Why WSs are out-selling most florists

[Frank]

To other FC members - are you using email at even 1/10th the potential as FTD?

We send out an e-mail blast to our customers no more than once a month as we are keenly aware customers do not like spam. We have only heard negative comments from people who get bombarded with many emails from FTD or other companies. I wonder if FTD has figured the negative feelings they generate by sending out so many emails are worth the orders they do capture?

 

[David]

I received this e-mail from 800 flowers this morning showing Tulips and Roses. Just four days ago I received send flowers same day from 29.99 from them also. I have been e-mailing about once a month. I would think consumers would be turned of by this rapid e-mailing by the large .coms. I went to a Constant Contact seminar and they spoke of once a month e-mails. Perhaps I should change my strategy.

 

[CHR]

Do you think it has to do with the massive size of their customer base?

We don't spam like that because we want to stay connected with our customers and consider the practice abusive. I do believe B&M shops have a somewhat different relationship with (and a different level of expectation from) our customers.

Once a customer opts out of receiving emails, they can no longer be sent even holiday mailings or event reminders (birthdays, anniv), I would think...

Or maybe 1-800 & FTD still send those out despite the opt-outs from the daily campaigns.

Has anyone opted out of these and still received holiday or event reminders?

 

[12BucksFor2Dozon]

I think its a fine line between "over-saturation" and "staying in the customers mindset". With so many modern life distractions facing us everyday, its easy to forget to order flowers for special occasions. Reminders like these probably do drive sales, and those who opt-in are probably far more likely to use one of your bi-weekly "special" coupons then select somewhere else.

I have a love/hate relationship with promo email...I have a few favorite stores who push the line with email frequency, but I find myself always reviewing the emails, and have on occasion found a great deal for something I was needing and I ended up buying the item directly from the email.

Everyone says the HATE spam emails, but when it provides a discounted good or service, you think its great...go figure?

 

[specialoccasion]

We shoot out our emails about once per month. We are finding only about 1.5% have opted out and about 25% open them whereas about 9% of those that open click through. We only send to previous customers and I believe as long as they are not bombarded with them, they don't seem to mind.

 

[CHR]

I received 24 email offers from FTD in April alone.

Here's a copy of the the most recent one sent promoting Mother's Day - Yes, that's a 19.95 special.

 

[bloomz]

I've been saving and counting mine too - seems like I get 6 a week.

Wouldn't it be nice to have your own email server and not have to worry about spam complaints?

 

[Bigted]

Proflowers was sending them out almost every day for a week or so. FTD.com claims that 5% of their orders come from the email campaigns. That's a big number.

 

[bloomz]

Fromyouflowers sends me sometimes over 20 a day - 6 at a time - the same one. I can't imagine that working, but it must.....