One Less Wires Service

[evergreen12377]

You don;t need a wire service for a web site.
You do not need a wire service for marketing assistance.
You do not need a wire service for credit cards.
(but) the reason wire **services** were brought to being is order transfer(,)however the phone (IS)....the answer!
QUOTE]

You were right until you said the phone to tranfer orders is NOT the answer. But it is the answer.

May I recommend the book about the flat world. Meaning no middle men. Which is how Mall Wart does it. They had market share of 2-5% of Sears until they went direct, now they dominate the market. The ability to transmit information and ideas (and orders) seamlessly and wirelessly via the web or phone is what is driving outsourcing, insourcing, etc.

Judy

 

[BOSS]

You were right until you said the phone to tranfer orders is NOT the answer. But it is the answer.

Judy

Judy, I think we're both right, for some, yes, the phone will work, but for me and others, I would have to have a dedicated employee simply for wire biz...not a cost effective option...

Oh, and about the flat world thing...MAS users do it without the middleman too, we send direct to each other everyday

 

[steve]

May I recommend the book about the flat world. Meaning no middle men. Which is how Mall Wart does it. They had market share of 2-5% of Sears until they went direct, now they dominate the market. The ability to transmit information and ideas (and orders) seamlessly and wirelessly via the web or phone is what is driving outsourcing, insourcing, etc.

Judy

You said it very well Judy.! Earlier this week I had Jim Weedon eastern VP for FTD in my office along with our FTD rep. and he wanted to know why I had a rose special for $29.99 yet I did not list with FTD that I carried that special. And I told him its plain and simple I can make money selling that item on my own but as soon as I put a wire service in the middle I can not make money on that order there is not enough GP dollar in a $30.00 order for us to be delivering it for a wire service.

The long term solution is a national floral web site that delivers the orders stright to the florist in the zip code that the order is going to. No clearing house fees no phones .

 

[hcflorist]

Earlier this week I had Jim Weedon eastern VP for FTD in my office along with our FTD rep. and he wanted to know why I had a rose special for $29.99 yet I did not list with FTD that I carried that special. .

And the REALLY SAD thing is . . . it was necessary to explain this simple math to the regional VP of FTD. Ya gotta wonder just what kind of chance FTD has got for survival with people in FTD management who are that clueless about the state of things in today's REAL floral world.

Or maybe you don't have to wonder. Cause if something doesn't change, you've just about got to KNOW ! ! !

 

[carol]

The long term solution is a national floral web site that delivers the orders stright to the florist in the zip code that the order is going to. No clearing house fees no phones .

Sign me up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:balsmile:
I could even live with a web site that my technology could access to send my orders to.. sender gets 10% 5% goes to pay for this web site clearing house thing... receiver gets 85% no other fees..no escalating advertising concepts .. no other anythings

Problem is coverage.... and quality concerns
Big shops won't give up on the other wire services because of the higher commission and the big rebates (and they are really big now..upwards of $6 & $7 )

But coverage is the key and quality
I don't care if I send an order to the Big Guy in Dallas..I just want to be sure I send the order to a florist in Dallas that has a clue and the inventory to fill the order
As for cashflo.. this site could work on standard credit card account similar to how the pay per click sites work so there should be little clerical or accounting staff required.
The only other stumbling block would be pictures for set arrangements if the customer requests.. and this could be accomplished within the 5% fees I think

Or.. maybe one of the present wire services would set up this since I truly believe they are killing their future with the direction they are headed.. Maybe 'little bob' was headed in the right directions (by accident of course) when he set up that little wire service company he used to kill EFTA

I do not believe the big guys will leave the big services purely for financial reasons.. so it should not devestate them

I can dream can't I:musical:

 

[steve]

You are correct they have no idea the true state of the finacials of most florist in this country or the true cost of them running their business. His reply was that many businesses realize that they may have to lose money on some items in order to maintain market share. and that they are trying to keep florist competitive with proflowers.com. And I told him it was up to me at a local level to keep myself competitive with the proflowers of the world and that my web site average nearly $10.00 a transaction higher then when a customer actually calls and talk to an employee. The people useing the web have the extra money for the most part there is no need to devalue the industry via the web.

One thing I learned along time ago is you can not be all things to all people at all times if you try to be you will go broke trying.

 

[steve]

Overal carol I think what you layed out would probably work in some fashion And if it was built in steps we probably could grow into it. But intially even if you only had 300 to 400 florist and those were the only areas that customers could send to, it would work and then as word got out florist from areas not coverd would eventualy join and then lastly the ability you mention of sending to other florist via the web site would be possible. But I doubt we could ever get 3 or 4 thousand florsit to buy into this without proven we could do it first.

 

[theRKF]

The only way this website idea would work is if you listed every florist, and hoped they'd agree to the rates when the order is relayed. And who are the only groups with an accurate list of florists in North America?

That's right, FTD & TF. I don't count Flowers Canada & SAF because their membership lists are smaller and tend to be quite out of date.

Oh, and who gets to front the millions for development, testing and the all-important marketing? How to distinguish this from the 3,478 other floral directories?

As for "as word got out florist (sic) from areas not covered ...": Don't hold your breath. When has anything worthwhile gathered steam and grown by word of mouth in this industry? Even FlowerChat which is free to join and has a wealth of knowledge took 2 yrs to reach 500 users. IFA is chugging along with minimal growth. The examples are endless, but I'm stopping here because the phones are ringing too much for me to hold a traing of thought

Back to work !!

 

[steve]

I am not dropping out of this discussion but I am going to be gone for next 10 days as I am going to compete in a 3 day fishing tournament and then spend the rest of the time fishing for pleasure. I look forward to seeing were this discussion has gone when I get back.

 

[Hal Conklin]

Eventually

The long term solution is a national floral web site that delivers the orders stright to the florist in the zip code that the order is going to. No clearing house fees no phones .

One shop at a time MAS Direct is one answer. There may be others. But right now its the only live transmission network that can track order from start to finish without wire service intervention... And for a fee that is 1/3rd of the cost.
Its currently being used by our users and every new user brings one more viable solution to do business independantly. Yes it will take time however with growth comes more benefits to more florists. The nicest thing about MAS Direct there is no double entry etc...And you monitor your order start to finish.Automatic e-reciepts etc. 100% LIVE.. Anyone interested talk with the users. One thing you must be on MAS...
Looking for better solutions for retail florists and independancy.. The offer is here, lets just see how many florists can "get off of their wire service technology" right now most just talk about it for the sake of conversation, take action.
Hal
"A former Real Florist for 20 Years"

 

[carol]

One shop at a time MAS Direct is one answer. There may be others. But right now its the only live transmission network that can track order from start to finish without wire service intervention... And for a fee that is 1/3rd of the cost.
Hal
"A former Real Florist for 20 Years"

But see...even you guys have an agenda... it was easy for you to integrate with FTD and a few other small wire services because they gave you permission and coding to make your technology access and work with theirs.. but now you say only MAS users can use your new wire transfer system.. what about allowing others to access and work with your new system

 

[Griff]

No offense, Hal, but

Cathy pretty well nailed the situation on page 2 of this thread.Even for a girl, she's not too bad. Before anyone says they have the answer, would you or anyone else mind addressing the 3 major areas she mentioned in reference to any one company's alternative solution, especially the coverage issue. Then, can you give us some idea how jumping from one company's proprietary machine to another company's proprietary machine gains anything in the long run?

 

[Hal Conklin]

yes griff she did !!!

Cathy pretty well nailed the situation on page 2 of this thread.Even for a girl, she's not too bad. Before anyone says they have the answer, would you or anyone else mind addressing the 3 major areas she mentioned in reference to any one company's alternative solution, especially the coverage issue. Then, can you give us some idea how jumping from one company's proprietary machine to another company's proprietary machine gains anything in the long run?

Thats why I would like her on our team, progressive and agressive..Everyone here has valid points and suggestions, just need to pull together.

 

[theRKF]

MAS Direct interfaces allows sending an order as FTD, TF, FSI, Bloomlink, or shop to shop direct. Merc & Dove do not. Advantage, Merc 6, Daisy, Dove POS, Eagle do not.

It's only proprietary in that you have to have the software to use it. We haven't been able to create a MAS Direct interface for a stone slab & chisel yet.

Ryan

 

[Hal Conklin]

Yes carol

But see...even you guys have an agenda... it was easy for you to integrate with FTD and a few other small wire services because they gave you permission and coding to make your technology access and work with theirs.. but now you say only MAS users can use your new wire transfer system.. what about allowing others to access and work with your new system

We do have an agenda.. To get florists to understand there is light at the end of the tunnel. As I stated before, any technology apart from Wire Services is a step in the right direction. Our technology with the network was designed so you have constant communication between users and there customers. It wasnt designed as an alternative, only until the florists who are on it spoke up. So is it bad to be on the best technology available for florists to operate there business and have a transmission network secondary to provide a service to there customer ? Again we don't have all the answers however we do have solutions available for florists that do not want affiliation with a wire service.
The more florists that become educated about what there is available to them the more educated the consummer will be in buying flowers.

 

[BOSS]

But see...even you guys have an agenda...

Sure, and so does Bill Gates but everyone but Herb bought into his adgenda...

MAS's agenda, if you must call it that, is independence and the ability to do more. Ryan outlined how MAS can send orders, seems to me there was nothing left out...yes, MAS can even do F2F orders... but just like WindoZ systems must be compatible....

MAS Direct....gotta love it!

And to imagine, the power of MAS at a cost lower than WS technology and folks still find a problem with it....

 

[steve]

Ok I got time for couple more comments here first I think manyof us will probably swap to independent technologies of next couple of years. but every shop has certain finacials things going on that do not allow for everyone to jump at once.

Now back to this internet based ordering system for customers on a national bases. I am not very technical and I know many here can figure these these out better then I but here is my thought.

You have a national web site with our own photos of products available. if the consumer wishes to order any of those products there would be an index keyed by state that would list the particpating florist with a link into there web site. the individual florist would show those products plus anything else they may have on their own personal sites. Now the technical people here I know can either take this idea to the next level in a affordable fashion or you can tear it up in pieces but either way have at it and lets see what sticks to the walls.

 

[theRKF]

It's not that bad an idea ... just nothing new, and not affordable to establish and maintain. It would take significant capital, plus a marketing team just to attract the florists to participate. Managing unique content for each shop would require an IT team.

Who has capital, a marketing team, access to florists, and a web IT department?

 

[theRKF]

Here's one option:

Everyone on FC starting buying me lotto tickets. Get me 200+ mil in winnings, and I'll do the programming for free

 

[CHR]

Even for a girl, she's not too bad.

Awe, shucks.

Thank goodness I'm not quite the raging feminist I used to be 'cuz thirty years ago I'd have burned my bra and decked you for a comment like that. :>: