Stirring a different pot today.........

[RWK]

I am curious tonight and today......I was online doing some research and in the process, I began to think....about us as florists as how we use the very product that we sell, create, handle,.....that being FLOWERS.

It is widely known that people in the European countries have a different mindset than we do here in America. There, flowers are not considered a gift item, they are an everyday part of life. People there use flowers daily.....in their homes, to take to friends, to give to a hostess at a party, etc.

There is a quote that sums the mindset up nicely. It reads " If of thy mortal goods thou are bereft, and of thy slender store, two loaves to thee alone are left, sell one and with the dole, buy hyacinths to feed thy soul"

How many times do we as florists "buy flowers to feed our souls"? Do we wear a flower to a function, a business meeting, an onsite consultation, or even in the store? When we go to see a friend, do we have a bunch of flowers for them? Do we take home a bundle of roses to have on our table?

I would like to invite all of you to meet this challenge. Michael jackson's song Man in the mirror said it well. "I'm starting with the man in the mirror" - So, I invite and challenge each of you to either post some pics, share some stories, of how you, the professional florist, use flowers for your own lives....for your enjoyment....How do they, "feed your soul"? Perhaps the key to increasing sales lies not with directories, websites, marketing as much as it is within us.....DO YOUR CUSTOMERS, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR FAMILY SEE YOU ENJOYING THE SIMPLE BEAUTY OF A FLOWER?

 

[concord]

Good thoughts, Ricky. I used to do all those things but not so much anymore. I keep my ordering so close to the bone I dare not take anything home I might be able to sell. I do wear a flower to Rotary each week though.

 

[Rhonda]

We have exchange students (quite a few each year actually) mostly from European nations and had one last week from Sweden who was shocked that a $10 cash and carry bouquet contained 2 iris, 3 alstromeria, 3 stems daisies, 2 gerbera, greens and gyp... about a real $15 value.....hmmmmmmm what are their prices in Europe?

 

[RWK]

I'm not completely sure rhonda, but a few years ago, some dear friends of mine in the industry went to holland.....and reported back that for about the equivalent of 5 US dollars, they could buy a full buch of roses to enjoy.

Of course, my posting has nothing to do with cost.....it is how we, the florist, use, and enjoy the very product that we sell and carry each day in our own lives outside the four walls of the shop?

 

[lori042499]

You know if people in general bought flowers more frequently we would probably be able to lower our prices because we wouldn't be waiting around once or twice a year for people to buy..more volume more sales little lower prices, just sayin'

I used to bring home flowers way back in the day before I was an avid cat owner...My cats torture flowers...

 

[BOSS]

Fresh flowers in the kitchen, living room and on the dining room table always.... often take them where ever I'm going...unless it's cards with the guys...

 

[concord]

Rhonda, That would be $25 in my shop!

 

[bootcampguy]

That's why programs like Flowers for Kids is so importnat. It teaches the kids early on about flowers, gets them liking and understanding what they can do. Hopefully they will grow up as flower buyers. I forget the exact number but europeans buy 10 times more flowers for weekly usage than us. Good post...............

 

[peggy70130]

I love to have flowers in the house, but I need to have a clean house first. It just doesn't feel right in a cluttered room, so it's usually a weekend, or even a Monday, after I've cleaned house Sunday.
I also like them simply dropped in a vase or floating, nothing structured. I suppose that's because I arrange all day. ?
I do agree though, we should make them more a part of our home lives.

 

[RWK]

Cards with the guys might be a great place to share........something funky........like a king protea, or a banksia, or even during the holidays.....berried juniper for instance.......did you know those same berries of juniper are used as a flavoring for gin?

 

[Flowermomma]

I try to have flowers in the house...

there is an arrangement beside my chair in our living room and a steph plant here too.
I keep flowers in my office at the store but only I see them!
And I do a happy monday and drop flowers off to other stores in this town open on mondays.

 

[anytimeflowers]

I used to try to wear a flower in my hair but discovered I would beat the crap out of it in the course of the day so I stopped.

Now that I think about it,when I did wear one on a regular basis, I had a few highschoolers who started coming in at least once a week for a flower for their hair so you are right on with this, Ricky. It really does make a difference.

 

[Tina Semock]

I do keep fresh flowers in my house. and give them when i have the opretunity. I don't go out much to visit friends. and am usually on the run and not at the shop when i do. I think our crazy schedules and always being in a hurry is one problem in this country. run run run ishow most people i know are. So i will try to give more often in the hopes to share the joy they bring!

 

[bootcampguy]

I used to try to wear a flower in my hair but discovered I would beat the crap out of it in the course of the day so I stopped........................

Me too!! But the hair has vanished.........................now pinning to the scalp hurts.........................

 

[802pianoluver]

That would be 25.00 in our shop also.

 

[Floral Pride]

We have exchange students (quite a few each year actually) mostly from European nations and had one last week from Sweden who was shocked that a $10 cash and carry bouquet contained 2 iris, 3 alstromeria, 3 stems daisies, 2 gerbera, greens and gyp... about a real $15 value.....hmmmmmmm what are their prices in Europe?

This would be £12 in my shop here in Scotland.
My best friend moved to Sweden and her husband bought her a bouquet where he chose each flower, he nearly fainted when he was charged the equivalent of £96- They sent photo and stem count to me and it would have been £42 from my shop, they say everything is expensive in Sweden, but people have a good standard of living out there

 

[Johan]

We have exchange students (quite a few each year actually) mostly from European nations and had one last week from Sweden who was shocked that a $10 cash and carry bouquet contained 2 iris, 3 alstromeria, 3 stems daisies, 2 gerbera, greens and gyp... about a real $15 value.....hmmmmmmm what are their prices in Europe?

That would be about £12-13.00 in my shop. It's probably around $20 or so.

 

[artistry in bloom]

I always have flowers in every room in the house. Sometimes they are just ones I cut to the wrong length or ones that I think are past their prime so I wouldn't sell them but sometimes they are fresh from the wholesalers . Today I have a jug of Cherry Brandy roses in my living room and lilacs picked from my yard. In summer I always have David Austin roses from my yard, peonies, etc. I actually prefer the flowers cut fresh from my garden. I have one exotic peony that usually blooms right at Mothers Day but this year the weather has been so lousy the bud is still tight so I took my mom wholesaler peonies for Mothers Day.
Whenever I am invited to dinner I take flowers naturally and I take flowers to my parents and sisters every other week. Several times a year I do up a puppy or teddy bear arrangement and take it to the childrens ward at the hospital to cheer up the kids that have to be in there for awhile.
Sometimes I love this business and sometimes I hate it but I always love flowers.

Dianne

 

[BOSS]

I wonder how many of us, if we were not florists, would take/purchase flowers. You know, if we were "normal" consumers....if we were not in the industry.

I'm pretty sure I would to further my own agenda... if you know what I mean :rofl:

 

[Mikey the Flower Guy]

I wonder how many of us, if we were not florists, would take/purchase flowers. You know, if we were "normal" consumers....if we were not in the industry.

I'm pretty sure I would to further my own agenda... if you know what I mean :rofl:

so first off, you are comparing us, TO "normal"??
Second off, wherever WE go, we take flowers....they ARE universally accepted as a greeting gesture, and ARE acceptable by most people (except a couple of crab asses over Mothers Day week)