Ordering
- Thread starter buster12
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It sounds like you need lots of information about a lot of things. Maybe you need to hire me to come over for a day or so to help get you set up. I live in Colleyville which is not far from Justin.
Carol Bice
Carol Bice
Do you have wholesalers who come to your town each week? If so, how many and how many times?
Also, I think Carol's advice is worthwhile. I'd take her up on her suggestion.
V
Very good offer and advice - a good consultant is worth its weight in gold, and I know Carol is a very good one.
Sher
New Member
My best advice is to not do what so many of us did when we started out. Back then, you could afford to learn on the job, nowdays you better have a game plan or you will not succeed. From your post it sounds like you might have limited experience so hiring someone of Carol Bice's stature and experience could make the difference in failure or succeeding. After 14 years of this crazy business, I wish I had had the opportunity to do that when I started...I still pull the experts in about once a year to run things over with me so that my numbers make sense. Flower Chat was not around then either and the information you will find here will help you immensely but there is nothing like a kick start from an expert!
Sher
I talked with Andrea a little while ago and she seems like a very nice and intelligent lady who is sincerely interested in making this business venture work.
We have made plans to visit a couple of local growers and wholesalers and I have put her in contact with a couple of very knowledgable people. We are going to work on some updates on design techniques, etc. She has had some experience working for other florists over the years.
See how great Flower chat is for new people?
Carol Bice
We have made plans to visit a couple of local growers and wholesalers and I have put her in contact with a couple of very knowledgable people. We are going to work on some updates on design techniques, etc. She has had some experience working for other florists over the years.
See how great Flower chat is for new people?
Carol Bice
felicityflowers
New Member
Carol,
I must say, you are awesome for offering your knowledge and insight to a "newbie"!!! You Rock!
Andrea, you have found a valuable resource both at Flower Chat and with Carol. How lucky you are!!
I must say, you are awesome for offering your knowledge and insight to a "newbie"!!! You Rock!
Andrea, you have found a valuable resource both at Flower Chat and with Carol. How lucky you are!!
Thank You
Carol & Flower Chat,
I would like to thank you very much for this opportunity to have this wealth of information for everyone who is going threw what I am . I can't expess it enough. Carol you are the kindest person I think I have ever spoke to . I't is a privlige to have someone like Carol and Flower Chat in my corner. I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. Hope everyone has a wonderfull day. Look forward to meeting you Carol.
Thank You
Andrea
Carol & Flower Chat,
I would like to thank you very much for this opportunity to have this wealth of information for everyone who is going threw what I am . I can't expess it enough. Carol you are the kindest person I think I have ever spoke to . I't is a privlige to have someone like Carol and Flower Chat in my corner. I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. Hope everyone has a wonderfull day. Look forward to meeting you Carol.
Thank You
Andrea
Seasonals
Well-Known Member
I was looking forward to hearing what all of you had to say on an initial flower order as we will be opening our floral shop expansion soon. We are not new in business so we have that aspect under control. We have spent alot of time and money on design classes and research. We have people with different lines of experience and we do feel that we are ready. Apparently this post won't answer the original question. I was really taken back by the post that said it was so nice of Carol to offer help to a newbie. Maybe I'm not in the right chat group for my needs. I really consider myself as an experienced newbie, but none the less a newbie. Should I be somewhere else?
Tracy D'Amico
Well-Known Member
I think it's a very difficult question to answer, without more information as to the type of shop that is opening, what the customer base is like, what type of area you are located in, if you are in a walk in area or strip mall, or on a hidden street etc etc. Lots and lots of variables that were not offered.
It is exceptionally nice of Carol, or really of anyone to offer a personal consultation to a new business owner. I think what makes it exceptional is that Carol is located near Andrea, and offered to meet with her one on one, to really take time and discuss stuff with her. Not even mentioning the credentials of Carol, who is an industry veteran, and the knowledge she has. She will probably answer more questions than most will even think to ask.
Not at all. If you are looking for advice on your business, and to share information with other florists, you're in exactly the right place. I think if the question had a little more background in it, more responses would have been offered. It's very difficult to answer such a vague question, and hope that the answer you provide will work for such an individualized situation.
tracy
felicityflowers
New Member
Carol is going above and beyond to help Andrea. She is meeting with her and taking her out to meet with other industry vendors/professionals...much different than just answering questions here at Flower Chat. Like Tracy said...she is going above AND beyond and that is why I applauded her.
I, in no way, shape or form meant to suggest that it was unheard of to give advice on this board. Actually, that is what this board is all about!! I am sorry for any confusion.
As far as what flowers to order I echo what Tracy said again. We need more info on your location, type of business, customer base/target customer etc. What works in one shop may or may not work in another...fire your questions away! That is what we are here for
MANORVILLE
New Member
- Oct 2, 2006
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Carol is going above and beyond to help Andrea. She is meeting with her and taking her out to meet with other industry vendors/professionals...much different than just answering questions here at Flower Chat. Like Tracy said...she is going above AND beyond and that is why I applauded her.
I, in no way, shape or form meant to suggest that it was unheard of to give advice on this board. Actually, that is what this board is all about!! I am sorry for any confusion.
As far as what flowers to order I echo what Tracy said again. We need more info on your location, type of business, customer base/target customer etc. What works in one shop may or may not work in another...fire your questions away! That is what we are here for
As Heather suggests it would be easier to make suggestions if some additional info and demographics were supplied.
I know a shop that spends an average of 500.00 a week in her shop. Other shops are significantly more. My Monday morning order was 1,711.23 and that was in addition to our standing rose order. Today we got a small order, have another due in tomorrow and a large order on Thursday which should get us through until next Monday.
It's hard to give advice without something to go on.
You're definitely in the right place as you will see over time and the knowledge here is priceless.
ManorMan
Seasonals
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the follow-up posts. I probably took the comments being made a little to seriously. Carol offered to be hired and there were no other comments or suggestions. We have been spending literally days making decisions on our first orders of supplies. We haven't done a mock-up flower order yet so I was really anxious to hear what you were all going to volunteer up for that. I realize the demographics are a huge factor and I was thinking more in the lines of product vs dollar amounts. We are in a rural area and do not have the luxury of a wholesaler coming by. We will be meeting with Greenleaf again and will make a plan from there. I do want to thank all of you for your honest opinions of wire services. I appreciate you opening my eyes that they aren't a necessity. Some of you with years of experience probably don't realize how some of us hang on every word you say. Oh and sometimes it's really hard to differeniate from the truth and scarcasum, I'm working on that though. Thanks for being here.
Sher
New Member
When you say rural or small town..what does that mean in numbers
Do you have other shops in your town? Power buy with them
How many folks are in your town
what are the demographics
How do you currently get products to your shop
Is your town a destination say for weddings?
Do you have country clubs, hotels etc ?Send the caterer a floral every week on ThursdayDo you have a chamber of commerce/ Join and get active
Do you have a website? Get one..talk to Ryan here on the board..he is the one eyed chicklet
Without a wholesaler, My suggestions would be to hook up with an importer...currently I do not see that Flower Buyer offers them..but many import houses in Miami are bringing in quarter boxes, some like Virgin Farms are a hybrid of a wholesaler/importer...their prices for me were a tad high but you can buy a bunch of this and a bunch of that and customize your order, south american as well as holland, and they carry unusual stuff. Other importers are selling roses by the quarter box ( 100 stems) and fillers and daisies, mixed bouquets etc..tropicals, carns, bells of ireland etc etc. This would be a way to go in a smaller location..buy several boxes of mixed quarters and then you can offer a variety to your customers..bring in something new each week or every other and make a name for yourself this way...my philosophy has always been...if you don't have it, you can't sell it. I look at a half box of say daisies ( 22 bunches) at 1.30 cents...if the wholesaler or traveling truck wants 3 bucks then all I have to sell or use up is half of it and I am ahead...my numbers are not true to form but you get the idea. Wholesalers like Rokay will also drop ship you the q's direct from the farm if I remember correctly..talk to Rob..he is a way cool man. Don't be discouraged..I have been doing this for 15 years and I learn something new here everyday...reach out to the folks here..they are a cool group of florists...
Sher
Do you have other shops in your town? Power buy with them
How many folks are in your town
what are the demographics
How do you currently get products to your shop
Is your town a destination say for weddings?
Do you have country clubs, hotels etc ?Send the caterer a floral every week on ThursdayDo you have a chamber of commerce/ Join and get active
Do you have a website? Get one..talk to Ryan here on the board..he is the one eyed chicklet
Without a wholesaler, My suggestions would be to hook up with an importer...currently I do not see that Flower Buyer offers them..but many import houses in Miami are bringing in quarter boxes, some like Virgin Farms are a hybrid of a wholesaler/importer...their prices for me were a tad high but you can buy a bunch of this and a bunch of that and customize your order, south american as well as holland, and they carry unusual stuff. Other importers are selling roses by the quarter box ( 100 stems) and fillers and daisies, mixed bouquets etc..tropicals, carns, bells of ireland etc etc. This would be a way to go in a smaller location..buy several boxes of mixed quarters and then you can offer a variety to your customers..bring in something new each week or every other and make a name for yourself this way...my philosophy has always been...if you don't have it, you can't sell it. I look at a half box of say daisies ( 22 bunches) at 1.30 cents...if the wholesaler or traveling truck wants 3 bucks then all I have to sell or use up is half of it and I am ahead...my numbers are not true to form but you get the idea. Wholesalers like Rokay will also drop ship you the q's direct from the farm if I remember correctly..talk to Rob..he is a way cool man. Don't be discouraged..I have been doing this for 15 years and I learn something new here everyday...reach out to the folks here..they are a cool group of florists...
Sher
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