WHY was FTD's C1 so bad??...has anyone actually....

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Originally posted by Missy
I agree with the masses. We became an FTD shop this year, despite the fact we were already a long time Teleflora shop(New Owner wanted two wire services) I thought the FTD specials were lousy and cheap looking as well. Teleflora specials were by far better quality, and sold better too.
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As anyone who knows me can tell you, I'm not a FTD cheerleader - far from it. This year was not typical of FTD specials. The containers and arrangements are usually much nicer than they were this year. To be fair, I'm not a fan of either of the BigTwo's specials - I find them pricy for what you get. My advice to you is what I tell everyone - if you're not happy with the specials, do like we do. Complain to your FBC - compain to the Regional Rep Frank Stornelli and keep on complaining up the chain. It has gotten us results before.

Audra
 
As ugly as the ornament looked mixed with flowers, there are many "collectibles" that are butt ugly. I think one of the main problems with this one was the marketing of it without a "collectible" container to store it in. There would have been a major difference in selling the stuff if we had had a fancy box with waterford on it. But in reality, give me crystal anyday of the week over a "hand blown" ornament...don't even want to know about the "blown" thing. Always the number one seller is a c/p with a shade. Why not design something that with the change out of flowers could have marched into ny's eve for party work, then into vd for a romantice dinner followed by the use of them for easter for dinner.........how difficult would that be. One container.four different styles. FTD blew it badly but guess what.so did TF with a bowl that has friggin holly leaves.hello..........remove them and you have a year round container again useful for other events.
 
You KNOW Sher...I BET

everybody missed something reasonably simple here!!
INSTEAD of the "container" part of C1 being an ugly green plastic design tray, this thing MIGHT HAVE been far more succesful had the "container: part been an actual "waterford" branded "storage box" for this ornament, a safe little stowaway keepsake...maybe THAT, with a nicely designed storage box, MAY HAVE made the difference!!
MIKE
 
Re: You KNOW Sher...I BET

Originally posted by Mikey the Flower Guy
everybody missed something reasonably simple here!!
INSTEAD of the "container" part of C1 being an ugly green plastic design tray, this thing MIGHT HAVE been far more succesful had the "container: part been an actual "waterford" branded "storage box" for this ornament, a safe little stowaway keepsake...maybe THAT, with a nicely designed storage box, MAY HAVE made the difference!!
MIKE
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I'd bet dollars to donuts that the folks involved are scrambling to REGROUP and get their **** together prior to production of C-1 Y2K4...

If not they SHOULD BE !
 
To me, a major problem were the all-red mini carnations. Dull, dull, dull! The ornament concept might have been saved by using more interesting flowers. This was one time that not following the recipe, and each florist "doing their own thing" with different flowers (and losing the ribbon) would have been a plus for the consumer.
 
If we keep coming up with ideas, our butts may be on the next committee and we can be shredded next year.hahahahahaI like everything Mikey and Boss have said.seriously really good ideas. Let's send them to ftd tomorrow..........they have heard my ranting and raving so feel free to jump in you two (and veryone for that matter).Remember that the squeekiest wheel gets the grease
S
 
BOSS will know what I'm talking about..

Originally posted by Sher
But in reality, give me crystal anyday of the week over a "hand blown" ornament...don't even want to know about the "blown" thing.
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Hand Blown Glass is an Art skill used for centurys. Machine Presses have taken over with Glass Blown Anything or Molds that the molten Glass is poured into.

Those Waterford Ornments were Machine Made....and not by a "Gaffer who is a Master glassblower".

Blue and his Lovely Bluette Collect Hand Blown Glass so we know a FRAUD when we see one.

I think Waterdaug? ranks up there from the early 90's with the "nutcracker PLASTIC red house and a cheap metal crome nutcracker"....anyone remember those????l

A real hand blown ornament from Waterford would be a collectors item in years...but the only thing i see this item collected is DUST!.

I'm offended they? used the word "hand blown"??? really?? Machine 123456 blew that air into those molds and I rest MY CASE.
 
Every customer who saw the TWO I had in my shop all said the same thing. That ornament is ugly. Plain old ugly.
I did not have the ribbon, the designs were traditional christmas even with gold accents. The arrangements were pretty, the ornament not. Plain and simple. Waterford does mean crystal. If they wanted an ornament they should have had Radko!!
The ad, yes it is the same dang ad they have modified for the past couple of years, cut and pasting the holiday of choice. And it is almost completely unnoticable to anyone running to the kitchen for a snack during commercial breaks. They have seen it before so the music is too familiar now.
As far as recipes, almost every design in the wire service books do not add up in a real flower shop. I'd love to know where the designers they hire to do these products get mini carnations with 12" individual side breaks. Also the 15-17" breaks on poms and daisies. And how do you cut a stem of solidago to go in three different sections of a vase design when the vase is 11" high?
Blows my mind.
The cheerleaders on the dead FTD board are great at saying
"Send them out for $50 holiday centerpieces". As I have said before, if my customer has seen it, does not want it, don't fill it with it unless I ask for it. It just makes more work for me to type in the special instructions after already typing in the first and second choice areas "Does NOT want holiday special containers".
And say what you want about Telefloras container prices and design prices, they sell most of the time. Using common sense when looking at the product, if you get them you usually will sell them. Now they do have some cheap looking crap too, but I definitely could have sold a case of each and two cases of Kinkade but the economy didn't dictate taking a chance on ordering at this time for us here in our town.
Did you get the recent slimcast from FTD? Coupons for Valentine's Day? And cheaper co-op listings if you purchase 1-3 cases of containers? Hmm.....coupons?
BTW, gave away the two ornaments to my daughters.
 
You're right Rhonda. I don't believe a container would have made any difference to the overall perception of the arrangement and the ornament. Radko knows how to do those ornaments...the rest look like knockoffs...Waterford should stick to what it knows...glass, machine or hand blown, that's their area of recognition.

I also agree with your comments on the recipes...

V
 
In my opinion, no matter if the C1 was in a fancy little box, it was'nt going to sell anyway.
I for one is not buying waterford next year and the freeking TB C4. Who will buy a TD with a few pieces of chocolate for $36.00. I reduced them for Valentine to get rid of them.
Luc
 
Hey Sher, I don't know about the "squeaky wheel gets the grease" With FTD. I squeaked so much they kicked my butt out two months before my membership ran out.:rolleyes:

Jim
 
I was the florist who complained early on about the ftd waterford looking like a cheap radko imitation, and I was pelted for it! I waited for the holiday to be over, and we were stuck with it! Why? The percieved value is NOT there, waterford name didn't make a difference! We also changed the look added some white flowers to it, even candystipe carnations (made a better look) but it didn't sell in the coolers, over the phone, or wire in. The advertising also lacks the holiday spirit. I would suggest the first in the series, is a big disappointment, so what about the rest of the series? Ftd and the board must remember the customers are savy shopppers these days, you can't just hype it up, it has to be a quality item THEY are willing to buy!
 
Much of the "issue here"...is in part...

BECAUSE member florists didn't like the "feature" product(s) from the get go, there was also a drop in "morale" throughout the FTD membership as a result of little to No REAL SUPPORT advertising for "such a great product(s)!!"
Everybody's "description" was different, the MOST MEMORABLE is the one about the ornament "framework" looking like a praying mantis, stuck out of a bush (or something to that effect), BUT, it DID seem that some shops had some REAL success stories marketing the FTD "branded" products for Christmas, so THEY obviously sold the "specials" a little differently!
For MOST OF US, the "promise"(NOT) of direct and "current"advertising support didn't materialize, and somehow, the ivory tower will find SOME WAY to attempt to"teach us a lesson"by alienating more members over time, and I see this "waterdawg" debacle as a final nail, in the "percieved branding" of FTD!!
It does NOT mean it's going away soon, it just won't carry ANY weight as a supplier any more, and by us florists NOT selling THEIR stuff, soon, I think they'll just decide to do EVERYTHING ship direct...since we've told them time and time again, there are NOW more options than EVER, to send and recieve orders!!
i'm gonna start another thread!!
Mike
 
Originally posted by Victoria
You're right Rhonda. I don't believe a container would have made any difference to the overall perception of the arrangement and the ornament.
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You said it, the problems with C1 are numerous. Lousy container, lousy keepsake, overpriced for content, lousy design and floral choice.

As for the rest, we've never been able to figure out why the geniuses of the FTD design crew insist on putting things like Queen Anne's Lace in Christmas arrangements. You'd think they'd give at least half a thought to product availability.

Audra
 
LOL...I forgot that part. Someone there seems to have a fettish for the stuff. ;)

V
 
Originally posted by 3genflorist
I was the florist who complained early on about the ftd waterford looking like a cheap radko imitation, and I was pelted for it!
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That truly sucks - you likely won't find that kind of reception here! Not as many cheerleaders, much more receptive crowd. I had become one of the lurkers on the FTD board - I didn't get the impression that the upper management gave two hoots what we thought so why waste the breath?

Glad to see you found your way here,
Audra
 
Yes, the "Stepfords" defended it to the bitter end...glad you're here...it's a great place.

V
 
Originally posted by Victoria
LOL...I forgot that part. Someone there seems to have a fettish for the stuff. ;)
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Fancier flowers and fillers are always nice but come on! Flower availablity is always something to consider - putting things like rose hips or Queen Anne's Lace in them just cause frustrations.

Frustrated florists are not always a pretty sight.
Audra
 
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