ribbons and accesories

Status
Not open for further replies.
lori042499

lori042499

Well-Known Member
May 3, 2006
6,457
4,226
113
53
Melrose, Massachusetts, United States
www.affairstorememberflorist.com
State / Prov
MA
I love the look of arrangements with ribbons and accesories ie wire, buterflies, bugs, vine balls etc. I think it makes for beautiful arrangements that are unique and have a wow factor that other shops don't have...

This is my problem, I am afriad that the public does not value these items as much as me and am afraid to include them in anything but corsage work...I have taken the plunge with those and have proven that the kids will pay more for accesories...I am just scared that their parents will scoff at arrangements made with fewer flowers and more non-floral stuff.

I also am going to admit that I have a hard time counting this stuff into my prices and have a harder time keeping track of how much these thing should be counted at...therefore I tend to either not charge enough or over stuff and tend to not use the stuff because I am afraid to give it away...Ok I said it outloud and admitted it...

How do you all get past these types of problems??

I ahve tried pricing these things as soon as they get in and then lose time and it get stuffed away and then time goes by and poof the invoice is filed and lost forever...now I have no idea...Things I use everyday and have for the whole of my life are laser engraved on my mind and easily used...


I know I am not alone in this and am certain that some of you will have great solutions to this issue...
 
One word "Excel" Set your self up an "Excel" program for hard goods. column #1, product name, #2 wholesale cost, #3 =sum(a1*2.25 or whatever your mark up is) copy and paste down.
you could also make one for break down from starting price
#1 starting price
#2 =sum(a1*80%) basically SP less 20% labor
#3 =sum(b1-cost of container oasis & greens) you can use a flat number say, &7
#4 =sum(c1*90%) this could be the cost of flowers you can put in
#5 =sum(c1*10%) you could use this sum for your accessories
Would read across like this
#1 #2 #3 # 4 #5
50.00 40.00 33.00 29.7 3.30
This is not set in stone but is gives you some room to work with and you will do less stuffing and more profit making
A few minutes at the computer saves one a nice chunk of change
 
Lori,
I didn't think people would pay for them either, but I placed a few vases full of bids on sticks and butterflies and other fufu accessories in a small display in the front of the store near the register.

I was blown away by how many people wanted them added to their arrangements. They would grab several to have added (even if they didn't all go together). I was sold...they wanted them!!! I now leave a few beaded tassels (when I am not using them for my table dancing work :eek:) tied around the neck of vases and people still pick them out.

As far as pricing, I try VERY hard to make the highschool girls price everything that comes into the store with a retail price. That way, even if I am up front with a random basket, it is priced right there inside the basket so I don't have to guess (I always guess wrong and undercut myself). We even price ribbon with a retail price per yard. I am no genius, I have just let too many thousands of dollars slip out the door by not having this safety net in place. :wallhead:
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
I have an old bureau in my shop dedicated to birds, bees, dragonflies, fake fruit, nests...etc...you get the picture...I asked myself one day...why am I hiding this stuff in drawers in the back room? I sell a ton of this stuff because noone else around carries them!!

They are all in baskets with prices, so I always know how much to add if I insert them into my designs!!

It is a small add-on as far as price, but when you place a little nest and a bird atop some kiwi vine...it just makes it more special!!
 
Pricing goods as they come in can be a daunting task but in order to have a handle on your cost you must make time when the product arrives to price it, before using it. If you truely do not have the time at the moment then make your self a copy and tape it to the box so that it will be there when you do have time. I require every designer to write down everything that goes in to an arrangement. I also do this myself, there is no (ABSOLUTELY NO) guessing allowed. You do your customer a disservice by guessing as your guessing can never be consistent. The effects it can have on your bottom line can be devastating to say the least.

Joan
 
Do you have a display cooler? Do a little experiment. Make 2 of the same arrangements. Leave one plain,price it,fancy one up and price it higher (cost of the stuff).Observe the customers reactions.
 
darkles said:
Do you have a display cooler? Do a little experiment. Make 2 of the same arrangements. Leave one plain,price it,fancy one up and price it higher (cost of the stuff).Observe the customers reactions.
Click to expand...



Not enough walk in to warrant made up arrangements..I'll have to try it at valentine's....I usually make stuff on the spot for walkins...I may see 5-7 customers in a busy week non-holiday...
 
shannonlovesflowers said:
whoa.........
Click to expand...


Yeah not much at all for walk in, everything is either on the web or over the phone...

I was building up to get more walk ins but since the economy it has dropped back down...When I first opened I was lucky to see anyone in a week...I once went 3 weeks without ever seeing a gosh darn soul...in the very beginning. Now I have about 10 regulars that drop by on occasion and the rest are the few who drop in because they never knew there was a flower shop there(been there 13 years) Yeah the old owners did nothing with the place, not even window dressing...
 
lori042499 said:
...
I ahve tried pricing these things as soon as they get in and then lose time and it get stuffed away and then time goes by and poof the invoice is filed and lost forever...
Click to expand...
Gee Lori, you have got to follow through and price these little buggers or don't use them at all.

Since your walk-in traffic is low, can you post a picture on your website of this type of arrangement? Don't market it as add-ons, i.e. mixed bouquet $X...mixed bouquet w/ butterflies $ x + $y.
Instead just market the arrangement complete with all the bells and whistles - you know, something like "Butterfly Garden" $ z. I bet you will find that your adult customers also share your thoughts about embellishments.
 
I would classify these as add-on purchases, on my order form I include these add-on items , ask if the customer would like to add balloons,specialty card, chocolates,accessories etc.... .
I had the bugs, dragonfly,butterfly on the back counter and customers would ask how much, so I put them in a vase and a price in the front of the shop theses silly little things sell.
 
lori042499 said:
Yeah not much at all for walk in, everything is either on the web or over the phone...

I was building up to get more walk ins but since the economy it has dropped back down...When I first opened I was lucky to see anyone in a week...I once went 3 weeks without ever seeing a gosh darn soul...in the very beginning. Now I have about 10 regulars that drop by on occasion and the rest are the few who drop in because they never knew there was a flower shop there(been there 13 years) Yeah the old owners did nothing with the place, not even window dressing...
Click to expand...


This sounds vaguely familiar....:eek:face
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom
Back