What's FTD Offering?

[George Simon]

I see it as a possitive sign. After years of losing members, the trend seems to be reversing. And, as far as I'm concerned, their technical support has improved 1000%.
For example, this membership listing I did not have to ask for, they sent it to me!
Way to go FTD technical support staff!

 

[BOSS]

Tech support and....

Yes George, our support department has seen some shake-ups over the past few months, and is moving toward EXCELLENT, with SERVICE and in a timely manner.

Once you get the data for the other guys, and even if their numbers are growing (which I don;t think they will show) it would also be interesting to see how many ASB's have been added to the ranks. The old argument about coverage has been dead for a long time, but this would show florists support for the industry.

BTW, I think you will see another increase in the next list as well, and no I do not have access to this data, but I know simply from talking to florists, that they are finding ways to grow their bottom lines with products and services.

Like any other vendor you have to pick and chose what works for your business, and with so many things to offer there is not a florist in the country that can not do well with the company, IF they pay attention.

 

[George Simon]

Well, I don't have access right now to the exact total number of listings for FTD in this latest release of the membership listing but it was well over 70,000.
As soon as I get the Teleflora CD I'll post their numbers.

 

[George Simon]

OK BOSS, here are the numbers.
Last FTD membership listing has 16,173 AA shops.
The latest listing has 16,303 AA shops.16303. A net gain of 130 shops.

I have not received Teleflora's CD yet.

Teleflora's Numbers:

Last Teleflora membership listing had 26,096 primary shops.
The latest listing has 26,125 primary(parent) shops. A net gain of 29 shops.
Approximately 2,066 of those listings are Canadian shops. I don't have Canadian listings in the FTD membership.

 

[Lady Biker Florist]

Yea and how many of those belong to both?

Seems the gap is narrowing - the game continues!

 

[BOSS]

So then

The "net" gain is in FTD's favor ? with regard to the number of new listings...

Like Patty said...the game continues....

 

[Luc]

sure FTD gained, mut be all of those grocery store they added to their list....
Luc

 

[George Simon]

Yea and how many of those belong to both?

Seems the gap is narrowing - the game continues!

11,625 of the primaary Teleflora shops also belong to FTD.

16,173-11,625=4,548 FTD only shops
26,096-11625=14,471 Teleflora only shops

 

[Lady Biker Florist]

11,625 of the primaary Teleflora shops also belong to FTD.

16,173-11,625=4,548 FTD only shops
26,096-11625=14,471 Teleflora only shops

Wow - what are the implications of this statistic? Anyone?

 

[BOSS]

No implications I see...

The industry is OVER saturated with florists in the first place...

Stats show, that about 9K shops would cover 95% of all zips...

 

[Audra]

The industry is OVER saturated with florists in the first place...
Stats show, that about 9K shops would cover 95% of all zips...

I don't know about other markets but we're beginning to see the amount of shops decline. Four years ago, we counted 19 shops that service our town (3 FTD, 7 TF) that number is now 11 showing lists (one being a granite and statutary store, another being a basement betty who only does weddings and Sears). Of those 11, we know of two that are barely keeping it together and there is one shop that will likely close in the near future as the ladies that run it are in their 70s.

Audra

 

[BOSS]

two that are barely keeping it together and there is one shop that will likely close in the near future as the ladies that run it are in their 70s.

Audra

Yep in alot of cases this is whats happening....many are either not making any profits... OR are getting up there in age, with no NEW BLOOD coming into the industry....

 

[evergreen12377]

boss' stats

Where did you get that number from?

Judy

 

[BOSS]

Study done

Where did you get that number from?

Judy

for FTD a while back, showed that there was at least one Florist covering 95% of the zips nationwide...

 

[evergreen12377]

coverage

Well, that doesn't really mean that one florist could or would evan want to care for one zip. Just that there is or was one florist to cover in 95% of all the zip codes.
Did they say how many people live in a zip on average? If there are 450 million in the US and if there were only 9000 shops, that makes an average of 50,000 per shop. That would make some very large shops instead of the very many small shop that do exist. (30,000?) Of course, there are those with neither WS.
Perhaps that is the way that it will go (bigger shops, I mean) but I don't think so. If that were true, no small fast food places would open, or any other small retail shops for that matter. What I see are the very large "shops" on line and we call them OGs. They use the network of florists to dropship for them. The local florist who has a WS is like that delivery guy who may work for you.

 

[BOSS]

Well...

I guess...to a point...

Personally I would LOVE the ratio of 50K per shop !!!!

Not ALL of US BIG SHOPS are OG's, some just have, like in my case a very loyal customer base. Especially if you consider that the wire side is less than 12% of my biz (and you know the total from our conversation last week) it's not that big a deal to me. To some it is, but of the ones I know personally, they all have REAL shops as well, so is it "their bad" for pushing the envelope ??

As to the zips, Yes it would either take 1 like in my area (44K pop. city, 85K County) or like in LA, perhaps several... but I think what we will see, as we already are in several markets, where dominate florists, that have been dominate for years and before the internet came into play, will ADD different venues like Home Depot to their existing businesses and simply grow even more to the point that we have "Super Florists" in the major markets at least.

Kind of like the LFC's 800floozie has currently, except these new ones will be full blown retail (unlike 800) centers, with sub-divisional departments that handle other duties....

 

[George Simon]

Currently, there are 14 different zip codes in Staten Island, NY. There are 37 flower shops in the island that belong to either one or both of the services. I'm sure there are a couple of others that don't belong to either. There are also shops in Brooklyn, NY that service Staten Island. The population of Staten Island is approximately 400,000, making it the smalles borough of New York City.
All the flower shops do fairly well (some of them do really well) and I'm almost sure not one of them could cover an entire zip code all by themselves without expanding quite a bit. Sure, we could consolidate all 37 flower shops into 14 and give each one a zip code to service...

 

[BOSS]

I'm almost sure not one of them could cover an entire zip code all by themselves without expanding quite a bit. Sure, we could consolidate all 37 flower shops into 14 and give each one a zip code to service...

Never said folks would not have to get more vans, employees or space...

Only that under optimum conditions a "florist" ""could"" cover a zip...

Hell a friend of mine in Boston, is covering the whole place from one location, and is up to 800 deliveries for Friday alone...

 

[George Simon]

Hey, under optimun conditions, one florist could cover the entire island.
What you are really saying is that there is too much competition and you are right.
But competition is what makes you better than the rest.

 

[evergreen12377]

We may very well see the evolution of "Super Florists" in various areas but I see that like a small WalMart operation with departments as you say but have a strong feeling about the small operations remaining in place. For some reason, the super florist seems "unexciting". Not sure that many walk-ins would happen. I do see a much larger online presence of a "super florists" instead and small shops remaining as subcontractors. (Just as is happening now). Those small shops will work on very small margins.

Judy