Let's be REAL

[concord]

I have no idea if we are agreeing or disagreeing! But maybe that florist's customer would be disappointed in what you would make. That is the number one problem with wire orders. We all have different customers with different expectations. So do we go all wire service cookie cutter so people can get the same thing everywhere? Or do we embrace our unique brand and be glad that it can't be had elsewhere? No easy answers.

 

[Rhonda]

I had a longer answer but it all comes back to "buyer beware".... (love your work though!!)

 

[Mikey the Flower Guy]

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.

Actually, no, you and I are on the same page!! You've been in this business long enough, when someone starts "challenging", your skillset with "guidelines" from a book!!
Herein lays our greatest challenges......we "upgrade" our certification to prove to ourselves, and the "younuns" that we have something to offer, and something to prove, if only to ourselves, and we HAVE what it takes to teach the "next" generation of florists, that which we know!
Only thing IS, the younger generation largely has NO NEED to keep collectibles like us, therefore, we are fooling ourselves into thinking we will leave something behind, besides the memories.
Having criteria AND designations in OUR industry is NOT the same as being a "sanitary engineer", though, the designation alters some perception!
These pages are NOT long enough, for me to share all the silly and stupid regulations that the trades had to learn, upgrade, AND re-learn, once the powers that be, figured out we "knew" what we doing all along. and in many cases, changed them back!!

 

[BOSS]

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.

You did not answer my generational question Doug...

 

[bootcampguy]

I have no idea if we are agreeing or disagreeing! But maybe that florist's customer would be disappointed in what you would make. That is the number one problem with wire orders. We all have different customers with different expectations. So do we go all wire service cookie cutter so people can get the same thing everywhere? Or do we embrace our unique brand and be glad that it can't be had elsewhere? No easy answers.

I think the answer is yes and no. My customers (some of them) want what we do here......and they know what we can do for them. But, overwhelmingly survey's show that a great majority wanted to see a picture of what they are getting or close to, blind buying is gone for good. We had some florist back in the 90's that used the "open order policy" as a way to produce "crap" (all year long) and then 3 days before a holiday, send out their crap to my custoners family and then stand on that policy. I think this policy alone and the majority of customers that we're unhappy, created the OG........they saw a "weak" industry" and said, "time for a change". One of the only things that I agree with that a WS has done was to to get rid of that policy. I'm still hearing today people talk about years ago sending flowers and being very disappointed with what they got. I'm not going backwards here, but that's what the OG are doing so well, they got out in front of us on the race, put up nice websites, made ordering easy and while they are committing "economic malpractice" I don't think a label, sticker, class will change any of that. The State of Florida has looked at regualting florists but trust me it's not for the standards, it's for revenue !!

 

[Doug Munro]

You did not answer my generational question Doug...

Mark, my apoligies I simply missed it.

The fact is any designation such as suggested here would be on a voluntary basis, not mandatory like some professins (legal, medical, etc.) so generational florists ( your term) could make the decision as to whether or not to participate. However like everyone else they would meet the criteria to fly the banner.

I would also suggest that having some of the successful "old-timers" involved developing the criteria right from the start would tremendously improve the program. AS well this would be the perfect opportunity to "pass on " that knowledge that may be lost. How many young florists can wire and tape a wedding bouquet? Not a critical thing in todays world of bouquet holders however definitely a skil a florist might want to know.

Any designation such as one being discussed here must be above repoach in the sense that anyone using the designation must meet the criteria, no free passes based on experience, who you know, etc. In fact having well established, multi generational shops apply and meet the criteria would only add value to the designation in both the eyes of the industry and the public.

Just my thoughts

 

[Doug Munro]

These are from a Real Florist who posts daily pictures on their facebook page.... I personally have a very hard time with these designs, not that they are a round (almost) arrangement in oasis - I still do some of those - but I think they lack the finesse of Principles and Elements of Design...

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Rhonda,

There lies the problem with the terms "Florist", or "Real Florist", they are general phrases that are broadly used by virtually anyone selling flowers.

This also is a very clear example of why any "designation program" must be well thought out and a stringent set of criteria developed. The arrangements you showcase probably sell okay at this florists shop, and as you stated you yourself do some. However this may or may not be examples of what this florist is fully capable of, they may simply be examples of what they find their customers buy a lot of.

 

[BOSS]

Thanks Doug... I concur...

BTW... I still hand wire many of my brides bouquets these days...did some this summer with 6-8 Gardenias and 50-100 Stephanotis... I'd love to see someone "try" to make a cascade out of that in a holder.... I'd even pay to watch that struggle.... LOL

 

[anytimeflowers]

This is all very interesting......to us.

I agree 100% with Helen, it is the end consumer who makes the decisions on what they like.

I have continued my education because those certificates are impressive to my customers. They have no idea what the letters behind my name mean, but it gives me a boost in their estimation.

I certainly do get people who come to me because they like my work but honestly the majority of people who purchase flowers simply need a gift and they select flowers because it is a gift that can still be delivered the same day. They want the flowers to hold up, but most of them certainly are not going to be impressed with my line of beauty or solid mechanics.

When I call a mechanical company, it's because my heat isn't working and I don't know how to fix it. I call the company that I've worked with for the past 10 years because I know they will show up within an hour, fix the sucker, and charge me up the wazoo. There are other companies that are cheaper, but I don't want the hassle of calling them back a day or two later because it doesn't work again. They all carry the same license.

John Stossels did a segment on floral licensing, he made a complete mockery of floral design. My own sister thought licensing of florists was the silliest thing she ever heard of. Doug points out that there would be florists who would denigrate this. He is 100% correct. A florist in Louisiana who's certified florist died could not get licensed because neither of the owners could pass the test. These women went on and on about how easy it is to put flowers in a vase and their customers don't know about line and focal points. They were featured in this segment.

It would have to be completely voluntary, or those who cannot "pass muster" would bring the industry down another notch.

It's a self-preservation thing.

I have longed for something like this, and I've actually been working on a re-branding plan for the traditional retail florist but it is far from complete. And, once it's complete, the logistics of implementation are daunting to say the least. A master plan for how a shop "should" operate sounds decidedly machiavellian. Talk to three different retailers and you will get three different answers on how a store should be merchandised. Heck, we have a difference of opinion on whether or not to throw the stems on the floor.

I'm not trying to put the idea down, just pointing out the real dangers in this sort of thing.