Instead of using the wire services why do florist not go more directly to florist. Pick up the phone order the arrangement and keep 20 to 25%. Build a relationship with each other. Put on your company credit card or check card. What are your thoughts? Perhaps this will help to put the wire services where they need to be. If it wasnt for us there would be no wire services.
Why do florist not go direct more!
- Thread starter theflowershop
- Start date
- Status
I already do this. Have for 3 years. Works out pretty good for my shop.:musical:
Are you new to the industry??
This is a legitimate question. I ask because this has been going on since as long as I can remember....
I can even remember my first boss calling out direct orders every once in a while even though we were FTD and asking them "Can I just put a check in the mail today?" Other shops used to not even use credit cards.
I think something that has greatly altered the industry is people opening shops who don't have a clue about really running a shop, And please don't think I mean you directly, I'm just saying so SO many people I have worked for really didn't realize all that is involved in the flower shop business. A lot more work and details that they never thought of!!
Almost everyone used to do an 80/20 split, but not anymore.
And so it goes..
Because there's a legitimate presumption that due to reciprocity (old fashioned term I know) and other factors, that even tho 20% is gleaned, the order will be filled to full value.
If one "keeps" 20-25% they will presumably get less value.
I have had much success with calling direct....more so than through the WS. I am sure that you have times where your orders are not cared for as you want. It is the same as dealing with the public....bad apples and good. For the most part, I haven't had any problems.
When I am called, I offer a florist-to-florist 30 day account. I haven't been burned yet by any florist. If they collect a "fee" for calling me, I ask that they give me the total minus their fee. Then I fill with extra care and add to the value as a courtesy, take a picture to email to them or to included with the invoice to insure their confidence in me.
When I am called, I offer a florist-to-florist 30 day account. I haven't been burned yet by any florist. If they collect a "fee" for calling me, I ask that they give me the total minus their fee. Then I fill with extra care and add to the value as a courtesy, take a picture to email to them or to included with the invoice to insure their confidence in me.
I have sent over email, fax, and phone and found that it takes about the same amount time and effort as WS software. It works for me and some other florists but we all have our own preferences.
1) Efficiency: With a POS sytem, the order is entered once and sent. Done. Less than 2 min on the phone with the customer and the order is relayed after the phone call.
2) Rebates: Even the basic rebates beat the pants off of sending direct on CC. Some florists make a choice to forego the rebates - especially if they have low enough volume that sending manually isn't a labour factor, then the rebates may not balance the WS fees.
We've had to send more direct this year than usual, and it's a drastic and costly difference from sending via WS. That's what our volume mandates. It's a decision for each shop to weigh.
Ryan
2) Rebates: Even the basic rebates beat the pants off of sending direct on CC. Some florists make a choice to forego the rebates - especially if they have low enough volume that sending manually isn't a labour factor, then the rebates may not balance the WS fees.
We've had to send more direct this year than usual, and it's a drastic and costly difference from sending via WS. That's what our volume mandates. It's a decision for each shop to weigh.
Ryan
If you are on a pos system you just finish the order and it goes on it's way. Not saying calling it or faxing it is wrong, it may even be better but no way it's faster.
alisonm1215
New Member
If a shop is paying to use a WS then it only benefits the shop to use it. They've got to pay the piper. I go direct because I don't want to be tied to any of the WS out there until they pull their heads out of the sky and give me real value for my money.
Until more shops look at the numbers, WS will prevail.
Until more shops look at the numbers, WS will prevail.
This is going to make me unpopular but here goes....I have done both and find that the WS can't do anything for me that I can't do for myself in a more efficient and cost-effective way. I am not judging those who need the WS to operate. The senders make money, the fillers don't fare as well. I found that going direct works well for some and not others. There's more than one way to kill a knat and a WS.
alisonm1215
New Member
Lots of orders to tiny towns with no wire service affiliations.
Sidenote: Dear indi florists; It is hard for us to send you direct orders when you do not accept MasterCard. After all, it's only the second most popular CC on the planet. /rant
alisonm1215
New Member
I've run into this as well.
Whoa! how does a business run if they don't accept CC? Get outta the stone age much?
I'm afraid your rant fell on deaf ears though, because I doubt those indis use the net.
I call direct, expect no discount...I want my fellow florists to get ALL the money.
I charge my customer $10.00 a pop for wire outs.
Same goes here, I do not give discounts for incoming orders but reciprocate and keep a list. I had one florist give me close to $1,000 worth of business this year.
I called the local chamber of commerce in his town, found the nicest restaurant and sent him a hefty gift certificate that he and his wife can enjoy after the holidays or whenever they choose. The lobster is on me!
By the way...how can you run a business without accepting credit cards??
I can go days without putting green cash in my register...everything is on a card.
In my opinion you are cutting off your own arm...people don't carry money anymore, they just swipe.
I charge my customer $10.00 a pop for wire outs.
Same goes here, I do not give discounts for incoming orders but reciprocate and keep a list. I had one florist give me close to $1,000 worth of business this year.
I called the local chamber of commerce in his town, found the nicest restaurant and sent him a hefty gift certificate that he and his wife can enjoy after the holidays or whenever they choose. The lobster is on me!
By the way...how can you run a business without accepting credit cards??
I can go days without putting green cash in my register...everything is on a card.
In my opinion you are cutting off your own arm...people don't carry money anymore, they just swipe.
alisonm1215
New Member
Nope not new to the business! Just concerned that the wire services when advertising arrangements to the public they seem to do more direct shipping now...FTD is known for it. We are a member of FTD and more and more arrangements being dropped shipped, less coming to us. Personaly, This pisses me off. So why would anyone want to continue to help them out becoming richer and richer leaving out the florist. Oh! so I understand that its for the convience of sending out wires and leaving out the personal part of getting involved with each other...Perhaps I just believe in the ole way of doing business! Surely not putting anyone down!!! But something needs to change. The wire services dont run the business in my book.
I think it depends on your shop. Some days we wire out less than 10 orders, other days 25+...many shops do way more than this on a daily basis. Without a POS and wire service at least one employee would spend the entire day doing nothing but calling out order direct. Cost efficient? No.
Again, depends on your shop. I try to oversee all wire orders (both in and out) so I can control which shops the orders are sent to, decide which WI orders are viable, and eliminate/reduce labor...flower shop owners rarely consider their time as a labor expense.
Personally, I do not send direct. Too much trouble. I'd rather give out telephone numbers than work that hard for the small fee I'd collect. My time and sanity is worth more than that.
I have never sent out more than 10 orders in a day. Sending out orders is a courtesy I provide to customers but is not the preferred method as I encourage them to call direct first.
Just curious though.....how do all the other retail businesses survive without the WS POS system? It seems that florists talk as if this is the absolute only option? I am amazed that pet stores haven't contacted FTD to install them? I don't mean to be disrespectful. I may sound a bit sarcastic but I truly do want to understand why this is sooooooo important to soooooo many florists. I never owned one, never wanted to....but am familiar with it. I feel I am missing the point. I don't care if anyone comes unglued on me as long as they make me understand? :hammer:
- Status