Which day would you rather go to your wholesaler?

[Sarah Botchick]

We are looking to do a super one day promotion with an amazing sale at a time we are not normally open as some of our customers have requested we be open at different times. We have tried to be open at different times in the past, but have gotten little response. BUT we decided to give it a try again...

I am looking for opinions - which day/time would you be more likely to attend a special promotion at your wholesaler?

A weekday evening, Saturday or Sunday?

Thanks for your opinons!

 

[BOSS]

I have not found anything worth giving up church or a weekend at the lake for in years

 

[Carrieann]

I did not answer. The closest wholesaler I have around here is across a lake and about a 1 1/2 to 2 hour drive. The farthest is almost 4 hours.

HOWEVER, I did just go to the farthest wholesalers for a openhouse, meet the growers event. It was on a weekday evening. If it had been on a weekend, chances are I wouldn't of been able to attend as most weekends I am delivering weddings.

Sorry, I don't think I helped much.

additional thought: I try to attend events my wholesalers hold, but it all depends on what is going on at the shop as to if I have the time to travel.

 

[Sarah Botchick]

I have not found anything worth giving up church or a weekend at the lake for in years

I agree. We have been very resistant to being open on the weekends because any time we try it seems to be a waste of money in employee wages because few customers show up. But lately people keep asking us to be open different hours. And like everyone here knows - you gotta try to accomodate customers.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

 

[OB1]

If I were to attend, it should probably be be a weekday night, probably the earlier in the week the better. Weddings, parties and events are usually held later in the week, and when I get a weekend off, I prefer to spend it with my family.
Our local wholesaler wooed us with a great show, with a terrific international designer, great food, and live music, but it was packed with basement bettys, and college students. They lost their shirts. Their better customers didn't have the opportunity to talk with reps, because they were swamped with people who are not "good" customers, but rather, interested part-timers who pick up a few things here and there for their occasional wedding orders. Those of us who spend the real money ended up chatting amongst ourselves, and going home.
If I'm going to attend an event, there had better be a good reason for me to do so...
Maybe you would be further ahead to see who is asking you to extend your hours, and what gain is there for you...you may find that the people who want you to be open are not those that you make your money from.( the old 80/20 rule?)
Maybe having one staff person on duty for emergency calls is better than being open for a few basement betty orders.

 

[Sarah Botchick]

If I were to attend, it should probably be be a weekday night, probably the earlier in the week the better. Weddings, parties and events are usually held later in the week, and when I get a weekend off, I prefer to spend it with my family.
Our local wholesaler wooed us with a great show, with a terrific international designer, great food, and live music, but it was packed with basement bettys, and college students. They lost their shirts. Their better customers didn't have the opportunity to talk with reps, because they were swamped with people who are not "good" customers, but rather, interested part-timers who pick up a few things here and there for their occasional wedding orders. Those of us who spend the real money ended up chatting amongst ourselves, and going home.
If I'm going to attend an event, there had better be a good reason for me to do so...
Maybe you would be further ahead to see who is asking you to extend your hours, and what gain is there for you...you may find that the people who want you to be open are not those that you make your money from.( the old 80/20 rule?)
Maybe having one staff person on duty for emergency calls is better than being open for a few basement betty orders.

Thanks for the thoughts. My dad said the same thing today when my coworker who answers the phone was telling him about all these calls. He says "What florist would want to come to a wholesaler on a Saturday? Aren't they busy on Saturdays?" We don't have many BBs that come in our location - I can think of two, one florist who bought from us when she had a shop but lost it, and one interior designer who worked for a prestigious furniture store that went out of business and she went on her own. Probably because we aren't open on weekends we are spared! We'd like to keep it that way.

I was half thinking that maybe we should have weekends be "by appointment only" - and then look carefully at who we make appointments for - research them before we say yes!

 

[bloomery]

Early in the week is best

I would vote for a Monday or Tuesday night. Later in the week is too busy with weddings and such.

 

[lizzie ann]

we have a wholesaler that I do business with just because of the hours they are available.They go round the clock.If I need something on the next morning delivery,I can call up till 2am and have it in my shop usually by 9-10am and this is six days a week. And....we are 3 hours away from them....I usually don't know what I need until later in the day and by that time every other wholesaler has gone home by 3-4pm..Guess who gets the majority of my business

 

[Victoria]

The only time I needed to visit a wholesaler on the weekends was if there was a funeral that required things I didn't have.

If I couldn't get a wholesaler, I called friendly shops who liked to share (my idea of being successful).

Fortunately we have suppliers in the area and the owners live on site.

Personally I don't see the point of being open on weekends.

V

 

[flowerguy]

we have a wholesaler that I do business with just because of the hours they are available.They go round the clock.If I need something on the next morning delivery,I can call up till 2am and have it in my shop usually by 9-10am and this is six days a week. And....we are 3 hours away from them....I usually don't know what I need until later in the day and by that time every other wholesaler has gone home by 3-4pm..Guess who gets the majority of my business

Wow, what wholesaler is that? DV can take orders until 8 PM for next morning delivery, and other local wholesalers in this market take same day orders, but deliver more like 11 or 12 at the earliest, more like 2 PM is probably the average delivery time.
We are not open (i.e. no deliveries or pickups) on weekends, except around the major holidays. Of course as a sales rep, I work every Saturday and sometimes on Sunday taking orders for next week....

 

[lizzie ann]

Wow, what wholesaler is that? DV can take orders until 8 PM for next morning delivery, and other local wholesalers in this market take same day orders, but deliver more like 11 or 12 at the earliest, more like 2 PM is probably the average delivery time.
We are not open (i.e. no deliveries or pickups) on weekends, except around the major holidays. Of course as a sales rep, I work every Saturday and sometimes on Sunday taking orders for next week....

It is a company called Bonnets in Milan Illinois. Up by what we call the quad cities-Davenport/bentendorf/moline/rock island. Old family run business.