To Martha or Not to Martha...That is the question

[Flowerchatter03]

For those shops who are "codified" for the Martha Stewart orders through 800flowers, are you going to sign up for the ability to sell Martha in your shop?

I just got the notification today and haven't even downloaded the "First Amendment", yet.

Pros? Cons?

Do you think you can unload the merchandise that hasn't sold by selling it locally?

Feel free to PM me if you do not wish to talk about this publicly.

Thanks!

Flowerchatter03/Pat

 

[coppercountryflowers]

Drop Martha and have more space for other things...

We were with Martha for 6 months. Got one whole order. Was told couldn't sell vases with my arrangements in them... Cancelled Martha. It took them 3 months of "discussing" to get them to take the containers back and credit my account.

Obviously Martha's name is not a hot seller up here in the northwoods! I wouldn't sell them if you paid me.

 

[bloomtastic]

When we looked at the cost of the containers and weighed that against what little profit we would be making it just wasn't worth it. The only one making out on this is Martha...and maybe 1-800.

 

[Flowerchatter03]

I'm not talking about the Martha Stewart program as a whole. We are already a part of the program since it began back in April. I'm talking about the "new" admended program for the current MS shops.

Basically, this gives you permission to sell the arrangements in your shop. You will also receive a free book of the arrangement to show your own customers.

I downloaded the amendment and it basically says that you cannot have these arrangements on display. I am guessing that you sell them by the book or by phone prior to them being made.

You also have to inventory your containers and if you sell any of the arrangements, you have to pay 10% back to Bloomlink. If you cannot account for missing containers, you will be charges 10% per each missing piece.

In my opinion, we are to busy to keep track of all that and will decline the additional offer.

Just wondering what everyone else is doing. I'm sure most shops won't want to go through all the hassle.

 

[CHR]

Interesting..... they want to capture a licensing fee on each sale. I've never seen it tried this way in the industry and it will be interesting to watch.

1-800 needs more than the price of the container to afford to pay Martha for her name, so they're looking to capture a portion of each locally sold design.

My question is: Will consumers put a premium value on Martha's flower arrangements? So far, I'm not hearing they do - but with quality local shops promoting them, they might.