OG's revealed! Important download!!

[CHR]

. The focus in this industry is on design, AIFD, Designer of the year contest, Phil Rudullo(sp) not marketing.

Hey, that Rudolla guy is nothing but trouble. :> (But I assure you he's a heck of a marketer.)

Seriously, the WSs, who pay for the vast majority of programs don't really want the nuts and bolts of finance ands marketing discussed. They're all for marketing as long as it involves promoting their products and brands. Can you blame them, since they're footing the bill?

Have we asked ourselves why most florists aren't willing to invest in classes in marketing or spend more than the minimum to develop their websites?

I recently attended a one-day marketing seminar and the fee was $795. It was worth every penny. Yet, I hear florists balking at $50 for an all-day seminar that includes lunch.

I beg to differ with

OG's, WS's are all about marketing & selling
Florists wanna design.

Designers want to design, just like chefs want to cook. Not every designer can run a succesful business, just as not every chef can operate a successful restaurant.

While we tend to use 'florist' as synonymous with 'designer', being a successful 'florist' takes much more than being a good designer - like having management, accounting, sales, transportation and logistics skills.

The florists here at FC are very interested in marketing - in fact there are more threads in our Marketing forum than the Design forum.

 

[BOSS]

Hey, that Rudolla guy is nothing but trouble. :>

Heard his wife is too :ssmoke

Seriously, the WSs, who pay for the vast majority of programs don't really want the nuts and bolts of finance ands marketing discussed. They're all for marketing as long as it involves promoting their products and brands. Can you blame them, since they're footing the bill?

Nope, can't blame them a bit...it's their dime...but it's also the reason that so many florists are struggling to make ends meet these days. And I firmly believe it's one of the reasons FTD stopped having districts... divide the masses and don't let them get together to share information...

 

[clay]

Have we asked ourselves why most florists aren't willing to invest in classes in marketing or spend more than the minimum to develop their websites?

Last year TSFA had an SEO firm with two people come to the TSFA Convention to talk about websites and what they should be doing for SEO. It was a real good program....to bad only about 9 florists (at best) came to it......so sad.....

 

[bloomz]

I had a look at the list and Flowers by Bill Bush is a shop, and they do not hide who they are on the web site??? Not sure that some of these are actual order gatherers??

After thinking about this last night and admittedly not really cheesed off but slightly miffed that Keith chose to put me or leave me on that list - I looked more at his criteria and the actual list and I can read quite well between the lines and see the real (unspoken) criteria.

"Anyone who does a better job on the web than me".

Then you can add the deceptive traits to that. and you end up with a list like that.

OK. so you notice that there are some shops that have a real B&M presence. Here is the quick and dirty rule to my OG list.

7. Is you sending volume justified by the town you are in?

Keith

I do believe that tells exactly what I am talking about right there.

There's a bunch of great florists on that list that do not belong there when you consider it is being distributed nationwide. An internal list is a quite different thing.

I learned this before when I was doing this exact same thing about 10 years ago (I'm sure some here remember my origial list) But like I said - my criteria were too broad nearly exactly the same (anybody that does a better job than me), and I listed florists that absolutely did not belong there.

I not only felt stupid after distributing it when I found out my errors, but I realized my behaviour bordered on being slanderous, and I never sent it to anyone again.

I also had something else happen that made my heart pound over this - EDIT: but I'm gonna choose not to post it.

yup opinions vary

Mine is, this "list" is bogus

 

[wrdlady47]

"Seriously, the WSs, who pay for the vast majority of programs don't really want the nuts and bolts of finance ands marketing discussed. They're all for marketing as long as it involves promoting their products and brands. Can you blame them, since they're footing the bill?"

But, they "don't foot the bill". They use the money collected from 20,000 odd florists in the U.S. to pay for their marketing and promotions.

 

[Knife's Wife]

Must be those that are posting about wire services not educating about marketing their websites , are not members of TF. So for the record...TF has been trying to educate the florist on advertising and marketing their websites for years. They went from info on myteleflora site to, Webinars that every member was sent notices for over dove that you could log into while they we live. Because getting florist to do anything that will benefit them, besides complain, is so difficult, they are now putting the webinars on CD and distributing them. There is great information there but most don't utilize it, look around at most TF sites, most florist have not even filled out the about us with their personal shop information.

The shops that are destined to fail are those that pay for product, technology, wire services etc. and don't even understand what they have or it's potential.

Joan

 

[Tracy D'Amico]

Love the idea of the list - had started my own pitiful list, which is very very small.

I agree with LJFV about having criteria columns - that was the intent behind my list as well, because I also feel that many shops are creative in their online marketing, and may just be smarter than me. I would fill for Bloomz, I have filled for Beneva & America's Florist, even Stanley's. I find it very confusing matching the shop names that come across the wire with the www names .... having a list that helps pair-up the info is a real help.

My thought on the list is this - have distinct columns for those criteria, and a checkoff if a listed florist/shop fits the criteria. "Known to skim" "Hides physical location" "Free Delivery Ruse" "Doorway Pages"etc etc.
If the list is being distributed, each recipient will be able to decide for themselves if a shop who is listed is really a detriment to fill for, based on their personal criteria, and how if fits with the list.

 

[Chezbloom]

I offered to fill for Bloomz too, but he did'nt bite!:ssmoke

 

[bloomz]

I'd love to work with you Chez, your shop is a class act, your website is spectacular, your images of you own product are exemplary. You're a smart gurl and I bet you're even pretty to boot.

But alas...I do virtually all my sending thru the wire services and you graduated from that club already...

Broken hearted I remain

your not so secret admirer

bloomz

 

[Chezbloom]

Fair enough,

But thanks for the compliments!

:scooter:

 

[MANORVILLE]

Hey JB, while we are still affiliated, I'll fill your orders without a second glance.
But, affiliation, like opinions, may vary.
Wish we could send more,,,,, but hopefully that's coming.

Hope you're feeling better !

 

[keith]

mea culpa, kick down accepted

I did not put this list out to be slammed, but to be informed HOW you felt it could be improved.
The overriding concensus seems to be that JB is OK. Duh. I already knew that. I have been to his shop, and I count him as a friend (MAYBE??) He is not what I am trying to make a point about.

Look at the list and tell me why you feel that there is someone who is wrongly on there. lets clear this issue up. I'm going to corvallis next week and can put spikes under JB's GARDA truck, I don't need help on him, "HE IS NOT A DOG" tell me who is, that is not on the list, and who is not. Add columns and disect it and send it back to me.

Help me Obi One,

I'm not looking to simply piss people off, just to generate some productive discussion.

BTW, JB's gumball game is now in my store and has paid out on its first day $1.50 (4 sales) (in 2 hours)and the staff is actually "enthused" about add-ons.

I may actualy owe this hippy more that just kudos. see me at the next MAS mtg.

If you are not looking at his threads. shame on you.

thanks jonathan,

you are in my fav five

Keith

 

[Erlene]

I did not put this list out to be slammed, but to be informed HOW you felt it could be improved.
The overriding concensus seems to be that JB is OK. Duh. I already knew that. I have been to his shop, and I count him as a friend (MAYBE??) He is not what I am trying to make a point about.

Then why is he on the list?

 

[LJVF]

.
Look at the list and tell me why you feel that there is someone who is wrongly on there.

Isn't that what we did? :dunno:

 

[fairfield]

Fixed. Now onward

 

[Eric S]

Great list. Thanks for taking the time and putting it together.

I have never thought of a list since I usually approve all incoming orders. But lately the girls have been accepting some without checking with me.

Just Flowers has been working hard this week. Stinkers!!

I will use the list and place it right above the printer.