Sorry for the delay!
PAUSE..................
Sorry it has taken sooooooooooooo long to pop up here again but I have been a busy bunny elsewhere!
I have discovered my self to be a bit of a forum addict, in the same way I don’t play computer games for fear of addiction, I have had to ban myself over the peak from getting involved here.
I have become a very vocal user on the UK’s Floristnews site which I find totally rousing and inspiring. Now I have a LITTLE more time I will try to get involved here too.
I have been reading a lot of your posts and MY GOD what a lot to take in!
What I have read has filled in some gaps on my opinion and reinforced my thoughts on the current scenario regarding UK relay in general and in particular the manifestation of our beloved IF in to what you florist in the states have already experienced with FTD!
Talk about history repeating itself!
Us Brits are renowned for being the makers of “history”, perhaps that’s why we’re not so quick on the uptake of heeding the warnings we could derive from experiences elsewhere in the world?
I deliberately came looking for somewhere to discuss what for me was an agonising decision. I “pulled the plug” on the 2000 incoming orders a year and I wanted some reassurance that I’d made the right decision. I stated the facts and figures I collected over the past 12 months on the other forum and begged for some advice from those that professed to “make it pay”. I was initially surprised that NO ONE had a tenable argument against my findings and their only means of recourse was an attempt to belittle my credibility. I know the euphoria of successfully completing these volumes clouds any judgement you make on a financial basis but to ignore them has disastrous consequences! I am old school IF and remember the days when splits were fairer and the structure worked FOR the member and not as a money making burden to which we were leashed. Those days are gone and under it’s present guise has NO chance of recovery here either!
There are still members (in the UK) that wallow in the “GLORY” of servicing what I describe amusingly as “this unfaithful husband”........ they’ll pop up here I’m sure
. It is a fitting analogy ....... we once loved this husband dearly, we had our ups and downs with him but he was generally a faithful chap. He is now out only for what he can get from us and is sleeping with more than one mistress. He preys on the allegiance he gained from the old days to keep us in his bed! Even though we are aware of his infidelities we choose not to acknowledge them for fear of loosing him altogether. We are mere mortals in this affair and know that by confronting him we have to be prepared for change ...... something some of us fear more than ruin itself!
Those in the uk that enjoy fruitful local trade are able to subsidise the meagre profits available on their relay orders and survive this game. Those that rely on this trade will hit the deck first! When I looked for a shop to buy 5 years ago there were very few IF shops for sale! If I look today I could have the pick of the bunch! The other IF member in my town was one of the biggest members in the country 5 years ago ...... over the past 3 years it has changed hands 3 times! All good for me but it is a signal of what happens when relay trade is your bread and butter.
Every one has a right to base their business decisions on their own experiences. I would never feel myself qualified to offer advice in this area or act as a direct influence to anyone. What I am prepared to do is SHARE my experience ( as I have with Florist News users) it is up to them what they do with that info! They can use it, question it or dismiss it ........ it is of NO consequence to me! I refrain from voicing my opinions unless I am a) asked for them or b) so incited that I simply can’t keep my big mouth shut!
On an UP note I have, as a direct consequence to my decision to “go it alone”, enjoyed the most fabulous, the most profitable, the most enjoyable and the most inspirational peak ever in 20 years! At the risk of sounding dramatic I feel like I’ve finally “seen the light”. My local trade is booming and whilst I feel a tad responsible I can’t help thinking that it’s a little to do with the extra pressure the other florists in my area have had to deal with from the relays! Whatever it is BRING IT ON! I’M LOVIN IT!
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!!!!!!!!!!!
I have posted a lot of my work in the Gallery on Floristnews and to my great surprise it has caused a lot of interest! Having looked at the photo Gallery here on Flower Chat I see that there’s not a lot of the sort of stuff I do shown there. I am well aware that these “weird” things are not everyone's “cup of tea” ....... hell their not mine either really ....... but the more I do of them the more people seem to want them..... who am I to argue! I have shared with users on the other forum some tips and techniques I have developed over the years doing these things and ( GOD ONLY KNOWS WHERE I'LL GET THE TIME) I am happy to share here too.
P.S.
YES........ the Betty Boo picture by my user name is made of flowers!
