Question on how you would handle this...

[conchandler]

I know, really, the nerve of some people. Got one last week for an event this coming weekend. Flyers already printed, so no chance for any publicity for my participation. I figure the florist near them turned them down and then they come hawking to me. We only get hit or miss orders from this company. Agree that a policy really is your Best policy.

 

[Victoria]

I used to be a big believer in donations. You know, getting the name out there and so on. However, over the years I came to the realization, for the most part it was a pointless and expensive exercise.

I began to limit to regular clients only. They supported the business year round so it made sense to me to support their charitable efforts.

When one of the past non-client recipients asked why I wasn't donating I asked (politely of course), who was donating the food etc. I don't know if she got it and to be honest it didn't matter because prior to this I saw her twice a year... once to ask and once to pick up.

Lori, I have in the past done so many home tour decors (so glad I don't now). It was always a pleasure and fun for me until pseudo designers got in the mix. I gave it up for Lent a long time ago... who needed the aggravation.

V

 

[conchandler]

Ok, I'll get this off my chest and then feel better. The girl just came in to pick up the $5.00 coupons we decided to contribute to their Ladies Night Out Event. She then asks me, "oh, could you GIVE me some flowers to put with your cards on the table. I have a vase I can put them in." Oh, yeah, like I want MY name on something you threw into a vase, I thought to myself. No thanks, I said. "I'll put a small vase together you can pick up later". She's back in 15 minutes "We'll just doorprize this at the end of the night, unless you want your vase back". Yeah what am I gonna say??? (It was a nice vase too - OK so I won them at a recent seminar) I think our policy just got a whole lot stricter. No more last minute Mr. Nice Guy!

 

[anytimeflowers]

I won't do any charity stuff to try to get my name out there, I do it because I want to and probably would even if they were not offering some sort of marketing. If I would not normally feel that it was a "good cause", they get some gift cards at $10 each.

For some reason, the flowers are never considered of the same value as any of the other donations. My church even did that, I donated 24 cp for a fund-raiser. Everything else, they sold and made a profit.

The flowers? They gave them away. What's up with that? It's as if they just don't see the value and this seems to be a deep problem.

 

[Mikey the Flower Guy]

IF you choose to "donate" then it is YOUR CHOICE!!...IF they "choose" to "pressure" you into donating, the line is drawn!
I'm with Victoria on this......over the years, I've discovered that OUR work, and OUR product, and OUR bottom line DOES NOT benefit from this practice any longer!
I've even had people coming in asking for donations for a wedding shower, or stag and doe, and when I ask WHO is doing the flowers, they just kinda slink out!!
It's getting ridiculous...I think I'm going to start asking for a list of the "donation contributors", BEFORE I put our name on ANY of them......

 

[Kristine]

same here.

I have been looking back at what and who we have donated toward over the last couple of years. Next year I am deciding in January who gets the goods and IF they request they will, others sorry.

and yes it will certainly be who patronizes me......