Revenge on the OGs

Doug Munro said:
We are not the only gifting option in town any more and the competition is fierce. Why as an industry would we do anything to chase consumers away. How long before someone on this board will suggest filling incoming wire orders with substandard product as a way to hurt the OG's. When that happens be sure you use a sharp knife when you cut off your nose to spite your face. it will hurt less that way.................................
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Finally someone brings up the core issue here. We've lost "millions" of dollars to other idustries. Almost daily I see new ideas, websites, etc. attempting to "lure" customers away from flowers. People throw us under the bus all the time. I work for the "customers" whoever they may go through, with an attempt the "throw" them into my pond, so in the future they won't think about OG's, Martha, Red Envelope, etc.

Do a survey one of these days to Admintrative Assistants or others who order alot of flowers, you be shocked why they use OG's and the WS so much. It's not "rocket science here". Consumers can be re-directed and re-educated, but first they must see value and service.

I like Doug don't agree with how and the way they do things, but they need us more than we need them, trust me!! I can take all the orders I want, but if you guys don't help me fill them (or vice versa) we're screwed as an industry!
 
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Doug Munro said:
Your right on that one! As a Canadian I marvel how the United States is changing. It is ironic that as time goes by a country like China is moving closer to capitalism and The good ole USA is moving closer to socialism.

Trust me social programs are one thing we understand up here in Canada, everytime you turn around our government is finding a new way to redistribute wealth, I am just sorry to see the US going down this same road which leads to a bankrupt government ( if you don't belive this just take a look across the pond). But enough about politics....
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Doug... thanks...

One thing we have here though, and especially in Michigan is a well armed, well organized militia. Michigan has the largest, most powerful one in the country, and the fact is (if you believe the numbers) that 12-15% of the American population is very near the point of rebellion. With a good portion of our National Guard also being militia members, many would choose the militia over Obama's call to arms IMO. Secondly, With the majority of our troops over seas these days, and march on Washington could be accomplished from within in a couple short days, with little fighting, little blood shed and the bums (you know, those gutless elected 'officials' we idiots continue to send back to DC each year) would be made impotent in short order.

I do fear we will see a civil war within the next 2 years leading up to 2012 elections if something good does not happen soon.

Mr. Rohr... yes, we all know what you are talking about. MANY of us here were responsible in part for Meola's demise, as well as several other OG's like Urban Florist and others. I'd suggest you do a search on words like "order gatherer" "order gathering" "deceptive advertising" and others and spend some time reading what we have discussed here, since this site was launched in 2002. Many of us have "been there and done that". Then, check out FloristDetective.com where you'll find loads of scams, tricks and such. I'm pretty sure it will open your eyes even more than they appear to be now.

Again, welcome to the community... I for one am always happy to find another compatriot in the fight against deception in my beloved industry. And just so you know, I'm a 3rd generation florist, was a member of TF fo 30 years, quit that 20 years ago, my store was a member of FTD for 62 years (I'm 55) and I quit that this year. I do understand.
 
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You dont' get it. By all of us sitting back (except me i guess) the OG's win! You have them taking orders from people who are UNAWARE such practices are even taking place. Years ago, I had my own TV show, and I for the first time EXPOSED the very beginning of this practice. It started in NYC. I ran with it, and with the help of other professional florists, actually got a law passed 40-0 in a vote outlawing it. HOWEVER, the phone company (yellow pages) are so way above the law anyway, they simply continued to take these bogus listings until what exists today, right in our own back yard. I wasn't meaning to displace conusmers in any way. It was in response to the post of us all attacking the OG's by clicking on their site a zillion times and making them loose money. I don't agree with those kind of tactics anyway, as effective as they might be. I believe in a level playing fiels. Bottom line...filling incoming orders of cut value is of no value to us a professional florists anyway. The consumer gets ripped off over and over again. BTW...who is the BBrooks anyway. Have you ever written to "who ever this person claims to be" for information about joining, and you never hear back a single word? Are they THAT exclusive? Can anyone fill me in?

Last thing before I go... I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!! Peace! DAVE
 
Dave,

Welcome to flowerchat, your views are respected and in many cases, applauded.

Barbara Brooks IS very exclusive, most of their orders are at least $100. There are several members of this board who belong.

I must say this in regards to the phone book thing. I quit any advertising in it years ago, I don't believe many people even use it anymore. As Mark said, do some searches in here, you will find all that you have said and more, you're preaching to the choir so to speak.

I'm very glad you found us, you won't regret joining in as long as you understand that there are as many opinions on every subject as there are hours in a day! It's wonderful to get varied points of view. I've been in the industry for over 30 years but still find new things all of the time to learn about, there is so much experience all in one place!

You will find some topics can get quite heated in debate but imo that's a very good thing. Nobody has ALL of the answers, even when they think they do! (although you may find that CHR comes pretty darn close!)

Anyway, we DO "get it". None of us are sitting back and letting the OG's win. There is a good discussion on another thread about their newest tactics to get florists to fill orders for them by posing as a b&m using a credit card. That's new, and it's because we ARE having an impact on them. It's a fine line between "letting them win" and degrading consumer confidence in OUR INDUSTRY.

There are also those who are perfectly content to fill those orders, like bootcamp guy. BUT. He has parameters set with the wire services on what he will and won't do, and then he markets like crazy. We all have our ways of dealing with the og problem, but deal with it we do!

and.......Merry Christmas to you, too!

Linda
 
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Looks to me like David was picking up his toys and leaving the sand box..To bad cause once his need to "school" us deminished and he realized we are all a bunch of smarties he might have liked it here....The funniest thing about David is that his shop is a studio, not that there is anything wrong with that...but he just does weddings and parties...so wire service bullcrap doesn't even affect him, he doesn't do everyday orders and is not a retail shop..looks to me like he may have picked up his toys and left that sandbox too, when he realized it was a losing battle yet still walks the walk or maybe he is finding it is harder to "fool" bride's into thinking our work and labor is worth 6x mark up and 50% labor....yup some of these exclusive studios charge that muchand the og's do make it hard to justify and unless you have the chops to design top notch 100% of the time, I am thinking that that is hard to justify myself.....California, where the money grows on trees and the exculsivity flows maybe but not here in traditional old Boston!!!!! Maybe why he prefers west coast to east coast for his base of operations...more money and fame on the west coast...
 
anytimeflowers said:
I must say this in regards to the phone book thing. I quit any advertising in it years ago, I don't believe many people even use it anymore.............................Merry Christmas to you, too!
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I still use mine everyday, it props up my monitor in the office, perfect weight and size.................
 
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Hope David hasn't "left the sandbox", if nothing else he certainly displayed the potential for starting some interesting debates. Nothing makes for a livelier debate than throwing in a guy who forms his opinion regardless of the facts.

However I certainly hope he continues his mission as apparently he is the only one with any insight to the problem and doing any thing about it. But enough chat, need to spend the rest of the day "sitting back" and watching the world go by.
 
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Woooooah!!!!! Wait just one second here missy!!! lol!!! JK.... I am not leaving the sandbox, dont' worry. I have been waiting for something like this for a very long time. Now, a little schooling Ms. Lori. If you take your fingers out of your judgemental ears and eyes try to get a grab on this.....

A floral studio is just that, a floral studio. Sounds so much better than a FLOWER SHOP. I have been in the industry for a very long time, cut me, i bleed green! Don't think for one minute I don't DO retail! I have a very long reach here in the valley and I have the miles in my hair and on my face to prove it! We are quite aggressive in the market place, and we are breathing down local florists backs because they have become lazy and are not taking care of business! They sit there and wait till the phone rings...I don't...I go out and knock on doors asking for business.

Since you don't really know me, I will accept your generalizations pointed at me. Some things never change. Like the retail shops that when they are faced with stiffer and stiffer competition, they simply raise their prices, a 6 time markup? Wow....pretty amazing. Or, while Costco or Trader Joes banks flowers and plants at holidays, I see "florists" buying flowers from that outlet, and using them, probably to fill a wire order.

I sound like my Dad sometimes. Do you know I worked in the industry BEFORE there was oasis? I can actually remember getting the first brick of oasis and using it for the first time. It was a breakthrough, no more crumpled chicken wire and shredded styro or pine needle fillers!!!

In any case, we have come a very long way. I don't claim to know everything there is to know about the industry and like all the others before who have chimed in on this subject. My eyes AND ears are always open to the new and possible. Every WEEK I manage to learn something new, something "outside of the box" and some things I will share here, and some things you will discover on your own journey in florist land.

Lori, you just don't realize. But I do daily work here, how else would I stay in business? But my daily work is comprised of standing orders to businesses and my passion, funeral flowers that find their way to some of the best funerals in Los Angeles. It's what I love to do, please don't make me out to be some insensitive bobble headed "event" florist, who's idea of whats wonderful is putting down another PROFESSIONAL FLORIST who is really trying to make it. Show me you are a professional, and you earn my respect, not that you need it.

One last thing Lori. DON'T KNOCK CALIFORNIA! I have worked/co-owned a florist in the Metro DC area for 30 years! I know how uptight the East Coast is and how misunderstood the West Coast is. But truth be told, fashion in flowers starts here! Then slowly it makes its way across the states until what you were doing a year ago, finally makes it onto the set of ABC Good Morning America program. <G>

And don't worry, I have been in this floral sandbox for a very long time, and I expect I will remain until my dying days, so keep a close watch on your shovel and pail Lori, someone just might take it away from you! Merry Christmas Lori, and I hope your new year is a really good one..ok? I look forward to "sparring" with you, anytime! PEACE!!! DAVE
 
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Well, David..I am really glad you have not left..You may have found the best place on Earth...I notice that you peeked at my website and I am glad you did...My generalizations were just to get your attention, I really didn't mean to upset, you will find that I am one of the nicest people in the world..It just sounded as if you were leaving the sandbox after one person kind of gave you a tone down message..I would definately take some time and read a bit of back history here..I think you may be preaching to the choir a bit...Most of us are very aware of what the ogs and wire services are...some of us are cutting back and trying to get free, some are still afraid and many have gotten free and gone independent...I have much love for the Californians...design wise I wish I lived there...you guys really do have some beutiful product and it seems a clientele willing to really spend what it needs to get the nicer stuff...so it is all good, I do hope you stick around, some of my best friendships have started here over a good debate and a jab here and there...welcome and Merry Christmas!!! You have some moxie and I like Moxie!!!
 
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