Teleflora enter the commodity glass vase market

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Simon Says

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Apr 1, 2011
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In an effort to squeeze more revenue out of their business model, TF have recently launched their new everyday glass selection, including their versions of frequently used vases of which similar versions are available from your wholesaler or on-line from companies such as Syndicate Sales.

A price comparison between TF and what I can get from Syndicate today, the 23rd May, on very similar (if not identical) glass are:
- 8" rose, TF $2.29 + freight vs Syn $1.45, in-store;
- 6.25" ginger, TF $2.29 + freight vs Syn $1.68, in-store;
- 6" bubble, TF $2.29 + freight vs Syn $1.61, in-store; and
- 6" cylinder (w 3.5" opening), TF $2.29 + freight vs Syn $1.75.

(The Syn in-store is via their ROLO program through certain wholesalers and the freight cost is the wholesalers delivery price to you which, in my instance, is $12, regardless of what is purchased. And I am far from a volume buyer.)

As TF informs that a buyer should allow at least 15% + for freight, the 8" rose vase is going to cost you $2.63+ vs $1.00+ less.

Why would anyone buy such glass from TF? Why does TF offer such product with this pricing? Seriously, where is the benefit to ANY florist buying such glass from TF?
 
Bloomnet does that too. Many florists simply do not pay attention to price differences, especially when shipping is involved. In addition, I'm sure many florists like to take advantage of using their account to pay for the product.

I remember one bloomnet "deal" in particular. I had just bought several cases of a blue gathered 9 3/4" vase through my local wholesaler. They were .99 each! Whoever the manufacturer was had discontinued them. Fantastic buy. Several weeks later, bloomnet had them on special, for only $2.99 each. It was hilarious, but then I realized that a lot of florists probably fell for it.

Just another way to bring in giant revenues using the lost sheep.
 
Couple things.... TF is trying to maximize revenue.... and, there are some florists that do not have access to local wholesalers and Syndicate's special pricing...

Not defending here.. just perspective...
 
I used to buy some glass from bloomnet, I would use the money I had comeing to get some glass that I would normally buy by the piece to use some of the money they had held in shackles for 45 days, kind of to even out what I was putting out for their silly arrangements in cash to make my cash flo a little better..I would only buy stuff that my local wholeslaer didn't carry regularly like the pink ruffled edge vase or blue cobalt or things that worked out cheaper...

I would buy select fresh flowers from them pre holiday to lessen the burden of me putting out the cash to fill their orders too...silly way of doing business, now I can see that, at the time it made sense to me...should have made sense to me that there was a problem just having to do that at all...
 
BOSS's Quote of the day!

lori042499 said:
I would buy select fresh flowers from them pre holiday to lessen the burden of me putting out the cash to fill their orders too...silly way of doing business, now I can see that, at the time it made sense to me...should have made sense to me that there was a problem just having to do that at all...
Click to expand...
Not picking on you Lori... but the above is a profound statement... I'm sure there are many that still think like you DID~!
 
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No picking taken...it is an assinine way to think, but so many do...just like the many who have mounting wholesaler bills that they don't have enough money to pay, my bet dollars to donuts is that it is because they are giving a portion of the flower money to the ws everymonth and not realizing it because they are getting a check, but when you put off the bills for flowers because you have to pay taxes and wages and those can't wait, there is a problem..If this sounds remotely familiar to anyone, do your math..the leak is likely at the ws combined report...
 
I suppose that Lori's comments as to her initial reasoning on buying hard goods from the WS is really the reason, and surely the only reason, a florist would buy commodity hards from them.

In 2011, with the beloved Internet, looking for commodity glass on-line is fairly straightforward and, no, you do not need large quantities.

Or go shopping locally - Dollar-type stores often have something.

Or, then again, ask your wholesaler(s) if they operate ROLO with Syndicate and, if so, buy accordingly through them - a total of 10 case packs of anything - foam, glass, plastic - gets you into the ROLO scheme. If your wholesaler is not offering it, then the question to them is, "Why Not?" as it benefits them also - or should do.
 
I am not a shop owner, and even I, can't understand why one would choose a wire service supplier for everyday product? I can see it for specialty product, or something that your local supplier doesn't have.

For instance, TF's 4 inch cubes........not sure what they sell them for, but we got in 5 inch colored cubes for less than 2 dollars a cube......including shipping, from our local supplier.
 
You know, I actually rather like the TF colored, glass, cubes. They feel substantial, well made - so many glass cubes from the likes of Syndicate, for example, have badly cut tops based upon the manufacturing process. - and, unlike some inexpensive colored cubes, the TF color is in the silicone and not "sprayed on" afterwards. There can be a noticeable price difference with the TF cubes being relatively expensive and their freight is horrendous as they are so heavy but I still rather like them.
 
Mostly using the cubes as an example.......like you, I like the Teleflora cubes......I really like the color range. My one contention is that I wish they would offer a larger size cube.....4 inches is soooo small.
 
actually t/f's cubes are a bit larger than 4 inches and they make better arrangements, just bought 4 in ones from the local wholesalers for m/d half of them came in with chipped tips...and I had to get credits for them,,, it is dangerous if they chip so easily, especially for employees and customers, but i.e. what we get for 'made in china' goods.
 
Some folks buy TF for the convenience just like customers buy flowers in a grocery store. It's all printed, easy to read in the book and priced, they also call regularly to get folks to buy, you don't have to call the wholesaler and hear the impatience in their voice while you quiz them on vase prices.

The TF cubes we get seem to have the color sprayed on the outside except the black and blue, the color is on the inside. Their pink is VERY unpredictable in color, one time it will be pink, next time a pinkish orange, next time more lavender than pink. Everything we get has to be shipped in unless someone is on a road trip and can pick stuff up, prices and quantities vary depending on who we order from. Recycled glass has been one of the best buys but quality really varies.
 
kt4ye said:
actually t/f's cubes are a bit larger than 4 inches and they make better arrangements, just bought 4 in ones from the local wholesalers for m/d half of them came in with chipped tips...and I had to get credits for them,,, it is dangerous if they chip so easily, especially for employees and customers, but i.e. what we get for 'made in china' goods.
Click to expand...

On the quality matter, the "un-branded" do appear to have more flaws but the TF cubes are also from China and it is really nothing to do with where they are made but how made, what the QA (Quality Control) procedure is, including also the pack-out method inc. the board quality used in the pack-out, and the price the vendor (in these instances, in China) get paid. At sometimes approx. double - if you pay TF $3.99 + freight vs. wholesaler around $2.00 to $2.40, inc a portion of the delivery price - I think you can see the quality in the TF product but have to weigh that against the price and justify. Whereas, with the commodiy product that I started this thread with, it is more a direct product comparison (and for all I know actually be one, especially with the 6" cylinder that the print spec. TF give and the one Syndicate give is seemingly indentical).
 
I think we buy the large quantity of cubes and that brings them down to 2.99 per cube + delivery.
 
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