIFD certified you know better than anyone how strict the criteria is to become AIFD, and that is what makes the certification so valuable and well respected.

To make the "real Florist" logo have any value there would need to be a strict set of guidelines covering everything from the owners skills and knowledge, staff training, the appearance of the shop, business practices and procedures. Otherwise many less than qualified would simply buy into the program as a way to "rubber stamp" their business in the eyes of the consumer. The results of this would be that many consumers would get burnt by poor operators and the logo would quickly lose any percieved value it had.
 
  • Like
Reactions: daisy mae, phil, bootcampguy and 3 others
Mark said:
Me too Mikey.... it's the exact opposite of what the wires are doing these days... for them all you need is for your check not to bounce... you don't even need a pulse :)
Click to expand...

I don't even think they care if you're check bounces, they make more fees!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: mumsandmore, anytimeflowers, concord and 1 other person
Now that it appears we are all in agreement.... (somewhat) the real question is...

In our "perfect world" if this designation were to be created and you as a long time florist could not meet the criteria what would you do?

1) Not bother with the designation (I don't need that I have been doing this for 20 years)

2) Upgrade your skills as quickly as possible to meet the criteria and once achieved, proudly fly the logo.

3) Not support the designation in any way, possibly even down play it to your customers

If your answer is anything other than #2, you have just concluded why our industry has a problem. Would any of us go to a doctor, use an electrician, or hire a tax accountant that in their own trade selected answers 1 or 3 in regards to their industries professional designation. Doubtful, at best.

My experience in our industry is that I have never met anyone who has owned a retail flower business for more than 60-90 days who does not consider themselves a "Real Florist", qualified and completely competent, regardless of their experience or level of skill.

Our industry already has a number of recognized professional designations, AIFD comes to mind. However few florist hold this designation for a multitude of reasons. A few I have heard, "I don't have the time", "It costs too much", or the classic " I have been doing this for two decades I don't need a few letters behind my name to prove I know what I am doing". I guess the point I am making is this is the battle we face.
 
Doug Munro said:
Now that it appears we are all in agreement.... (somewhat) the real question is...

In our "perfect world" if this designation were to be created and you as a long time florist could not meet the criteria what would you do?

1) Not bother with the designation (I don't need that I have been doing this for 20 years)

2) Upgrade your skills as quickly as possible to meet the criteria and once achieved, proudly fly the logo.

3) Not support the designation in any way, possibly even down play it to your customers

If your answer is anything other than #2, you have just concluded why our industry has a problem. Would any of us go to a doctor, use an electrician, or hire a tax accountant that in their own trade selected answers 1 or 3 in regards to their industries professional designation. Doubtful, at best.

My experience in our industry is that I have never met anyone who has owned a retail flower business for more than 60-90 days who does not consider themselves a "Real Florist", qualified and completely competent, regardless of their experience or level of skill.

Our industry already has a number of recognized professional designations, AIFD comes to mind. However few florist hold this designation for a multitude of reasons. A few I have heard, "I don't have the time", "It costs too much", or the classic " I have been doing this for two decades I don't need a few letters behind my name to prove I know what I am doing". I guess the point I am making is this is the battle we face.
Click to expand...

we have a big problem Doug......some of it has to do with your reply of assumption!!...
without the old guard passing on it's non-certified skillset via experience, the industry is already doomed!
It's already happening via the trades.....we have very smart "stupid people" working in some of our trades(especially construction, electrical, and plumbing/HVAC) that will "revolutionize" these industries because they have NO IDEA how we ever did things without computers and drawings, and common sense.
Sorry, you're out on a limb on this one......
I have a current example...we just finished a home service upgrade for a friend, and to make sure his family continued to have uninterrupted power to his home, we left the old service up, and intact, installed the new one beside it, and "back fed' the power, until Hydro One makes the exterior switch!
The dumbarse kids both at pre-inspection AND on the connect crew have NEVER "heard of this" method.......
We've done this for 40 years.....
Please Doug........give it a rest......
Without "design foam" today's generation cannot design.....WE CAN!!
Without power, stores just shut down..we continue to operate..paper & pencil...YES WE CAN!!
 
I'm with Mikey... and Doug to a point....

Curious tho, as to what Doug would say about a 3rd-4th-5th generation florist that's operating as needed today, but with the skills Mikey mentioned from days gone by...
 
Mark said:
I'm with Mikey... and Doug to a point....

Curious tho, as to what Doug would say about a 3rd-4th-5th generation florist that's operating as needed today, but with the skills Mikey mentioned from days gone by...
Click to expand...

I'd say look to Midland, for the "proper mix".....
 
Mikey,

So I guess your answer would be #1...... so tell me what is the point of having criteria and designations if the old guard simply exempts themselves from taking the test based on their personal assessment of their own skills?

By the way one example does not make your case. The reality is that in most industries skill must be upgraded to stay with trends and constantly changing regulations.
 
Rhonda , Even if we think those are ugly designs,I would still argue that the consumer gets to decide. If that florist has a following of loyal customers who like their work, why does that matter to me or you? Some people buy designer clothes, some people buy Walmart clothes. Why is it any different with florists?
 
  • Like
Reactions: duanermb and Sprout
Ah Ha!!! So we do think alike?.... unless (for example)... my better quality flowers, depth, texture, movement, color harmony design sits next to the design produced from the uneducated floral piece and the price point IS the same......will an uneducated consumer know the difference?? Sometimes yes, sometimes no... and lets face it, the only place they may sometimes be able to make a comparison will be at a funeral home or hospital... IF they are in the same town/city.
The problem lies in the fact that my customers would be extremely unhappy if that arrangement was delivered say in Florida for a birthday... So how does the florist really decide who to send their orders through???
And by the way....... those pictures will disappear from that posting...... and also, their photo gallery also illustrates the story...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sprout
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back