Listen and ask

[sweetscented]

I'm no longer as designer in my shop (but still own 1/2) and I am hearing that floral shops don't listen to their customers. I am designing permanent botanicals for customers that need and want to be listened to and they are paying high dollar for my expertise. People that are making much more than we, as floral designers would ever hope to make, but they still need designers for their homes and businesses. THEY want to be asked questions! THEY want their designer to know THEM, what their homes are like and their lifestyles. They want to have someone that knows their quirks, their idiosyncrasies and come up with designs that fit THEIR home and lifestyle. (If you still can't get what they're talking about, go to their homes.) These are people with MONEY that need our intelligence, our creative resorcefulness and our engineering skills (so our designs don't fall apart in the harshest wind, rain or heat..i.e. 6' topiary facing the south on their front porch).
We are DESIGNERS. We are the people that help people make their homes special so that they feel proud to entertain.
Do you realize how important we all are? We can talk about wire services all day into next year, but it's our customers...the ones that walk through your door tomorrow with a pillow or a swatch of material and want you to to design something for their bedroom that is theirs. They want a design that captures their love of the sea..their love of camping...you name it...IF you can capture what they are telling you, YOU are their designer and proud to tell everyone and show anyone that walks into their home. LISTEN TO YOUR CUSTOMERS...IT'S the most important selling point you have in your whole arsenal!

 

[SpringCity]

I agree a zillion percent. Green dot for you!
So often people get impatient with those swatch ladies. Hey, treat them right once and they come back for more, and tell their friends.

 

[sweetscented]

What is sad for FLORISTS is that I am finding my customers would rather deal with ME, as their designer than an established florist because they BELIEVE they are finding a better VALUE in ME. I am charging the same as I would if I were still in my shop (sometimes much more, ok almost always more), but they preceive me as someone that knows THEM. hummmm
Kind of makes me rethink "basement Betty's". What are they doing that we, as florists, aren't???

I fought with wire services, wholesalers, the friggin bottom line and a partner that couldn't tire a bow, and a shop with too many of her relatives, so I gave up, BUT please learn from my mistakes. I could only see the problem that was in front of me and never to to side or behind me. I am now that person beside and behind and I am making money and happy with how I am making people feel. I've also started oil painting for people because I have asked enough questions and I know THEM and I know their lives and home.
Just don't get mirred down like I did in the everyday, mundane crap...YOU ARE DESIGNERS! Branch out and enjoy it! (ok, you still have to watch out for the friggin ws's, bottom line and crappy employees, BUT remember why we are florists!)

 

[SpringCity]

I think if someone is only doing one thing (weddings for example) they can focus on that and make customers feel special. That's something I can learn from, for sure.