Our funeral homes got in bed with 800flowers

[Flowerchatter03]

There is a local funeral home in our town. They are owned by a company out of Louisiana. This company owns about 5 around the area. We have learned not to count on that business because everytime they change funeral directors (at the local one) we either get more business or loose business. From time to time (on rare occasions) we get a few orders from them.

They had hired an office manager who just loves us. She is always recommending us to people who call in. She even went to bat with the home office to keep our website linked to theirs. So when someone is on their website there is a button on it that says "order flowers". This would link to our website. Home office wanted to take it down but she begged them to leave it.

Well today we checked it and found out that now when you click on "order flowers" it takes you to 800flowers site. We checked the other ones they own around surrounding towns and they all say the same thing.

Anyone else see this in their town?

All I know is that they had better not call us for any more "favors". Like when they get a box of flowers from ProFlowers and they need someone to fix it. Like getting a new sympathy book. I think we should go and get the one we just gave them a few months ago. Why should we provide any extra services, books, etc and then get taken up the......

 

[concord]

If your "local" funeral home is really not local and owned by one of the national companies that buys out locals then they are no better than the OG's we deal with and will probably continue to link to 800 flowers. But on the chance that they are not like that, can you get an appointment with them to discuss removing the 800 link? My local director had no idea that was even on his when he had his site re-vamped, but immediately had it removed when I pointed it out to him. I think it's worth a try and if you point out that the families they serve will get much better value from a local flower shop which will in turn be good for their reputation, it might work! Good luck!

 

[CHR]

They likely get a commission and have been set up as a 1-800 affiliate. Find out how much the commission is and match it. It will be a better deal for you, for them and for the people who want to get more flowers for their $.

 

[makescents]

Our funeral homes got in bed with 800flowers

Is that anything like the post from earlier in the week
"The price of kissing balls???"

 

[ronni]

Well, I'm one of those 1800flowers "priemer" shops, maybe you should try that if you can't beat them join them, and then the orders will come to you. I get almost $7-9,000 a month on a slow month from 1800flowers, during the holidays it was more like $15,000. I didn't think it was possible when the rep promised me that but they have kept their word. Any personally if I had to rely on the other services I'd be really r e e a a lllyy dead in the water. Also you have to get in good with at least on of the girls (or guys) in the office and they will almost always recommend you.

 

[bloomz]

Thank you Ronni.

You raise a very good point and it's become patently obvious that we can't beat them.

 

[makescents]

Well, I'm one of those 1800flowers "priemer" shops, maybe you should try that if you can't beat them join them, and then the orders will come to you. I get almost $7-9,000 a month on a slow month from 1800flowers, during the holidays it was more like $15,000. I didn't think it was possible when the rep promised me that but they have kept their word. Any personally if I had to rely on the other services I'd be really r e e a a lllyy dead in the water. Also you have to get in good with at least on of the girls (or guys) in the office and they will almost always recommend you.

I can see that if your doing that kind of volume in a highly populated area that you would have a profit.. But For the majority of SMALL shops it doesnt work this way -

My County (the whole county of 200 square miles) has a little over 100,000 people.... that is not much.. My town has 1,200 people... So Joining them would only COST us money (I know - I did join them)

It takes a VERY HIGH volume to even the scales for the volume filled to outway the flower costs, membership costs and extra labor costs...

So Please don't kid yourself.. that those of us that choose not to JOIN them... or STUPID or arent running the numbers right.. etc..

It is just what is best for our business. :thumbsup

 

[Flowerchatter03]

We went out and reviewed the home office's main website. They have funeral homes all across the country. We checked the links to the other states funeral home sites and they ALL are linked with 800flowers. Therefore, I highly doubt anything we say on a local level will be very productive.

If you'd like to check your area, the company name is Stewart Enterprises. Go to their main page, then to their list of locations. You should get a list of states and you can check by location. They also own many cemeteries so there might not be a link to that location.

I'm certain that this is a main office decision not a local one.

 

[BOSS]

Thank you Ronni.

You raise a very good point and it's become patently obvious that we can't beat them.

Yep, you're right, as long as folks keep enabling...

Um, ronni... I'm assuming that's GROSS volume...after all COGS, what's the NET on $9,000.00 in orders?

 

[makescents]

Yep, you're right, as long as folks keep enabling...

Um, ronni... I'm assuming that's GROSS volume...after all COGS, what's the NET on $9,000.00 in orders?

I always wonder Mark.. if everyone actually puts pen and paper to the BOTTOM LINE?? - I know that BLOomzie does... but who else???

What do you think 10%???? oohhh $900.00 (maybe less) I am NOT gonna work THAT much more and have that MUch more headache for $900... I would rather spend my time and money marketing myself!!

Besides the interest on the cost of Goods... 90 day CD with $10,000 at 2% would bring in about $65 per month... so really the money they are making.. could be made by drawing interest on labor, COGS and Wire fees over that 45 days it takes actually get your money from a Wire service...

I just put my cash in CDs - do nothing and make about the same profit... seems more logical to me!

MAYBE I am just LAZY!!!!????

 

[clay]

We went out and reviewed the home office's main website. They have funeral homes all across the country. We checked the links to the other states funeral home sites and they ALL are linked with 800flowers. Therefore, I highly doubt anything we say on a local level will be very productive.

If you'd like to check your area, the company name is Stewart Enterprises. Go to their main page, then to their list of locations. You should get a list of states and you can check by location. They also own many cemeteries so there might not be a link to that location.

I'm certain that this is a main office decision not a local one.

I would bet they (the local funeral home) could "opt out" of this if they ask the Stewart Enterprises.

An example would be my experience with the local paper using Legacy.com to run their online obits (they have associations with over 500 newspapers); I said I would only do paid banner advertising on their online obits page if they would remove the OG flower affiliate links.... it just one one call and it was done.

I would "guess" that the Stewart gets the majority (if not all) of the affiliate fees from 800 flowers.... I would go talk to your local funeral home about what would it take to get 800 flowers link removed and add your local flower shop link....but that is just me.

 

[BOSS]

if everyone actually puts pen and paper to the BOTTOM LINE?? - I know that BLOomzie does... but who else???

Awe heck, there's a lot that do, Bill, Randy, Bill, Cathy and many more...they have it worked out...

There is money to be made filling orders, I freely admit that, but to me, the work involved is not worth the return. Like today, if I filled the wire orders, I'd have had to have another designer in, and at $17.00-20.00/hour it's not feasible to handle these orders. At a holiday, sure when volume is higher, and costs are lower on average you can do it, but not right now...

 

[marie g bushnell]

I hope they all get bed bugs!

Also, check, maybe that office mgr. left or instructed to change the site.

 

[Flowerchatter03]

FYI....We spoke with the funeral home today. She told us this was a corporate decision even though lots of their funeral homes were upset about it. She went on to tell them that what works in one part of the country doesn't necessarily work in another. The main office didn't care. The local homes have no say. The sites stand as they are which are linked directly to 800flowers.

Oh well...onto other business.

 

[BOSS]

Oh well...onto other business.

Not so fast there sparky....

How many 800Flowers shops in Cross Lanes?

Get together with the other shops and stop this before it goes too far, if you all refuse to fill these orders they will have no choice but to go the other route...

 

[duanermb]

Thank you Ronni.

You raise a very good point and it's become patently obvious that we can't beat them.

Sorry dude on the groan. But. WTF?

They are likely affiliates only. How hard is it to do that?

 

[bloomz]

Not so fast there sparky....

How many 800Flowers shops in Cross Lanes?

Get together with the other shops and stop this before it goes too far, if you all refuse to fill these orders they will have no choice but to go the other route...

Oh rots of ruck with that one Spark Plug - been there tried that.

Like today, if I filled the wire orders, I'd have had to have another designer in, and at $17.00-20.00/hour it's not feasible to handle these orders.

Holleee pooper scooper you actually pay arrangers that much???? SRSLY?

Sorry dude on the groan. But. WTF?

Duane - 10 years of saying the same stuff as loud as we could to anyone that wouldn't listen isn't enough?

All that has happenned was they grew,

Well -we may have provided them with a few yuks as the lunatic fringe of whackouts. Does that count as an accomplishment?

I think yer late to that party my friend and it ended at midnite.

Believe me - I was THE first OG crusader, or at very least the one with the biggest mouth. Now I've gone full circle to wanting their orders as long as they aren't skimmed. My foot can't take any more holes in this economy.

When something doesn't work - I find it best to try something else, and you'll never never never never get florists to boycott them.

I stand by the statement - We can't beat them.

PS I don't mind the groan Duane - I'm kinda collecting them.

 

[Chezbloom]

You know, Bloomz is 100% right. I've been on my high horse anti WS crusading and dOg crusading again and I don't know why. The truth is, florists will never get together to boycott anything. They will always fill the cheap orders from the scum dOG's, they will forever line the pockets of the WS and pay all the bogus fees and worry that they will get in trouble or be sued if they dare to speak out. Out of over 150 local florists in the Twin City area only 2 of us are even on FC. Me and the Saint in St. Paul. Most other florists have dont know or care about whats going on and they certainly don't want to hear it from me. They will open flower shops, stay in business a few years, quit, sell or move on to something else and nothing will change. There will be fewer shops and the averageamercian will view the sending of flowers as basically a rip off or a purchase easily disputed. I've been on FC over 3 years now and the posts on OG's 1800, PF dOGs FTD and TF never ever change. Whats that 12 step prayer again? God help me to accept the things I can not change. something like that.

 

[CHR]

Can't change it if you never try. Give up and they win.

You don't have to slay the beast all at once, just win some skirmishes - and getting a FH chain to drop a WS affiliate link is in the 'doable range'.

It's all about the money.

With the right commissions structure/relationship management, it could be a win/win.

Wait 'til the office gets to deal with the complaints and there will likely be even more leverage.

And for you Bloomnet members, remember it's your 29-31% discounts that pay the FH chain in this deal.

 

[duanermb]

I am not a crusader against OG's, but I am a small voice in the game. We need to do what is right for our business long term. (Just signed a 5 year lease, so we are sticking around for at least that long - likely much longer)

Right now, we are in a losing position, and those who play chess may know that once you start to lose, there IS NO RIGHT MOVE. The other player has to make a mistake. There other thing that could happen is that the board we play on could change as it has started to. Legislation could go a long way in our favor. So, see the goal, but maintain and build in the meantime.

So, why not try to beat them at their own game. I am in the process of giving it a try. While we can't do much against the national chains of funeral homes, we may be able to work with some/many of the locals by offering them the same thing.

I have my affiliate account set up, and will be working on a couple of direct mailers to the local funeral homes, starting with the ones in our area, and following up with a visit.

I GUARANTEE YOU, the funeral homes that value local would rather sign up with one of us, than with them, as long as the money is right. Consider it marketing, and especially on funeral work, we should be able to afford a hit on margin for increased business, and it's gaining that business and customer contact that is going to help us grow long term. I firmly believe that it's not possible to be small in this business any more, and grow we must. (after the recession anyway)

I am doing this in part, because it really irked me that when I signed up for the Google Affiliate program, guess who I saw over and over and over. Our good friends at pro-flowers. Again, we can't change the way the game is played, and I agree with Chez that we can only do what we can do for ourselves in this regard, and try to spread the word as best we can.

The reason to do it through an affiliate account? Same reason as the rest. You offer a cut on the first order, maybe the second, and the customer is yours after that. It also takes any mistaking of who, where, when and how much between you and the funeral director.