Wire Services Are Buying Your Customer

[CHR]

Hey Joe,

You handle your business the way you see fit.
I am not worried about anything.
I have studied the Wire Services and Og's for the last few years and decided to get rid of the pest.
I am also tired of this arguing back and forth like old folks, who don't have anything else to do.

A bunch of us have studied the beasts....and come up with a whole lotta different conclusions.
Some have concluded they're Satan incarnate. :fdevil:

Some think they're a pesky mosquito. oke:

Some believe they're a non-issue. (They're doing their own thing.) :unhuh:

Some just wait for a Merc, Dove or BMT machine to spit out the next order and wonder why they're working harder and making less $. :help:

To our new FC members, welcome to a nearly-six-year-old (and running) discussion.

To the 'old' FC members, you're survivors and congratulations on still being on the island.

New members, please note that survivors have used a bunch of different approaches to stay in the game. The only right or wrong answers are the ones where you end up hating what you're doing.

 

[prestonway]

I can see you write a lot on this site, I wonder if it is the only thing you do.
I have been reading all your stuff............not impressed.
We all have our ways, yours seems to want to ask for extra help to take care of this issue.
I guess I won't be seeing you on the river.orttopororttopororttopororttopororttopor

A reputation of 2 vs. yours of 161...

I wouldn't worry about it Joe!!! :headbang:

Auburn might be on the river...or is it up s*it creek without a paddle?

Wishing you all the best, in your unwillingness to listen/understand one of the better minds on this forum!

no, this is not a paid advertisement for Joe

 

[TOTO]

Actually, many Florists insist on being their Employees

The bottom line is that there is an elephant in the room and few people are willing to speak above a whisper, lest they disturb him. It is time for florists to take back the industry. If we are not careful, instead of business owners, we will be employees of the wire services. Now, who wants that?

I welcome any comments.

Rex D. Rish
President
Rish Florist
West Columbia, SC
[email protected]

All very valid points on the WS problem.

Rather than go through your post point by point, I'll just add a BIG DITTO to all you have said.

Talking to the WS reps is, for the most part, a waste of one's time. They have NO POWER and their primary function is TO SELL YOU THEIR COMPANY'S STUFF. After which, their own PRIMARY OBJECTIVE is to keep their job since, they too, have bills to pay and a family to support.

The WSs have morphed into JUST ANOTHER COMPETITOR to EVERY REAL FLORIST. They will do whatever it takes in their attempts to STEAL OUR CUSTOMERS out from under us, run that 100% sale through their wringers, and subcontract them back to the florists at NET 71% from that dollar with NOTHING FOR DELIVERY.

The INSULT after that fact, winds up to be that, they CHARGE FEES of anywhere from $3K to $5K per year on top of the SKIM.

Shops who have left and then returned, argue that, their net profit dropped when they left. Usually that happens when they fail to adjust their labor and $ervice costs accordingly. When one drops a wire service and assuming they were filling $50K in GROSS annual incoming from that WS, that drop should be equalized by dropping a full time designer down to a part time designer, or by eliminating the part time designer. That savings along with the savings in fuel and vehicle costs would've allowed for a better net profit, but some shops are unwillingly to make those necessary adjustments.

As to STEALING OUR CUSTOMERS, it has also been argued that, the WS can't STEAL A FLORIST'S CUSTOMERS since, they weren't really our customers to begin with, IF THEY COULD STEAL THEM.

Well, the facts are that, there are many SHOPPERS out here now, especially due to the current recession. When they see an OFFER which makes them think that, THEY CAN SAVE $10, many of them will bite.

We had a customer, who for over ten years, sent out 3 fresh fruit baskets from us every Christmas. Ours were filled with 25 Lbs of Fresh fruit at a price point of $75.00 plus delivery $ervice charges. Then, one Christmas, we did not get her order, And then, the next Christmas, we did. I told her that, we were concerned that, we hadn't heard from her the previous year. She went on to tell me that, she wanted to try someone new, and so she placed her order through Harry and David and they gave her a discount.

However, she was VERY DISAPPOINTED with what they had sent, and so, she was calling us again. Some of you may already know that, the price of what Harry and David sends out averages $12.99 per pound plus some hefty shipping charges. She wound up getting about six pounds of fruit for her $79.99 plus their $24.99 in four to five days shipping charges, but SHE DID GET A DISCOUNT, ey?

So goes her allegiance for our ten years of a perfect performance, and all due to DUH DISCOUNT!

Sadly, we all know that, they all get DUPED by the WSs and their OG partners, but they have yet to learn that, one always gets what they pay for.

For the WS, the order aquistion costs, even with a $10 discount, still gives them the better profit margin for DOO-ING SQUAT! Even if they only steal a $50 order out from under us, they glean a 29% profit (27%+2% FTO) of $14.50 plus their SC of $12.99, for a total SKIM of $27.49. And so, so what if they take $10 off of that to BUY OUR CUSTOMER'S SALE OUT FROM UNDER US? They still make $17.49 in the end.

The delivering florist only nets $35.50 with cogs (cost of good) at $15.00, col (cost of labor) at $10, and cod (cost of delivery) at $10 for a total cost to them of $35.00, on the surface. Add your annual dues and fees to that, and on average, your discount per order is less another (-10%) or (-$5.00) for a total net loss per incoming order in the amount of (-$4.50).

If we are not careful, instead of business owners, we will be employees of the wire services. Now, who wants that?

In my own umble opinion, we've already got that! The only difference is that, the FLORIST doesn't get an annual W-2 or 1099 misc from the WSs as reportable income and only gets the WSs bills, which should be reportable as LOSSES!

Keep posting the facts Rex since, it's the NEWBIES we're trying to help in avoiding the pitfalls of the WSs portrayal of their PROMISED LAND! lol

The ONLY REAL SOLUTION to THEIR PROBLEM is that of ELIMINATING THEM as OUR PROBLEM!

It takes a REALLY STRONG PERSON to finally arrive at that FINAL SOLUTION to their problem!

 

[Hollywood]

Wire services are buying your customers

To Rex and Toto,

:yourock::yourock::yourock:
:blowkiss::blowkiss::blowkiss::blowkiss:

 

[fairfield]

I do believe that the WS's are "stealing your customers". It can be said any number of ways, but I get the gist of it. I generally stay out of these arguments nowadays because I realize that I have only been in this business for five years and did not experience the good ol' days as a florist. Although I see eye-to-eye with the longtime florist on what the WS's are doing, I don't have the same answer as they do. It is easy for me to say "just drop them", but they have been in business using this model for longer than I've been alive in many cases - and they are way more successful at this than I will ever be.

It is very easy to start an argument on this forum about the WS's. It can be a productive argument, especially for those new to it here, if it stays on course and doesn't exceed a youthful, macho banter. When it gets too far, it quickly becomes insulting and this has a tendency to divide the forum.

I didn't come to this forum to kiss butt, but I had to do just that after I said a couple of things. Humble is a wonderful thing. Spite is not.

Too many participants have left the forum with a black eye. That will never effect change.

 

[TOTO]

NAW! No arguing, just Observations......

We never ARGUE at FC! lol

However, US WEE BEES have a knack for some healthly discussions!

BEE THAT as IT MAY, the WSs have morphed into what used to be a FLORIST'S BUSINESS PARTNER in helping THE FLORIST BUILD THEIR BUSINESS to what they have become now; Just another coattailer wanting to BUILD THEIR BUSINESS, albeit at THE FLORIST'S EXPENSE.

There are many florists who see them for what they've become, while others keep their blinders on with their heads in the sand. Some even continue to hold out HOPE for the day when, the WSs change their spots.

I almost forgot the analysis for the WSs OG, DOG, or non-local phoney partners and what's in it for them.

When they STEAL AN ORDER OUT from under a REAL FLORIST, their scenario plays out like this.

$50.00 GROSS plus their WSC: $50 x 20% SENDING COMMISSION plus ORDER REBATE (variable from $4 to $6) = $15.00 plus their SC of $12.99 (variable) = $28.00 PROFIT.

The filling florist still nets only $35.50 and still looses (-$4.50) per order.

The important thing for any of the posts involving the WS discussion is always WHO BEE DA PLAYERS versus WHO BEE DA PLAYEES.

I'm not suggesting that, any of the PLAYERS are bad people. My only point is for each REAL FLORIST to draw their own conclusions as to WHICH SIDE THEIR BREAD IS BUTTERED ON and how much bread they are allowed to eat.

For the most part, and from the SKIMMER'S TABLE, the best you can hope for, are the CRUMBS which try to throw at you for DOO-ING YOUR JOB.

No spite here either! They ARE WHAT THEY ARE and THEY BEE WHAT THEY BEE!

In other words, and even if a REAL FLORIST only has a few years under their belt, never underestimate your own good business sense with regard to either MAKING A PROFIT or SUFFERING A LOSS.

Unless of course, you like SPINNING YOUR WHEELS for NAUGHT with the hopes that, SOME DAY, SOME WAY, that recipient will become a new customer of your shop, spend lots of money, and as Herb Mitchell wrote: "SANTA CLAUS WILL COME TO YOUR TOWN ONE DAY SOON!"

 

[mrflowermarket]

Hey Jo Jo,
Not @#@#@ing about them, just explaining to the world that there is life after them. And what a wonderful life it is. Not saying your crazy for belonging, it's your choice, it's a free world and you in fact have the right to do whatever your little heart desires. Best wishes to you and yours. from mrflowermarket

 

[Hollywood]

Hey Kevin,
I love you Man, thanks for your support


:blowkiss::blowkiss::blowkiss::blowkiss::yourock:

 

[Hollywood]

Thanks for the support Toto.
I told you before and again and again......Henry
:blowkiss::blowkiss::blowkiss::yourock::yourock:

 

[BamaE4U]

It is more blessed to. . . . .

Send than Receive, a wise man once said. (something along those lines

A wise Teleflora rep handed me some un-teleflora paper work with figures and comments.

"Profit Analysis on Sending vs Receiving"
Bottom line on an average $52 order:

Sending Profit - $67.60 per hour
Receiving Profit - $6.11 per hour

There is your answer to the pros and cons buckeroo's.
Makes me want to be a HOG (Honest Order Gatherer) like some I know (who might even ride a HOG).

SEND SEND SEND It would seem the WS makes it more convenient to do that.

 

[TOTO]

Happy to Oblige Henry!

Thanks for the support Toto.
I told you before and again and again......Henry
:blowkiss::blowkiss::blowkiss::yourock::yourock:

Hey Henry! It's not so much that I am supporting you (although I do), but rather that, I'm just CONFIRMING FACTS which YOU ALREADY KNOW! Same goes for Kevin too!

Back in the GOLDEN OLDIE DAYS of FTDA, and when DA BOARD worked on S-C-R-E-W-I-N-G their own members because, THEY WERE GETTING THEIRS, folks used to call it POLITICS. And, as always, back then as it still is today, IT'S ALWAYS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY and the inner circle of PLAYERS getting theirs at the expense of those THEY PLAY (prey) UPON.

And, as that old proverb goes:

“If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it must be a duck”

And yet, there are some PLAYERS whose very existence depends up perpetuating the " WIRE SERVICE MYTH " as was also pointed out by Herb Mitchell.

His article only confirmed what I had discovered for myself way back in 1984. A florist can only profit when they SEND OUT ORDERS, not when they fill them.

(I really need to post it in it's entirety as soon as I can get off the river!) lol

However, and back in those days (pre-800-and DOT.CON skimmers), the scales were fair and balanced as ONE REAL FLORIST SENT to another REAL FLORIST WHO FILLED, and vice versa.

One could then use the profits gleaned from their outbound side to subsidize the losses incurred from the inbound side. As always, (and still today) it's always when ONE'S OUTGOING ORDERS far exceed their INCOMING ORDERS.

Having said that, the SKIMMER ANOMALY along with the WSs current participation in competing with their OWN MEMBER FLORISTS to STEAL OUT FROM UNDER THEM, their florist's own customers along with their 100% SALES plus THEIR SCs, and run them through their WRINGERS, makes their OLD BUSINESS MODEL no longer workable, and thus, A LOOSING PROPOSITION for anyone who gets duped into participating.

Of course, it can take a while for a NEWBIE to figure out, JUST WHY THEY ARE LOOSING MONEY, despite the fact that, THEY ARE SO BUSY ALL OF THE TIME, and flowers, plants, and products are moving in and out, faster than ever before.

Unless they have a SMART ACCOUNTANT who ISN'T LAZY and who will take the time to properly reconcile the WS statement rather than treating an incoming WS credit Check as INCOME and an outgoing WS debit check as an expense, the florist will never know where the real hemorrhage is.

Then again, that's EXACTELY WHAT THE WSs DEPEND UPON in order to continue to perpetrate and perpetuate their PONZI SCHEMES.

 

[TOTO]

HEY! Where did all the PRO WS groupies go?

Note to Rex, Kevin, Tom, Kevin, Rhonda, Ivy, Henry, Fairfield, and Glenn!

HEY! What happened to this string?

How come, and all of a sudden, it became so quiet from those on the PRO WS side of this discussion?

I DOO apologize, if it was MEE! Then again, TOTO has always had that reputation from many of those BLACK HATS who sat on the OLD FTDA GOLDEN OLDIE BOARD. In their opinion, TOTO was a loose cannon since, he would NEVER GO ALONG, just TO GET ALONG! Even at our FTDA Nashville Convention, I was approached by a group of the 800-GROUPIES, many of whom, sat on our own FTDA Board back then. They all suggested that I WAS STUPID, and why did I choose to FIGHT THEIR PROGRAM, which by my best accounts, was a CANCER IN OUR OWN MEMBER OWNED and OPERATED CO-OP, best known as the OLD FTDA. All one ever had to do, was to pass by his SUITE at the Nashville Convention, (their 800-GOD) and check out all of the GIFTS which were sent to HIM, from his subcontracted vendors, who insisted on paying homage to the one who SENT THEM all of those orders.

DARN iffen TOTO, always seems to have the habit of CONFUSING THE REAL ISSUES with DA FACTS!

As many of you already know, and as REAL FLORISTS with ANY BUSINESS ACUMEN, the NET NUMBERS (losses) on the incoming order side of the WS order spectrum, SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES, ey?

Now, the River I'm closest to is the Hudson River. However, in fact, it's not a real River. It's what they call an Estuary.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_River

If it were a TRUE RIVER, it would only FLOW ONE WAY, much like the skimmers do along with the OGs, DOGs, and the WSs who SLEEP WITH THEM, or in fact, have morphed into them.

And so, our HUDSON RIVER runs both ways! At LOW TIDE (Atlantic Ocean), our River runs downstream and SOUTH towards the Atlantic Ocean. At HIGH TIDE, the water in our RIVER turns around and runs upstream and NORTH towards Albany.

That's called EBB and FLOW and that's what our FORMER WSs partners used to be a part of, and before the era of (pre-1984) 800-SKIMMERS along with their current WS DOT.CON WEBSITES, along with all of their OGs, DOGs, and non-local phony MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING, unlike YOU or MEE! In fact, US WEE BEES (da fillers) are nothing more than a PASSIVE STREAM OF REVENUE for these WSs, who bilk us out our own 100% REAL DOLLARS in their efforts to enable them to STEAL EVEN MORE of OUR CUSTOMERS along with their 100% SALES out from under us, whose profits from those revenues, gets plowed back into their NATIONAL MARKETING to MARKET THEIR OWN DOT.CONS, and to STEAL EVEN MORE of our FUTURE FLORAL SALES out from under us. Or, even worse, perform the BAIT and SWITCH at THEIR DOT.CON websites, and turn our customers into their FARM DIRECT DROP SHIP ITEM or a GIFT DROP SHIP ITEM, thus eliminating DA REAL FLORIST from ANY and ALL of their NEEDS since, in their opinion, WEE REAL FLORISTS, are the WEAK LINK in THEIR REAL SALES & PROFITS new business model equation.

So now, THE WS RIVERS only flow ONE WAY, and it's always back to them and THEIR OCEAN of PROFITS!

As my DEAR REAL FLORIST FRIEND, OZ from NYC, has always put it!

When the WHALES FIGHT (in our ocean), the SHRIMP (ie: you and mee) GET KILLED!

More EBB for the WSs along with their SKIMMER PARTNERS and NO FLOW for DA FILLER FLORISTS, as far as they are concerned! Then again, they really don't care about THEIR FILLER FLORISTS anyway! If one of them FALLS BY THE WAYSIDE, another one will step up to the plate to take their place. They bank on that anomoly of ignorance, except for the fact that, MORE and MORE REAL FLORISTS are DUMPING THEM IN DROVES NOW, as less and less NEWBIE REAL FLORISTS are stepping up to their plate (of crumbs).,

And, in my OWN UMBLE OPINION, their NEW WS (skimmer) BUSINESS MODEL, my DEAR REAL FLORIST FRIENDS, is the FINAL NAIL, which THEY, THEMSELVES, placed into their own FUTURE COFFINS!

:eves:

Then again, what the H-E-L-L doo I know, ANYWAY? lol

 

[mrflowermarket]

Just a quick note to let you know that i'm not in any way Pro WS. Maybe you just said it all. but truthfully, I just got busy, Running a business. Sorry I couldn't spawn more hate and discontent. Best wished kevin

 

[TOTO]

No HATE here Kevin! "]

Just a quick note to let you know that i'm not in any way Pro WS. Maybe you just said it all. but truthfully, I just got busy, Running a business. Sorry I couldn't spawn more hate and discontent. Best wished kevin

Toto doesn't HATE EM!

I just CALLS EM as I SEIZE EM!

Fore SOME (other florists), They just can't handle THE TRUTH!

Fore others, like yourself, and as you said: " You just got busy, RUNNING A BUSINESS! (albeit your own)

And in the end, you just made a BUSINESS DECISION involving PARTNERS and the fact that, you chose not to have any, SILENT or NOT, involved in the day to day operation of your business which requires YOUR BLOOD, SWEAT, and TEARS, an investment which, none of these WSs or their OG partners are ever willing to make, ey?

 

[Joe Mioux]

toto, you never say anything new.

It's always about the days when you were an FTDA director and how any florist who still remain a WS member are somehow less informed than you.

I am not pro or con WS business, just pro Mioux Florist business. I can make money on some incoming business. It isn't hard. You have to understand cost accounting principles. Once you get past the variable costs of an arrangement, the remaining money will contribute to your fixed costs and thus earn the business a larger net profit.

this is an undisputable truth.

You and others have chosen to leave, your way isn't necessarily the best way for all florists as is my approach to my business.

Since you have quit the WS business, the WS business really doesn't affect you anymore. Let those who choose to discuss WS issues discuss without the ancillary commentary of being called stupid.

sincerely
joe

 

[fairfield]

Since you have quit the WS business, the WS business really doesn't affect you anymore.

Actually, the wire services affect all florists whether we are in them or not as they affect the entire industry on a national and local level.

 

[Joe Mioux]

Actually, the wire services affect all florists whether we are in them or not as they affect the entire industry on a national and local level.

yes, but you or anyshop opting out of the WS business isn't going to change the WS's or the OG's.

You are rendered moot by this industry.

joe

 

[RC in Dayton and Cincinnati]

yes, but you or anyshop opting out of the WS business isn't going to change the WS's or the OG's.

You are rendered moot by this industry.

joe

That's not true Joe. Has it ever occurred to you some of these florists may actually be on the leading edge?


RC

 

[prestonway]

That's not true Joe. Has it ever occurred to you some of these florists may actually be on the leading edge?


RC

...and operating on the cutting edge, doing your own thing, are you willing to join the club, Randy???

Not calling your bluff...enquiring minds just want to know...

 

[TOTO]

YUP! You're 100% CORRECT JOE!

toto, you never say anything new.
It's always about the days when you were an FTDA director and how any florist who still remain a WS member are somehow less informed than you.
I am not pro or con WS business, just pro Mioux Florist business. I can make money on some incoming business. It isn't hard. You have to understand cost accounting principles. Once you get past the variable costs of an arrangement, the remaining money will contribute to your fixed costs and thus earn the business a larger net profit. this is an indisputable truth.
You and others have chosen to leave, your way isn't necessarily the best way for all florists as is my approach to my business. Since you have quit the WS business, the WS business really doesn't affect you anymore. Let those who choose to discuss WS issues discuss without the ancillary commentary of being called stupid. sincerely joe

YES Joe, you're 100% correct when you state that, TOTO chose to QUIT the WS business, as it has been REDEFINED by the WS SKIMMER SCAMMERS. We now use IFA and relish in the reality that, we've been able to ELIMINATE the WS Middlemen and focus on REAL FLORIST to REAL FLORIST direct orders. www.myifa.org and any florist can join for FREE! The only time IFA cost a florist money is when they SEND THEIR ORDERS OUT and then, it's only $20 per month, OH MY!

As to COST ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, well hell, I got over the LOTUS LEARNING CURVE way back in 1984, ey?

Suffice it to say that, my spreadsheet cell entries and MY BOTTOM LINE always seemed to return me a (-net loss) for each of them.

There was never any minimal or residual NET PROFIT to be gleaned.

As to " When I was an FTDA District 2A/2B Board Member " way back in 1992, suffice it to say that, I NEVER WANTED THE JOB! I only accepted it at the request of my REAL FLORIST FRIEND, JR, WHO BECAME OUR DISTRICT'S CHAIRMAN, AKA: DC. Our district was DEEP into the 800-SKIMMER TERRITORY and he was under constant pressure to SWAY OUR DISTRICT their way, However, not gonna happen on TOTO'S WATCH, ever! Which is why, THEY ALL HATED MY GUTS! and I loved it! Always the usual suspects to include JAY, MICKEY, and so many others in our district, which, I won't name, since they were all trying to work both sides of the fence.

It got so bad that, if anyone wanted to run for a national office in the OLD FDTA and they were not BLESSED by the 800-SKIMMER, their incoming would immediately drop by $100k TO $200K, and they in turn, were forced to DOWNSIZE their entire operation within 48 hours, OH MY! And so goes, SELL ONE'S SOUL to the 800-DEVIL and that's the way IT BEE back in 1993 and prior to, EY?

However, that's not TOTO's real beginning.

Back in 1969, and when we opened our first shop, we joined Teleflora. And in 1970, I was elected to the post of SECRETARY OF THE NY/NJ UNIT of TELEFLORA, and before it was separated and became the BIG APPLE UNIT and the New Jersey Unit.

Then, and in 1982, I wrote a column for Teleflora's Magazine entitled "STRICTLY BUSINESS" I'll post some those REAL FLORIST QUESTIONS and MY ANSWERS to them, at some time in the future.

At around that same time (back in 1970), we joined FTDA since, at that time, a shop had to wait the usual one year due to the old standards of FTDA, which have long since been abandoned, courtesy of small bob norton and little dick.

After which, we joined AFS, RFS, Florafax, Carik, and FCN.

All told, we had seven wire services under our belt thinking that, the MO WEE HAD, the MO MONEY wee would make.

Then, and in 1984, when we became computer savvy with our first in house system and when our hard drive had 5 MEG of memory (and cost us $1 a bite) and our back ups were done on an 8" floppy disc, we thought WHO WEE BEE! LOL

That was when, I learned LOTUS, put em all on a separate spreadsheet, and discovered the MEANING OF LIFE! After which, I dumped six, and kept the one which we owned back then, FTDA.

I would like to think of some of my very best contributions to our old FTDA as "FAH", (Flowers After Hours), my concept sent via mercury to Don Putro back in December of 1985 and finally implemented by FTDA in October of 1990, a full five years later. Another concept which I was happy to promote to our old FTDA was 1-800-FTD-HELP, eventually known as 1-800-SEND-FTD and another which was called FLORIST FINDER.

In fact, I still have the audio tape which was sent to all of the ALL OF THE FTDA members which explained to them, just how FLORIST FINDER WOULD WORK. Sadly, and since only 10% of all FTDA members ever read or listened to any of the information which HQ ever sent to them, the FLORIST FINDER program FAILED and only because THOSE MEMBER FLORISTS never knew that, the person calling their telephone was a potential NEW FTDA CUSTOMER for THEIR SHOP.

Then again JOE, that was ALL LONG BEFORE YOUR TIME, I suspect!

Here's another TWIST Joe! You know about the BIRTHDAY CAKE marketed by that 800 COMPANY? I designed one of those way back in 1976 and won a Gold Medal Certificate from the New York Florist Club in NYC. It's not NEW NEWS and I have both the original picture and the AWARD to PROVE IT. And, you all might've thought that, the BIRTHDAY CAKE was HIS IDEA from the get go, RIGHT?

Not too long ago, I posted a string and referred to Enron and Worldcom and suggested that, they too were SKIMMER SCAMMERS. I think I struck a cord with you regarding WORLDCOM.

Make no mistake that, all of these WSs fall into that same category now!

However, and as always, YOU BEE FREE to believe what you like and make each and every business decision, you deem necessary, for the daily operation of YOUR BUSINESS!

As FORE MEE? Well, my REAL FLORIST FRIEND, suffice it to say that, TOTO has come FULL CIRCLE after 39 years of DOO-ING MY DOO plus another two as a Teenager learning the trade.

Accordingly, I SEE THEM fore WHAT THEY BEE, along with their SPREADSHEET LIABILITY!

Anyway, enough about TOTO'S resume. Did I mention that, in 1966, and after I graduated from High School, I enlisted in the US Marine Corps? That was where my Marine Corps Senior DI, Staff Sgt Buel at Parris Island, taught me and all of the USMC recruits in Platoon 2077, just how to KICK A-S-S and TAKE NAMES, and in that order! He was like a MOTHER to MEE, if you get my drift! lol

Nothing much has changed over the years FORE MEE, and so, I BEE WHAT I BEE! For which, TOTO MAKES NO APOLOGY! lol