felicityflowers
New Member
And me as well. I was going to add my .02 but Cathy, as usual, has put it more to the point than I ever could.
Especially this part:
New Bloomnet Design Book?
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And me as well. I was going to add my .02 but Cathy, as usual, has put it more to the point than I ever could.
Especially this part:
Eric S
Demoted Webmaster
I remember our first Valentine's Day with 800 Flowers. The day after we started receiving calls from some of the recipients from the 800flwoers orders. One response was My husband orders year after year with 800 flowers and this year the flowers where so beautiful and fresh. We were so proud of ourselves and felt maybe this was what we needed to grow our business.
I already new that we already had a problem with our business before 800 flowers signed us up. And even after hearing the response from their customers I still didn't get what we where doing wrong until almost a year later and of course some strong influence from this board.
Excellent point - thanks for putting it so consicely and I'll take that as the something new I learned today.
ditto, Bloomzie!
Tim, I believe that is the first time I've seen that observation on any of these boards in 9-10 years.
The ONLY way to fight the WS etc is not having the order filled so the consumer will have to find another method next time; hopefully a REAL LOCAL FLORIST. I know it works for me...
Rock on...............
Tim, I believe that is the first time I've seen that observation on any of these boards in 9-10 years.
The ONLY way to fight the WS etc is not having the order filled so the consumer will have to find another method next time; hopefully a REAL LOCAL FLORIST. I know it works for me...
Rock on...............
Do you really,really think that we can get rid of ALL the WSs??? There will ALWAYS be someone who will fill their orders.The $$$ they put into marketing & branding we can't come close to beating.The customer that wants to SEE what they're sending will always be there & we can't guarantee what they see in our shop is what they'll get 2,000 miles away,thats why they want to see pics & that's why the WSs are getting bigger.Most customers are not sofisticated enough to even care about what our industry is about.All they want is an easy way of getting flowers to podunkville before 2pm on thurs.
Sorry for this rant-tough day
Sorry for this rant-tough day
no terri, I don't think that we can get rid of the WS for the very reason that you state! Unfortunately SOMEONE will often fill those orders but does that mean we do nothing? Just accept things as they are?
IF all of the real florists had a website more and more consumers would find them and would water down the volume of orders that FTD, TF, 800FL etc would get....
IF all retail florists would FIRE the WS that WS wouldn't have all that money for advertising against their members!
It isn't expensive to have a website (cheaper than WS memberships) and one without online ordering is better than not having one. Even though our site has online ordering 90% + order by phone after looking at our site.
The consumer may like to see what they're sending but just because they ordered from the WS doesn't mean that's what they get.
The success of "Real Florists" will not depend on gaining a foot or a mile but an inch or even a centimetre and erode their business one order at a time and one WS member at a time. Through the year and especially EVERY holiday we have consumers tell us that FTD or TF couldn't deliver to our area and they had to search for someone to fill their order. I know every circumstance is different and that there are very few options here BUT we can't do nothing!
If we stand still, that is what the WS are counting on. Offer deals to the vocal few to silence them and continue making money on the remaining 99%. If they win we have no one to blame but ourselves.
IF all of the real florists had a website more and more consumers would find them and would water down the volume of orders that FTD, TF, 800FL etc would get....
IF all retail florists would FIRE the WS that WS wouldn't have all that money for advertising against their members!
It isn't expensive to have a website (cheaper than WS memberships) and one without online ordering is better than not having one. Even though our site has online ordering 90% + order by phone after looking at our site.
The consumer may like to see what they're sending but just because they ordered from the WS doesn't mean that's what they get.
The success of "Real Florists" will not depend on gaining a foot or a mile but an inch or even a centimetre and erode their business one order at a time and one WS member at a time. Through the year and especially EVERY holiday we have consumers tell us that FTD or TF couldn't deliver to our area and they had to search for someone to fill their order. I know every circumstance is different and that there are very few options here BUT we can't do nothing!
If we stand still, that is what the WS are counting on. Offer deals to the vocal few to silence them and continue making money on the remaining 99%. If they win we have no one to blame but ourselves.
I usually don't post in these discussions since I am so new to the business and don't feel like I have a very educated opinion to offer, but I have spent hours and hours reading posts and opinions from others who have VERY educated opinions, so that I can learn to run my business as efficiently as possible.
It was in reading all these posts that I was brought to the decision not to continue my membership with the big WS's. I know that I am a much smaller shop than the majority on here, but I just could not justify the huge cost every month. I have to say that it has not caused me one bit of grief not having them over the last few months, even through Mothers Day. I did choose to go with FSN since it was way more affordable and I felt like I did need some avenue for sending orders as I do send out a lot, and also, I didn't feel like they were the evil WS competing AGAINST me.
One thing that I find interensting is that some of you say that you need the WS' AND the selection guides so that your sending customer can see a picture of what they would like to order. Maybe it's different where I live, but I can count on one hand the number of times someone has actually asked me to see the selection guide so that they they can choose something. (and for my little shop, I send out a lot of orders.)
Most just call and say they need to send a B Day bouquet to Aunt Maggie in Texas...... Very rarely does anyone have a specific request, and if they do, it is more for a favorite flower or a certain color of roses, etc.
Again, maybe it's different for me, here.
I did get a call from a customer over Mothers Day that had been looking online at TF site and asked if I could make one of the Tea Pot bouquets.
I told her that I was not a TF member so I did not carry those containers but I did have some very cute tea pots in the shop and I could make her mother something, just as darling, in one of those. "Oh, Perfect" she said.. "Mom loves Tea Pots". So that was a done deal... no TF container needed.
So, my point is.. it IS possible to function without them. If we stop enabling them by being a member of their ridiculous "club", carrying their expensive containers, etc.. etc... then they will, eventually, cease to function without US.
Thanks to all the very WISE people who offer forth their opinions and experience for me to read every day, so that I learned this so early on!!
I appreciate this place SO Much!!
:hug:
It was in reading all these posts that I was brought to the decision not to continue my membership with the big WS's. I know that I am a much smaller shop than the majority on here, but I just could not justify the huge cost every month. I have to say that it has not caused me one bit of grief not having them over the last few months, even through Mothers Day. I did choose to go with FSN since it was way more affordable and I felt like I did need some avenue for sending orders as I do send out a lot, and also, I didn't feel like they were the evil WS competing AGAINST me.
One thing that I find interensting is that some of you say that you need the WS' AND the selection guides so that your sending customer can see a picture of what they would like to order. Maybe it's different where I live, but I can count on one hand the number of times someone has actually asked me to see the selection guide so that they they can choose something. (and for my little shop, I send out a lot of orders.)
Most just call and say they need to send a B Day bouquet to Aunt Maggie in Texas...... Very rarely does anyone have a specific request, and if they do, it is more for a favorite flower or a certain color of roses, etc.
Again, maybe it's different for me, here.
I did get a call from a customer over Mothers Day that had been looking online at TF site and asked if I could make one of the Tea Pot bouquets.
I told her that I was not a TF member so I did not carry those containers but I did have some very cute tea pots in the shop and I could make her mother something, just as darling, in one of those. "Oh, Perfect" she said.. "Mom loves Tea Pots". So that was a done deal... no TF container needed.
So, my point is.. it IS possible to function without them. If we stop enabling them by being a member of their ridiculous "club", carrying their expensive containers, etc.. etc... then they will, eventually, cease to function without US.
Thanks to all the very WISE people who offer forth their opinions and experience for me to read every day, so that I learned this so early on!!
I appreciate this place SO Much!!
:hug:
Eric S
Demoted Webmaster
Sounds like you know what your doing. Don't hold back cause you have learned more than most here!!
Hey Rock,I agree with you also,but why can't we ban together like the Dairy or Beef industries & advertise as an industry.Take full pg ads in Womens Day,Good Housekeeping etc.& educate the public.If they know that they can get a better mousetrap by buying local from a Real Florist that's a start.We need a mass media campaign to educate.( look how it worked for 1800)
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Well, actually YES I do think we can, at least the 3 current offerings. That said, there will be a need for an order transfer network, but does not have to have anything to do with the BIG3.
Right you are, Sux to be them
and it will only last for a time. As we have seen, there is a growing number of educated florists out there. Everyday I'd bet there is one who figures it out, some are here, some are not, but they still figure it out.We can not worry about what *they* are doing, we must concentrate on what **WE** are doing and go from there.
Onward and Upward....
And there lies the problem!!!!!!! The hurdle that will stop any kind of movement.
Not being negative, just keeping it real.
I'm not sure how an order transfer would actually work without costing the Flo something ( a lower % maybe),but something. it would basically have to be structured like a WS without the hi cost %. It took FTD over 100 years to get to this point-1800,30-can we do it in our lifetime?
Mark,I'm really on your side,but I, like alot of Flo,can make $ with the WS and are afraid to get rid of something that works for us-even though it doesn't for the majotity.
Am I in favor of an independant Flo network?--absolutely! but I would also keep a WS for a while until I was comfy with it.
Mark,I'm really on your side,but I, like alot of Flo,can make $ with the WS and are afraid to get rid of something that works for us-even though it doesn't for the majotity.
Am I in favor of an independant Flo network?--absolutely! but I would also keep a WS for a while until I was comfy with it.
if you don't want it
If anyone already has the selection guide and doesn't want it private message me and I will pay you for it.
If anyone already has the selection guide and doesn't want it private message me and I will pay you for it.
New Selection Guide
Whatever happened to the old rule....If you receive a package you didn't order from a direct mailing company, it's your's to keep without penalty ? It's always worked in the past with other items...why not this ?
It's easy to cancel membership, first email a letter to your BBC (which usually gets a reply, hence proof they received it, then a CERTIFIED LETTER to BloomNet. Most of you signed a contract before 2006 which means YOUR contract gives you 10 days cancellation. Newer contracts are 120 days concellation. Don't let themm bully you into stay longer than you want. Check the date of your contract....Section 11 (?) states it's a 10 day cancellation right --if you signed BEFORE Feb. 2006!!
Good Luck!
Whatever happened to the old rule....If you receive a package you didn't order from a direct mailing company, it's your's to keep without penalty ? It's always worked in the past with other items...why not this ?
It's easy to cancel membership, first email a letter to your BBC (which usually gets a reply, hence proof they received it, then a CERTIFIED LETTER to BloomNet. Most of you signed a contract before 2006 which means YOUR contract gives you 10 days cancellation. Newer contracts are 120 days concellation. Don't let themm bully you into stay longer than you want. Check the date of your contract....Section 11 (?) states it's a 10 day cancellation right --if you signed BEFORE Feb. 2006!!
Good Luck!
Julz
Active Member
NewBloomNet Selection Guide
They would like to think no one looks at their contracts and can "bully" you into accepting their reply, but really, what's a contract for except to hold the other party to the "rules" set up in the beginning!
Tell them you never signed the newer contract and can only abide by the one they signed you to years (or months) ago. Old trick but stick to your guns. I know of a few florists who have done this AND WON!!!
They would like to think no one looks at their contracts and can "bully" you into accepting their reply, but really, what's a contract for except to hold the other party to the "rules" set up in the beginning!
Tell them you never signed the newer contract and can only abide by the one they signed you to years (or months) ago. Old trick but stick to your guns. I know of a few florists who have done this AND WON!!!
Julz
Active Member
Here is the e-mail I sent my consultant on May 23rd and I haven't heard a word from him yet.
So now I will e-mail him our formal notice and then send it out registered.
Julz
New Bloom Net Design Book
Julz,
So here's what will happen ~ they will call you, beg forgiveness and promise you three months free to stay with them, etc. etc. So sad, seems the only way you get their attention is when you send them a "nasty gram."
Hope you have luck in winning your battle. Keep a copy of your contract closeby to refer to during their "begging" calls!!
Julz,
So here's what will happen ~ they will call you, beg forgiveness and promise you three months free to stay with them, etc. etc. So sad, seems the only way you get their attention is when you send them a "nasty gram."
Hope you have luck in winning your battle. Keep a copy of your contract closeby to refer to during their "begging" calls!!
BOSS
FlowerChat Administrator
Terri, don;t get me wrong, I make good money off both wire services I am currently a member of. Making money is not **MY** issue, it's being associated with a company that has no ethics. Once I have a couple loose ends tied up, I'll be moving on...
For me, it has nothing to do with money, customer service is more important, so far today I have given out other florists numbers that have in total between the rebate and the 20% cost me close to $200.00... BUt the customer received a better value, the florist made a profit and I sold items in my store to the same customers... we all won...and the WS got no piece of the pie...
Hi Mark, I can understand where you're coming from,we also give flo direct #s. For those of us who have been around forever we can sometimes afford to do that. A Flo who can't quite make it happen would have a hard time giving that extra $$ away. That $200 could be anothers electric bill or gas bill for the month(week?!!) & it would be hard to give it up.
Many of my friends are in that position now-I wonder why they keep trying to make it work,but God bless 'em they're not giving up & I know they wouldn't give up a dime.
The average Florists USED to gross 135,000-I have no idea what it is today, but I don't see how you can make it in this competitive envionment with #s like that. A borderline Flo with a decent outgoing couldn't possibly give up that extra 20%.
Many of my friends are in that position now-I wonder why they keep trying to make it work,but God bless 'em they're not giving up & I know they wouldn't give up a dime.
The average Florists USED to gross 135,000-I have no idea what it is today, but I don't see how you can make it in this competitive envionment with #s like that. A borderline Flo with a decent outgoing couldn't possibly give up that extra 20%.
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