National Florist Alliance Association

[Sarah Botchick]

There is a group starting in the Cleveland area that I thought some of you might like to know about. It is called the National Florist Alliance Association. They will be holding monthly meetings in the Cleveland area, but they are also going to be streaming them live on ustream.com, so that florists across the country can see them. I don't know the entire purpose of the group, but I know that part of it is to help florists learn to HOW TO MARKET THEMSELVES without wire service.

The first meeting is Tuesday September 14 at 6:30 pm at the Boneyard in Broadview Heights, OH (southwest Cleveland suburb.)

If anyone wants any more information on either the local meeting, or attending via the internet, contact Jennifer from Studio Floral - [email protected]

 

[Sarah Botchick]

Just got more info on the complete purpose of the association:

The purpose is for florists to learn to be self sufficient without needing other people to do everything for them. From creating and maintaining their own website, to credit card processing, blogging, social media, how to run a small business, etc... but it is to give florists the tools to learn how to do these things themselves, not to have others do it for them.

Hope that helps.

 

[theRKF]

I've emailed Jennifer and asked her to come on FlowerChat and give us more info about their organization.

 

[lori042499]

Wow, now this is something to possibly get excited about...sounds just about what route many floral associations are starting to go but because they are still florists are having a very hard time thinking in these terms which in turn make it very hard to organize a movement in that direction..I would love to hear more..

 

[theRKF]

Wow, now this is something to possibly get excited about...sounds just about what route many floral associations are starting to go but because they are still florists are having a very hard time thinking in these terms which in turn make it very hard to organize a movement in that direction..I would love to hear more..

Yes - I'd love to know what might differentiate this group from the pack.

That said, I don't think we can expect one group to be the saviour. Not SAF, FlowerChat, Florist BootCamp, etc... it's going to take all these and more to make an impact. My biggest concern is the quality of the information being taught. I've heard some teaching on SEO / SMO / PPC that's enough to make my skin crawl

 

[Sarah Botchick]

Yes - I'd love to know what might differentiate this group from the pack.

That said, I don't think we can expect one group to be the saviour. Not SAF, FlowerChat, Florist BootCamp, etc... it's going to take all these and more to make an impact. My biggest concern is the quality of the information being taught. I've heard some teaching on SEO / SMO / PPC that's enough to make my skin crawl

I know the person that offered to teach those classes and she is pretty good. But I don't know for sure who they have decided to go with.

 

[lori042499]

Yes - I'd love to know what might differentiate this group from the pack.

That said, I don't think we can expect one group to be the saviour. Not SAF, FlowerChat, Florist BootCamp, etc... it's going to take all these and more to make an impact. My biggest concern is the quality of the information being taught. I've heard some teaching on SEO / SMO / PPC that's enough to make my skin crawl

This is true Ryan, but if it gets florists open to the idea that other alternatives do exist and other ways of existing and doing business are ok, then it is all worth it..At this point we just need groups telling florists it is ok to not want a wire service and it is ok that you don't take orders from every company, it is ok to only ask for a 2time markup to be competative on cash and carry stuff...and ideas on new pricing and better pricing or pricing to sell more...it may not be all good info, but at least it will get some florist wheels churning away from doom and onto more positive things...

 

[theRKF]

This is true Ryan, but if it gets florists open to the idea that other alternatives do exist and other ways of existing and doing business are ok, then it is all worth it..

I just spoke to a florist within the past week who attended an event where they were told "the only thing that matters to Google is links, so pay $900 a month and I'll get you a tonne of links from sites in India."

This speaker deserves to be hung head-first in a steaming pile of what he's selling.

That's an extreme case, but still it makes the point that some bad info is not worth getting.

 

[bootcampguy]

I just spoke to a florist within the past week who attended an event where they were told "the only thing that matters to Google is links, so pay $900 a month and I'll get you a tonne of links from sites in India."

This is so right. At Southern Retail I was told that there's a person calling and wanting to "teach"......florist how to beat google and ws..........So we def. have to be "buyer beware" and ALL presenters. I would also be "leary" of people who have no knowledge of the floral business. I also would want to see some industry related testimonials. We "florists" have to borrow what is working in other areas and then "apply" to our industry.

 

[Sarah Botchick]

Ryan,

Can we just remove this whole thread? The person who is starting up this association is a customer of mine whom I greatly appreciate. I posted to try to help her, and help other florists. I don't want her to get negative response or else it will discourage her - and cause bad feelings toward me! She is working very hard on this I don't want her dragged down AT ALL.

 

[theRKF]

Sarah,

I don't think there is anything discouraging about NFAA here. It's been called "something to get excited about" and there has been a general sense of wanting to learn more. The only negative anything so far has been that some speakers don't cut it and we need more groups with better education - the implication being we hope that's what NFAA brings to the table

It would be great if she logged in again and joined the conversation.