What do you regularly offer for $25.00

[lori042499]

I was wondering what you guys offer for 25.00 when asked....

I had a woman call today and my usual offering is a small vase or basket traditional carns, poms daisy mini alstro etc....

Well, this woman didn't want those FTD flowers, so I said ok found out it was for a birthday for a 16 year old...I offered up a cube or bud vase with a few gerbs and accent flower or a bubble bowl with 3 sunflowers and raffia...not big enough...Then she went to my website and was asking about the TF pave presents, I assured her that they were a good choice for a 16 year old and that they like the novelty items...She was dissapointed in the 5" x 5" size...

Then she wanted to @@@@@ about the delivery charge....

I am not going to lose sleep over not getting an order out of this woman because I think she is out of touch with reality...but I can see why a some choose to have minimums because people like that are a huge waste of time....

 

[twiggy]

I offer a 'fancy bud vase' usually a nicer vase with some premium flowers.. or a 'traditional basket or vase' using classic long lasting flowers.

it is time consuming to bring some of our customers into reality!

 

[Rhonda]

we offer just about the same as you do for that price. And yes, if they want premium flowers (not the FTD ones :jester ) then the price point goes up. BUT, I do have a price list board in my customer area. Gives the prices of multi flowered stems and single bloom stems. Most customers understand when they look at those prices.

 

[SpringCity]

A cube with a cheapie like alstro, maybe a lily bloom, and something kewl like grevillea. I found these neat 4" cube vases that are sort of rounded on the bottom, they are very substantial and heavy and only cost a couple bux.

 

[Tracy D'Amico]

We have a "genie" bottle shaped vase that makes up pretty for $25-$30. I forget the item# right now, but they're a wholesaler staple I believe. We don't sell many of them, but offer them in the cooler for quick walk in sales - couple of gerbera or sunflowers, touch of aster, birch/willow, couple of pom pons. I think the avoidance of carns in an arr like this gives it a better perceived value.

Also 6" spath in simple basket, or a very modest dish 6" garden in basket for the same. We don't get many of those, unless it's holiday time (easter, m-day particularly).

Most of our sales under $25 are walk in, not phone/delivery.

It's funny when you offer customers seventeen suggestions, and none of them are "what they're thinking of", yet they can't find the words to tell you what they 're thinking of... yesterday I had a customer who wanted 40 flowers arranged for a 40th birthday, but only wanted to spend $50. There was a long pause after I took the time to explain that arranging flowers vs wrapped presenting flowers is a pretty big price difference ... she did finally opt for 40 loose carns, presented w/filler & greens, willow etc, but I just don't understand how someone could think a single stem flower is less than $1.00, arranged and delivered....

 

[lori042499]

We have a "genie" bottle shaped vase that makes up pretty for $25-$30. I forget the item# right now, but they're a wholesaler staple I believe. We don't sell many of them, but offer them in the cooler for quick walk in sales - couple of gerbera or sunflowers, touch of aster, birch/willow, couple of pom pons. I think the avoidance of carns in an arr like this gives it a better perceived value.

Also 6" spath in simple basket, or a very modest dish 6" garden in basket for the same. We don't get many of those, unless it's holiday time (easter, m-day particularly).

Most of our sales under $25 are walk in, not phone/delivery.

It's funny when you offer customers seventeen suggestions, and none of them are "what they're thinking of", yet they can't find the words to tell you what they 're thinking of... yesterday I had a customer who wanted 40 flowers arranged for a 40th birthday, but only wanted to spend $50. There was a long pause after I took the time to explain that arranging flowers vs wrapped presenting flowers is a pretty big price difference ... she did finally opt for 40 loose carns, presented w/filler & greens, willow etc, but I just don't understand how someone could think a single stem flower is less than $1.00, arranged and delivered....

Well the term Ideas of granduer come to mind....I know when I think about redesigning my house and ripping it right back to the studs and having granite countertops and hardwood cabinets would go right out the door as soon as the contractor gave me the price...

I just dont get why people have a very hard time with the whole you can get size and fullness or small with quality blooms for that price range...you just can't have both...

I used to work for someone whos wife always wanted the 50.00 baskets brimming with hydrangea and roses but when we would make them she would send them back to our store saying they weren't as big as the traditional baskets and she would not be able to sell them...She was in the biz and couldn't get this concept...

Why is it that we are willing to work with their budget but when we offer what we can do within it they scoff and want better because that is going to make them look cheap...Well if the shoes fit my dear....

 

[mcf]

In considering value aren't we really talking about "perceived value"? We are all occasionally guilty of "looks like pricing" ~ As in "That looks like a $25". The art is making a $25 look like a $35 without stuffing.

To some a $25 is a basket of poms and carns. To others it's several stems of iris professionally designed.

It all goes back to asking the right questions. Most complaints occur when we fail to identify our customer's expectations and recommend the design and price point required to exceed them.

 

[Gigi]

I'm curious, do all your designs leave the shop in some sort of container? For $25 in our shop, we only offer cut flower bouquets. Montreal has a Europeen flair, I'm wondering if thats why we don't get much request for 'arrangements'.

 

[Tracy D'Amico]

I'm curious, do all your designs leave the shop in some sort of container? For $25 in our shop, we only offer cut flower bouquets. Montreal has a Europeen flair, I'm wondering if thats why we don't get much request for 'arrangements'.

We do typically send arr's out in containers, though occasionally have a customer request loose bouquets as well.
lol Barnegat does NOT have a Eurpoean flair, but I've got a couple of customers who prefer loose flowers to arrange themselves. A lot of our recipients are elderly, and they don't seem to want to fuss with something. I actually suggest arranged flowers more than loose. I don't find many customers who can successfully arrange flowers in an appropriately sized container, and actually cut them (with something other than scissors) and be happy with their creation. Many just don't want to be bothered.

 

[Gigi]

Oh, all our bouquets are "arranged" we make the bouquets and tie them with ribbon. All the customer has to do is cut to their desired lenght and place it in a vase. Since the flowers are tied, this makes it easier for them to change the water. Usually as we are making the bouquet we question the client on what kind of vase they will be using, this helps with the designing and then we show them how and where to make the cut, if necessary.

 

[Tuberose]

For $25 to $30 one of our options is a faux grass vase that has a well for foam and water, only about 2-3" across the base, add 2 or 3 gerbs, bit of filler, bow and maybe a bug. We also have some low glass vases in colors that can hold a stargazer, lily grass, greens and another small flower or two.

The majority of our requests are for arrangements not so many loose or hand tied.

Trish

 

[SpringCity]

Hand tied arrgs are nice but I always worry that the customer will neglect to cut the stems, then they won't last. You can combat it with water tubes but then you have to remind them to take them out of the tubes right before they put in water. Also for orders going out for delivery, flowers not in a vase are iffy to me. For example what if the recipient has no vase.

 

[alisonm1215]

For the occassional $25 order, I offer a bunch of little stuff that doesn't cost me much. I have a mini goodie basket (very small) with bite size chocolates (snickers and milky ways) and hard candies. It comes with a mini plush and a balloon. The balloon and the shape of the basket make the arrangement look like the recepiant is getting a lotta stuff, but it only costs me about 6 bucks and I make a little on the delivery.
I also offer a birthday mug or tea cup with a modest but full arrangement in it.
I don't promote these items though because I've found that the cheapies are the biggest complainers. They take way too much time to deal with when I could be hustling up more business. Which is what I should be doing now ; )
As far as handtieds go--would love more of these. I don't think hometown Americans have caught on with the concept yet, But I push the European concept as much as possible.

 

[lori042499]

In considering value aren't we really talking about "perceived value"? We are all occasionally guilty of "looks like pricing" ~ As in "That looks like a $25". The art is making a $25 look like a $35 without stuffing.

To some a $25 is a basket of poms and carns. To others it's several stems of iris professionally designed.

It all goes back to asking the right questions. Most complaints occur when we fail to identify our customer's expectations and recommend the design and price point required to exceed them.

This lady here was offered a traditional basket, a vase of sunflowers, a cube of gerbs and other nicer flowers. She wanted big and impressive, but not old fashioned...The impressive flowers were all to little in substance for her tastes but the ones that were big enough had flowers in it she didn't like..Like I said I am not losing sleep or this chick, I believe she just had unrealistic views...25 bucks is 25 buck no matter how you dress it you only have so much money to work with and they have to sacrifice on size if they want the premium flowers or sacrifice premium flowers if size is the important thing..they cant have both..

 

[Gigi]

Hand tied arrgs are nice but I always worry that the customer will neglect to cut the stems, then they won't last. You can combat it with water tubes but then you have to remind them to take them out of the tubes right before they put in water. Also for orders going out for delivery, flowers not in a vase are iffy to me. For example what if the recipient has no vase.

You raise some good points. Obviously when sending flowers to a hospital or a nursing home we arrange in a vase or a suitable container, same goes for a new home owner. We always ask our customer what they would prefer. Cut flower bouquets are the norm here in Montreal. All our bouquets come with instructions 'cut and place in fresh water'. We also make a 'wet pack' when we think the flowers will be out of water for a longer time period. In the most part because its the 'norm' more people are informed on what to do when they get the bouquet.

 

[RWK]

What I used to offer when I was in the shop for 25.00 was a mixed flower bud vase.

I took one of the "big-mouth" vases and used assorted flowers.....1 stem of each though. It might have 1 gladiola, 1 snapdragon, 1 carnation, 1 daisy, 1 mini-carnation, 1 alstroemeria, 1 solidago, 1 statice, 2 or 3 blades bear grass, 2 or 3 galax, 1 frond leather.

kept it tall and slender.......sold well.

 

[Chezbloom]

Criminy. Do people really think the recepient is going to sit and count each flower? I realize some people think its creative to send 40 flowers for a 40th b'day. But.......its not.

We have a "genie" bottle shaped vase that makes up pretty for $25-$30. I forget the item# right now, but they're a wholesaler staple I believe. We don't sell many of them, but offer them in the cooler for quick walk in sales - couple of gerbera or sunflowers, touch of aster, birch/willow, couple of pom pons. I think the avoidance of carns in an arr like this gives it a better perceived value.

Also 6" spath in simple basket, or a very modest dish 6" garden in basket for the same. We don't get many of those, unless it's holiday time (easter, m-day particularly).

Most of our sales under $25 are walk in, not phone/delivery.

It's funny when you offer customers seventeen suggestions, and none of them are "what they're thinking of", yet they can't find the words to tell you what they 're thinking of... yesterday I had a customer who wanted 40 flowers arranged for a 40th birthday, but only wanted to spend $50. There was a long pause after I took the time to explain that arranging flowers vs wrapped presenting flowers is a pretty big price difference ... she did finally opt for 40 loose carns, presented w/filler & greens, willow etc, but I just don't understand how someone could think a single stem flower is less than $1.00, arranged and delivered....

 

[Kristine]

This lady here was offered a traditional basket, a vase of sunflowers, a cube of gerbs and other nicer flowers. She wanted big and impressive, but not old fashioned...The impressive flowers were all to little in substance for her tastes but the ones that were big enough had flowers in it she didn't like..Like I said I am not losing sleep or this chick, I believe she just had unrealistic views...25 bucks is 25 buck no matter how you dress it you only have so much money to work with and they have to sacrifice on size if they want the premium flowers or sacrifice premium flowers if size is the important thing..they cant have both..

what the heck???

I thought this was for a 16 year old?!?. In our hood they go gaga over gerbs, so a zig zag vase with bright colored gerbs embellished with wire and a dazzler balloon would be the option I would sell.

for a guy he would get a birthday party boc of chocolate bars and balloons which he would promptly be sucking out the helium and acting stupid :hammer:


What kind of 16 year old wants big and impressive. They want what everyone else gets. (got a 16 year old sitting behind me as it type)

 

[Tracy D'Amico]

Criminy. Do people really think the recepient is going to sit and count each flower? I realize some people think its creative to send 40 flowers for a 40th b'day. But.......its not.

Funny thing was, the sender presented me with the recipient's business card for delivery info - it is a very upscale contemporary card, for an architectural firm. Really? 40 pink carns? I tried, but they must have liked it, because hubby called for us to go back to the address with a mixed vase for $125.

Maybe I don't know what is best - see the purple calla thread for more evidence of my mis-judgement in what my customers prefer .....

 

[DistinctiveFlorist]

It's funny that you posted this today because I was getting ready to ask a question about $25 arrangements.

Obviously, they are not going to be big but what can we offer for $25 (arranged)? What do you have ready to offer for those that only want to spend $25? I think in these economic times, we would be smart to be prepared for customers that want to spend less, just in case.

I have had two men that I know could well afford more, call and order $25 arrangements (they don't care if they are in vase or other) plus del. Our normal offering for this is a rectangular vase with shorter flowers. Have no problem diong this for that price. However, one of the men ordered about three weeks ago and that is what we sent. She loved it so much she ordered one the next day for a sick friend. He calls this week and wants something for the same price. She just got the rectangular vase. We have to send something different. It was very frustrating. We have smaller vases (tulip vase) that we use for this price and do a mixed vase in but since she loved the style of the rectangular vase so well, I didn't want to go there.

I am now in the process of making a list of items that can be done for $25. Here is what I have so far. Rectangular vase, tulip vase of mixed flowers, alstromeria topiary. We can do a mug or teacup for less but I am trying to stretch myself to come up with ideas that have a goof first impression. Anyone have any ideas to add to the mix? I am trying to do something other than a basket of carns and daisies as this is more the style of the other shop in town.

Thanks for any and all ideas,
Wanda