Other Than Fresh Cut Sympathy Design

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inferno63

inferno63

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Jul 16, 2007
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Waynesfield
www.kbgardens.com
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Ohio
I have noticed a strong trend where people are calling me, the florist, for gifts for funerals but often asking for something that the family can keep instead of fresh cut or plants. In my area we send throws, garden stones and statues, and wind chimes. I am always looking for items to carry that are unique that I can suggest to my customers. I once called a WV florist for a send-out and asked if they could send a garden stone and they hadn't ever heard of sending garden stones to funerals. I had many of the stones on my website at the time (I haven't put them on my new site yet) and she loved the idea and started looking for a supplier for them.

My point and my question:

Are there sympathy gifts that are common in your areas that I haven't heard of? I will start with posting a pic of something I send often.....garden angel with small spray of fresh cut.
 

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Wind chimes are HUGE here. My wholesaler carries a selection of sympathy and a wrought iron stand that they are hung from. Retail $50.00 for the set. Takes 5 seconds to put one together. Sometimes I up sell with fresh or permanents.

We do the stones, throws and angels here, too. One that I'm starting to see - but think is weird - are those little glass block cubes with lights in them marketed as the "eternal light"...they are strange looking and I've heard families make similar remarks. They just look like part of the funeral home decor/lighting.
 
We're selling Monogrammed Toasters ï½® .

It's much more practical than flowers which are only going to die anyway.

With this toaster for years to come the loved ones can remember their parted one as they wait for their toast to pop up, leaving such a warm feeling. The great thing is it works for Pop Tarts as well.

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RC
 

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RC in Dayton and Cincinnati said:
We're selling Monogrammed Toasters ï½® .

It's much more practical than flowers which are only going to die anyway.

With this toaster for years to come the loved ones can remember their parted one as they wait for their toast to pop up, leaving such a warm feeling. The great thing is it works for Pop Tarts as well.

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RC
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lol lol priceless
 
toaster lol, i love the angels, dont think we have anything like that in the uk, only fresh flowers are ever sent to funerals here
 
Garden angels combined with fresh flowers have been big in smaller town Ontario for quite awhile. It's a trend I liked because people tended to spend more. ;)

As for the toaster....

V
 
Here in Michigan we are doing a lot of what is mentioned already:

angel statues are huge with and without flowers
wall prints that are appropriate, often with scripture
garden stones by themselves or as part of a floral arrangment
throws, I have them but they haven't caught on yet
clear glass blocks with laser sculpted designs inside (on revolving block) is this the same thing you were refrring to felicity flowers?
Kay Berry's garden benches

Newer items for us:
memorial wind chimes, fairly new but catcing on fast
tapestries of angels on an easel with swag of flowers above

Always looking for affordable angel statues.

Wanda
 
Angels are becoming plant.

Offer some nursery stock. A blue spruce, a hardy hibiscus, a cherry tree. an oak tree, etc.

As florists we have the ability to make these "sticks" in some instances (ie the winter) look appealing.

A nurser is going to take that dormant tree add some foil, a card and call it done.

Florists can take that dormant tree, add some plastic birds, some plastic grass and make a fake nest, add some plastic birds' eggs, stick a #40 Holiday Red bow in the bottom and if we need a bit more money take two or three stems of white daisies - stick them in a water pick with an extender on the bottom, jam that stick in the dirt AND THEN>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>



call it done!

Joe
 
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I went to a Teleflora sympathy class and the instructor prepared a
casket top with several blooming plants, ( six inch )and a few four inch
bloomers. Butterflies and birds were embellishments. A small watering can was
added. Of course this would be for a gardener. He explained his families loved it because it gave several family members something to keep.
 
I have throws on easels with a spray of flowers on top (not yet a great seller)

Also have wall tapestry on an easel. I do a floral arran. in an oblong plastic centerpiece container, in a L shape. Place that on the floor to "frame" the tapestry. (this is a good seller)



We have been thinking of getting some of the "Books of love" does anyone have these? Do they do good for you?

I like the wind chime idea. Anyone want to share where you get these from?
 
Carrieann said:
We have been thinking of getting some of the "Books of love" does anyone have these? Do they do good for you?
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The Books of Love have been a good seller for us. I would say that the majority of them sells for an add on item to a casket spray, easel spray, funeral basket, and a plant....but we do have the little wood book props in case they want it by itself. If you get them, spend a little more and buy the custom turn style to display the books.

We sell the throws/wall hangings....but for us they only sell when we make something in advance with it in a silk....not much sales off the wall display.

We also have the Kay Berry turn style display for their small stones and garden stepping stones.

We carry a large selection of home decor crosses of different materials....that always does well.

Another thing that sells for us is those lighted crosses. I ran out of them about a month or so ago, forgot to order them.....and I have stickie notes on my door for 5 customers that want one when I get them in. I just got in a lighted Bible open open to the 23 Palsm that is activated by movement to play some music....my wife says that they would never sell.....but she said that of the lighted crosses as well.
 
Trish said:
where do you get the lighted crosses? We sell a lot of home decor crosses also.
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Here is the link for the eternal solar crosses:
http://www.eternalightcross.com/

They couldn't keep enough in stock at the last shop I worked at. I thought they were tacky... :) but I got one for my Dad's grave. He would have loved the idea of something glowing in the dark on his grave :):)
 
We sell alot of the books also scrolls with verses and gold picture frames with verses. Along with stepping stones but our supplier no longer has them and Kay Berry's seem alittle to pricey for my part of the country. Does anyone know of another supplier of stepping stones?
 
Biscotti said:
Here is the link for the eternal solar crosses:
http://www.eternalightcross.com/

They couldn't keep enough in stock at the last shop I worked at. I thought they were tacky... :) but I got one for my Dad's grave. He would have loved the idea of something glowing in the dark on his grave :):)
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Those had been a great seller for us until a grocery store chain started selling them for 19.99. Shot that down for us real fast.
 
clay said:
The Books of Love have been a good seller for us. I would say that the majority of them sells for an add on item to a casket spray, easel spray, funeral basket, and a plant....but we do have the little wood book props in case they want it by itself. If you get them, spend a little more and buy the custom turn style to display the books.

We sell the throws/wall hangings....but for us they only sell when we make something in advance with it in a silk....not much sales off the wall display.

We also have the Kay Berry turn style display for their small stones and garden stepping stones.

We carry a large selection of home decor crosses of different materials....that always does well.

Another thing that sells for us is those lighted crosses. I ran out of them about a month or so ago, forgot to order them.....and I have stickie notes on my door for 5 customers that want one when I get them in. I just got in a lighted Bible open open to the 23 Palsm that is activated by movement to play some music....my wife says that they would never sell.....but she said that of the lighted crosses as well.
Click to expand...

Where do you get the books of love? I haven't seen anything like this in my area.
 
I know arieal bouquets out of Piggot Arkansa has them they have a website. I am not at work right now but the phone number is on the site call and ask for Angel tell her Teresa at Strong's sent you she is very helpful.
 
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