OGing Bloomnet florist

[bloomz]

Could you please post the actual numbers and statistics from you experience concerning the multitude of OG"s out there. I would really be interested in your factual data.

Do you keep in constant contact with "them". Really, one can only speak for oneself.
But, thank you for making one of my points. The OG's are spending the big money for the long haul and if they short the monetary value on an order they know the small shop will get the "rep" for undervaluing. Please speak only for yourself and your reputation.
Back in the day, if a Florist got caught shorting an order. Word got around and honest florists refused their incomings and didn't send to them. has this industry changed so much that bad behavior is accepted simply because there is money to support the bad behavior? I HOPE NOT. The smaller shop is riduculed and put down because they don't have the money, staff or support to fight the big companies and trying against the worst odds to maintain their own identity.
PLEASE stop blaming the small shop for what is wrong with the industry. What they do with limited resourses is amazing.

I *guess* you're talking to me.

I have no idea but I bet when you consider the big boyz at least 80% of the orders flowing come from OG's. I have no factual data, only my own experience.

I am speaking only for myself, and I am a small shop that is fighting for my share of the pie, with all the might and resources I can muster.

AND - I stay up til past midnite every night trying to figure out this month's way of fighting for orders, just like I've done for about the last 8 years or so.

People have asked me for tips on how to get more internet orders and my answer is always "You stay up til midnite every night for 5 years studying it." The resources are all totally available on the web.

And I also don't think I blame the small shops for anything, unless they are curtailing. Remember, I AM a small shop.

So maybe you weren't talking to me.

oh well

Oh one more I just saw

The OG's are spending the big money for the long haul and if they short the monetary value on an order they know the small shop will get the "rep" for undervaluing

Not true across the board, many that are considered OG's here, including myself, do not short orders. I an order I got gets shorted, it is done on the filling end.

 

[RC in Dayton and Cincinnati]

Could you please post the actual numbers and statistics from you experience concerning the multitude of OG"s out there. I would really be interested in your factual data.

Do you keep in constant contact with "them". Really, one can only speak for oneself.
But, thank you for making one of my points. The OG's are spending the big money for the long haul and if they short the monetary value on an order they know the small shop will get the "rep" for undervaluing. Please speak only for yourself and your reputation.
Back in the day, if a Florist got caught shorting an order. Word got around and honest florists refused their incomings and didn't send to them. has this industry changed so much that bad behavior is accepted simply because there is money to support the bad behavior? I HOPE NOT. The smaller shop is riduculed and put down because they don't have the money, staff or support to fight the big companies and trying against the worst odds to maintain their own identity.
PLEASE stop blaming the small shop for what is wrong with the industry. What they do with limited resourses is amazing.

Who's blaming the small shop?

In general here is what you'll get from an ordergatherer that you may not get from a local florist, a more professional ordering experience and a truer guarantee.

Ordergatherer websites in general are more professional, their marketing is better and their sales staff is more professionally trained with specific menus to sell from using scripted verbiage. Local florists often have to multi task making it more difficult to become proficient in sales. Also, they may be aware of the difficulty of some customer's requests and become less open minded to the customer's wants and needs.

Although it seems everyone offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee, ordergatherers in general are more willing to take the customer's word on a complaint and therefore are more willing to return money or make some other well crafted concession to ease the dissatisfaction. In general local florists are often not willing to listen to the customer's complaint if the florist doesn't think he is in error. The response of the local florist often is I did everything I was contracted to do, therefore I won't do anything for the unwarranted complaint, but unfortunately this invariably leaves a bitter taste in the customer's mouth because he feels he is being accused of being less than honest in his dissatisfaction. It should also be noted the ordergatherer is not dealing in the actual product so a return of the customer's money is a loss in a sale only, where as in the situation of the florist, he loses the sale, the product and labor that went into making and delivering it which makes making the concession a more bitter pill to swallow .

So in conclusion, the ordergatherer often offers more to the customer than the local florist in terms of ordering experience and guarantees. I'm not saying this because I'm on the ordergatherer's side; I'm not. I'm just pointing out we local florists have failed the consumer in many ways and need reprove ourselves.


RC

 

[bloomz]

Good synopsis Randy.

Something I learned many years ago from Jim Phillips great speech at SAF was the need to study those things and compete on that level. (He was talking about their decision not to sell to Gerald Stevens.)

We're studying it all the time, and with Gaylon's latest book I just got, I'm determined to become First Class at taking orders on the phone. It's full of info and exercises, and a workbook, and we're gonna work it into the ground.

Someone mentioned to me that one should try calling Flowers Sent Today - their phone service they said was awesome, knowegeable, informative, engaging, and all the other stuff.

well worth studying and seeing how they are doing it better than us.

florists in general are horrible on the phone, me included.

 

[wrdlady47]

"Any never the twain shall meet." We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. While some opinions seem vague and ambiguous for me (I like facts), I really appreciate the enthusiasm shared by some. Look forward to more "heated discussions". TTFN