When I got the letter from teleflora yesterday, I glance at it a little bit and put it aside till this wee hours of the morning to do funeral work while they sleep and have normal business hours.
There is a few things that jump out at me and here are my replies.
First, monkey see, monkey do syndrome. Why can't they be inovative and come up with a idea that would get them regonized as being the leader like they say they are. When they do things after the fact, they are not leaders in my book.
Second, "THey say that 11 million orders in our industry originate on the internet, We are determined to preserve a mojor share of these orders for our retail florists network." Who says we don't have a majority of those order now. Someone has to fill those order unless they are drop shipped direct orders. So basically they are saying too many orders are going to other wire service or order gatherer and they are loosing money on dove orders.
THird, they are making it look freaking inviting when they are paying 80% instead of 73% of the order. What a crock, 100% of the order was the right way to go. Lied to us that they would not compete with .com.
Fourth, FInd a florist is a joke by itself. WHy spend $$$$$ to promote a florist name only with address site. A site that is not even accurate either. THis is so that the consumer can find us direct? Use your brain, internet people know they can go to 411.com. or any search engine and type in the store information after and get a web site or even a phonenumber they can phone direct.
Fith, They say they are investing heavily on promoting teleflora.com and findaflorist site. This is in addition to the more than 50 millions we spend annually on national advertising to drive the consumers directly to your shop. First part of the 50 million$$$$$ FLORIST PAY IT AS PART OF THEIR ADVERTISING. What I mean is when we have to pay $99.00 to have out name listed in the t.v. guide amongs all other florist in your area. Have you checked how many names apprears in those adds? x times that and see how much they collect for the add. COuld it be that a majority of some of those advertsing dollars they say they spend, it actually our dollars.
Six, "In addition our competitors generated 10 million orders last year that by passed florists enterily because they where non-floral gifts orders or grower direct shipment." THis tell me where they are heading next!!!!! Again another lie when they said they would not to this. Don't they realize that getting order from us and giving them back to us at 80% is not helping us. It is helping them. "This is unacceptable to us- and it shoul dbe to you too. We're not about to stand by and see our members crowded out of the business they have fought so hard to preserve. We are commited to helping you fight for the orders you need to survive and thrive. That's why we make sure, first and foremost, that every order that comes thorugh Teleflora goes to a retail florist. We are behind you every step of the way; you can always assured of that." Sure they have to send to a retail florist. It is not a order gatherer that will fill those orders. It is the retail florist that controls this operation. Without us, they would not be able to fill those orders. I wonder how long it would take for them to realize that florist could cancel, refuse orders from HQ, what would happen during a major holiday.?
Lastly they thank us for our continued support of Teleflora. THey may find themselves that many many florist will no longer support them. THey may use them to their advantage, but support is going ot be hard to get from us the florist.
I am still a baby in this industry. I have made choice for my business that I thought was right for me. Pissin'g me off may not hurt their bottom line. Leaving Teleflora and go direct with another florist would create havoc in this town. Leaving One shop to receive teleflora orders would make her cripple in a few short weeks. I would then capture the 100% of the orders that belongs to me. Some may thing I am blowing off steam. Some know that when I have enough, I do what should be done.
TO Lynda Resnick, NO I am not as excited as you are about the promise that 2005 holds for all of us.
There is many other ways to get me excited and this annoucement is not one.
I remain, a hard working florist for the Real People
Luc
There is a few things that jump out at me and here are my replies.
First, monkey see, monkey do syndrome. Why can't they be inovative and come up with a idea that would get them regonized as being the leader like they say they are. When they do things after the fact, they are not leaders in my book.
Second, "THey say that 11 million orders in our industry originate on the internet, We are determined to preserve a mojor share of these orders for our retail florists network." Who says we don't have a majority of those order now. Someone has to fill those order unless they are drop shipped direct orders. So basically they are saying too many orders are going to other wire service or order gatherer and they are loosing money on dove orders.
THird, they are making it look freaking inviting when they are paying 80% instead of 73% of the order. What a crock, 100% of the order was the right way to go. Lied to us that they would not compete with .com.
Fourth, FInd a florist is a joke by itself. WHy spend $$$$$ to promote a florist name only with address site. A site that is not even accurate either. THis is so that the consumer can find us direct? Use your brain, internet people know they can go to 411.com. or any search engine and type in the store information after and get a web site or even a phonenumber they can phone direct.
Fith, They say they are investing heavily on promoting teleflora.com and findaflorist site. This is in addition to the more than 50 millions we spend annually on national advertising to drive the consumers directly to your shop. First part of the 50 million$$$$$ FLORIST PAY IT AS PART OF THEIR ADVERTISING. What I mean is when we have to pay $99.00 to have out name listed in the t.v. guide amongs all other florist in your area. Have you checked how many names apprears in those adds? x times that and see how much they collect for the add. COuld it be that a majority of some of those advertsing dollars they say they spend, it actually our dollars.
Six, "In addition our competitors generated 10 million orders last year that by passed florists enterily because they where non-floral gifts orders or grower direct shipment." THis tell me where they are heading next!!!!! Again another lie when they said they would not to this. Don't they realize that getting order from us and giving them back to us at 80% is not helping us. It is helping them. "This is unacceptable to us- and it shoul dbe to you too. We're not about to stand by and see our members crowded out of the business they have fought so hard to preserve. We are commited to helping you fight for the orders you need to survive and thrive. That's why we make sure, first and foremost, that every order that comes thorugh Teleflora goes to a retail florist. We are behind you every step of the way; you can always assured of that." Sure they have to send to a retail florist. It is not a order gatherer that will fill those orders. It is the retail florist that controls this operation. Without us, they would not be able to fill those orders. I wonder how long it would take for them to realize that florist could cancel, refuse orders from HQ, what would happen during a major holiday.?
Lastly they thank us for our continued support of Teleflora. THey may find themselves that many many florist will no longer support them. THey may use them to their advantage, but support is going ot be hard to get from us the florist.
I am still a baby in this industry. I have made choice for my business that I thought was right for me. Pissin'g me off may not hurt their bottom line. Leaving Teleflora and go direct with another florist would create havoc in this town. Leaving One shop to receive teleflora orders would make her cripple in a few short weeks. I would then capture the 100% of the orders that belongs to me. Some may thing I am blowing off steam. Some know that when I have enough, I do what should be done.
TO Lynda Resnick, NO I am not as excited as you are about the promise that 2005 holds for all of us.
There is many other ways to get me excited and this annoucement is not one.
I remain, a hard working florist for the Real People
Luc
