Teleflora's focus on V-Day & M-Day in 2008

[Tom Carlson]

I believe Teleflora's focus on V-Day and M-Day with a major promotion going with Diamonds which I presume is tied in the V-day and something for the 100th anniversary of Mother's Day is going to be significant.

Those Teleflora members who do not tend to stock TF containers or participate in ads, ARE YOU GOING TO STOCK CONTAINERS and will you PARTICIPATE IN CO-OP ADVERTISING for these 2 events?

One of the casualties of losing the strength of wire services is the loss of national advertising, be it to promote a special arrangement/container or just plain every day value of fresh flowers and plants.

It appears to me that Teleflora is making a move in the right direction. Could it be that they are starting to see the light [filling florists] at the end of the tunnel?

Tom Carlson

 

[Sher]

Well if their intentions are anything like todays where they called and we gave them a price of 40 delivered on a web item and they sent 30..we promptly cancelled...then the next two holidays are going to be rough. For me it has been a long day and I still have to do a strike at midnight but TF needs to wake up for sure...this shorting of orders has to cease...with gas costs, fuel charges...do you think they really get it?
Sher

 

[jamese]

Unless they are going to give the filling florist more of the pie, then there is not "Light" at the end of the tunnel. With the majority of the sending florist in the US trying to become sending only, as they are not interested in filling INCOMING orders...they just want the order plus their fat 13.99 and up serivce charges, and then tell the consumer that it is hand delivered by a florist and it cost a serivce charge to do it. It just goes on and on.
That is why it is important that all shop owners work on developing their business and not worrying about the rest.
I understand you have done that Mr. Carlson, and thanks for taking care of my customer for me today...I just wish that there was an answer that was workable for everyone.
Enjoy your holdiays.

 

[ivygreen]

We stock TF items for various holidays, but not all. We are not stocking any Valentines, but will be stocking some Mother's day items. We are in a very traditional area, where many have lived for generations, and people send a lot of the advertised items back home to mom and grandma.

I think there seems to be "something in the air", if you will, at Teleflora. RJD pointed out their blog in another thread. Their webinars, and e-florist info are also helpful. Realizing that you can only change things one step at a time, any positive vibe is appreciated by me.

 

[cherrie]

I'm with Eddie.
I believe that the commission structure needs a revamping.
The filling florist should received 81-83 percent of the dollar, with the sending entity receiving a 10 percent commission. Maybe, that would eliminate some of the order gatherers. Maybe, it wouldn't be enough of a margin to make it worthwhile for them. Plus, we would get more for filling the orders.

How to make a wire service try it??

I'm sure many of their big senders are order gatherers. Not too mention their own .com sites.

 

[Eric S]

Things wouldn;t be so bad if I didn't walk out my front door and look at the bus stop with advertising for Teleflora.com.

Its great that TF has the advertising dollars now!

What happen to 5 years ago when I was stalking heavy with their products?

 

[bloomz]

Teleflora is looking to line Teleflora's pockets and that's the only light at the end of the tunnel, that they happen to own.

There's no bright spot in this for florists. The containers will be overpriced as usual and the shipping will be a hugeass profit center for them, rape for florists, THEN they will get another 27% of the order (and YOUR delivery fees that they happened to not pass along to you) when you fill it - FOR THEM.

Coop ads? You've got to be kidding - I'm sure I want to pay (what is it now - $300 or so?) for my name in 8 point font on a page with 30 or 40 or 50 other flower shop names on the page only to highlight THEIR name in about 250 point font.
Visit your local florist or Teleflora.com


Who ya suppose the consumer will choose? They're not as dumb as the florists that pay for these TF.COM ads.

We haven't coop'ed in years now and I truly feel anyone who does is a sap who should give ME $300 for this good advice not to do it. Please PM me for the address to send the check to.





Sorry if I offended anyone, but.....

opinions vary.


and the answers to Tom's 3 questions are no, no, and no.

 

[David]

Things wouldn;t be so bad if I didn't walk out my front door and look at the bus stop with advertising for Teleflora.com.

Its great that TF has the advertising dollars now!

teleflora.com is all over the web with save 10 percent of any purchase. I am getting tire of getting daily calls asking me to take there 29.99 under valued web specific items. Teleflora main focus is gathering orders.
Of course by doing this they are keeping the majority of there florist happy by keeping the orders flowing to them. As a result they keep paying dues and stay members. :walking:

 

[ivygreen]

I will not be participating in the advertising, have done it before and wasted big $$$$.

Sorry no check for you, bloomz, I learned that lesson the hard way.

 

[Tracy D'Amico]

Those Teleflora members who do not tend to stock TF containers or participate in ads, ARE YOU GOING TO STOCK CONTAINERS and will you PARTICIPATE IN CO-OP ADVERTISING for these 2 events?

Not for V-day, possibly for M-day we may carry a container. No co-op advertising for either holiday - a big waste, as is their bridal co-op. I truly don't think a consumer has looked at those ads and connected the dots to a local florist in 10 years, though I have been foolish enough to participate in the past. Live and learn.

One of the casualties of losing the strength of wire services is the loss of national advertising, be it to promote a special arrangement/container or just plain every day value of fresh flowers and plants.

Promotion of the industry in general will not be accomplished by a for-profit company like TF. Their ads will always promote their name, not flowers in general, and especially not my name. Look at how hard it is to find the "find a florist" button on their home page ... how is that helpful to anyone except TF. If they were seeing that light, they wouldn't have downsized that button and buried it at the bottom of the page 15 months ago.

tracy

 

[Chezbloom]

Teleflora is looking to line Teleflora's pockets and that's the only light at the end of the tunnel, that they happen to own.

There's no bright spot in this for florists. The containers will be overpriced as usual and the shipping will be a hugeass profit center for them, rape for florists, THEN they will get another 27% of the order (and YOUR delivery fees that they happened to not pass along to you) when you fill it - FOR THEM.

Coop ads? You've got to be kidding - I'm sure I want to pay (what is it now - $300 or so?) for my name in 8 point font on a page with 30 or 40 or 50 other flower shop names on the page only to highlight THEIR name in about 250 point font.
Visit your local florist or Teleflora.com


Who ya suppose the consumer will choose? They're not as dumb as the florists that pay for these TF.COM ads.

We haven't coop'ed in years now and I truly feel anyone who does is a sap who should give ME $300 for this good advice not to do it. Please PM me for the address to send the check to.





Sorry if I offended anyone, but.....

opinions vary.


and the answers to Tom's 3 questions are no, no, and no.

I might just send you $300 bucks if you keep me laughing! I love honest critiques!!!!!

 

[Bigted]

Things wouldn;t be so bad if I didn't walk out my front door and look at the bus stop with advertising for Teleflora.com.

Its great that TF has the advertising dollars now!

What happen to 5 years ago when I was stalking heavy with their products?

Two words -- spray paint.

 

[Luc]

Let's look at the wholepicture.....
Teleflora is taking from your membership etc and is advertising teleflora.com first before you. On top of that they are charging you up to $100.00 or more to advertise the feature items in a magazine or newspaper or coupon book. I would not be surprises that the cost is easily covered by what they charge the florist. Take all the listing in one of those ads x $50.00 a pop and you come up with the ad being paid by members.

Now lets look at the featured item for Valentine. The vase alone is only 8 1/2" tall. My canadian cost is 8.99 if I buy 24 7.99 if I buy 48. THe SRP is $58.95.
I double the cost for my profit and ad $2.00 a piece for shipping.
So If I don't sell all 24 that vase would have to start at $20.00. DO oyu know how many other $20.00 teleflora vase I still have from past holidays for sale in my store????
Better look in your store first?????

Now look at the Mother's Day Promotion. I will agree it is a nice promotion and it will get lots of publicity. But as a canadian looking at the product itself, I don't like the little pendant pendant on the 8" vase that says America's Favorite Mom. Now if they had one that said To my favorite Mom, it is more personalize than America's....I am sure your mom is not America's favorite mom but your own.
The Price of that vase is cheaper $6.49 for 24, 5.49 for 48...SRP 47.95
My price to start that vase would be $15.00 and the vase is not that spectacular to justify the price. I would stil have to look at the receipe to make sure $47.97 is enough for this vase.
So do you still think Teleflora is doing something for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wake up and smell the coffee and really look at the big picture.
Luc

 

[bloomz]

Two words -- spray paint.

Some of the best advice I've read yet on this board.

 

[mvf]

Made my day !

I got a phone call from TF the other day:
She said she wanted to get some information from me so I could be listed for the upcoming Mother's Day promotion. I said, "What does TF want me to promote for THEM now? "the America's best Mom " vase she tells me.
I then inform her that I am not carrying that container, that I NEVER carry ANY of their products, that I SELL FLOWERS NOT CONTAINERS.
She says, "don't you think it will drive more customers into your shop'?
No, I say, my customers NEVER even ask for these specials or containers, they want to buy FLOWERS, not over priced containers"...

I believe I heard crickets chirping ...

then she says again.."So, you're not going to carry the Mother's Day Vase" ? No, I say, MY customers buy flowers, thank you and have a great day "!!!!
I know it made my day, it felt so good. Like I'm going to promote them !!!
Thanks for nothing teleflora.

Jennifer

 

[Connie]

This year, since TF has given me free membership, etc. through Mother's Day, I did purchase that pink Favorite Mom vase, but the purchase included a free ad and some statement stuffers...maybe free shipping, but I don't think so. We'll see how it goes, both literally and figuratively.

 

[master J]

you think after all these years they could could come up with a decent container that had a big enough opening and doesnt suck up water faster then the speed of light!! i mean really, they are still putting out the same crap from 20 years ago, did not take any of the complaints about containers over the years and make the adjustment, they have done NOTHING!

 

[lori042499]

you think after all these years they could could come up with a decent container that had a big enough opening and doesnt suck up water faster then the speed of light!! i mean really, they are still putting out the same crap from 20 years ago, did not take any of the complaints about containers over the years and make the adjustment, they have done NOTHING!

This is one of my biggest complaints....The vases are too darn small then couple that with some of the thirstiest flowers in the industry. I had to stop carrying a really good seller because of the complaints, the bear hug vase. That teeny vase had 2 snaps and a rose in a 1/4 cup of water. The water would sometimes be down to half by the time it was delivered. i would remind people to water it every day, but still got complaits. So no more...

 

[bloomz]

Don't forget to have all your customers sign up for the contests now...

 

[CHR]

JB -

TF sent out a Dove message yesterday promising they would not use the entries for future marketing. In capital letters, the message includes a note that they will be manually scrubbing the customer list to make sure they do not "retain your customer information."

Seems they heard from more than one florist about this...