Wire Services Are Buying Your Customer

[inferno63]

Now that we're thinking on the same scenario...

Look at this...

Sending florist:
$100.00 order outgoing, florist keeps $20.00+ rebate of up to $8.00

Receiving florist:
$100.00 order incoming, florist gets paid $73.00, less membership/advertising fee

Who gets the better deal?

And remember, most sending florists, generate allot of orders, in my small time case, yearly fees amount to less than $1.00 per order, not including rebates...factor in the rebates and I'm on the profit side and the 20% is all gravy.

Of course the sending florist, WS, OG....whatever you want to call them get the better deal. On that same $100 based on my averages as a filling florist I get $10.99 after cogs, labor, software fees, directory fees, membership fees, transmission fees, delivery, and advertising. Now you can see what less than a $100 order does to me. So I would have to reject your order that was less. urpletea

I hope that the law of supply and demand prevails eventually with sending florists, WS, and OGs......I hope that the filling florists come to their senses and drop out of the game so all of you have no one to skip-to-dee-do over to the bank. As you play the game you are making money and as long as there remain filling florists you will continue to make money. Believe it or not, I respect that. But you can't beat ME at the game if I am not playing. It sounds to me like we are both good business people. You for staying in the game and me for dropping out.

 

[bloomz]

So is this why the OG's like the WS so much.

As I understand it then, you have to Verge on joining the enemy(OG's) to make $$$ w/ a wire service?? RIGHT?

Best wishes mrflowermarket

Do you really look at me as the enemy Henry?

Ok, you win on the "sending" side and I win on the "filling" side of this argument.

I'm sorry for being a bit flippant - (imagine that - bloomz being flippant).

Of course I was talking sending more than you receive. Boss covered it pretty well, so I won't reiterate. You simply have to send more than you receive, plus a few to pay the membership fees.

However, and you knew this was coming......two thoughts for consideration... first, other florists are getting hosed on filling your orders and the WS is still netting big profits from the order no matter who generated it, you or them. Second, should we all catch on to this we will all become "sending" florists and will have no one to fill our orders.

Why are florists getting hosed? Because they aren't doing their math? Not controlling both incoming volumes and cost of goods? Well gee, sorry they aren't very astute business people (that one I was intentionally being flippant), but who's fault is that? The wire services? the OG's?

The wire services are making big money, but it isn't really from order transfer - it's primarily from their own order gathering. As from wherever the order generates? No, they actually pay out more in rebates than the 7% they make on the orders (for florists that pay their bills on time, again quite few), BUT, they keep their legions of members happy by making the Mercury spit out orders, exactly what those legions want.

This florist, for one, will no longer be filling your WS orders.

I pretty much thought from that other thread you already weren't?



OK I gotta work for an hour or so and pay some bills, just to look busy.

I think I'll write the wire services a couple checks - hope they're big ones!

:bangles::headbang::smoke

 

[mrflowermarket]

[
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrflowermarket
So is this why the OG's like the WS so much.

As I understand it then, you have to Verge on joining the enemy(OG's) to make $$$ w/ a wire service?? RIGHT?

Best wishes mrflowermarket

Do you really look at me as the enemy Henry?



My names not Henry. I was referring to the OG's as the Enemy--I guess if the shoe fits.?. My comment was you have to Verge on joining the enemy(OG's) to make $$$ w/a wire service. I wasn't pointing any fingers. see ya mrflowermarket

 

[bloomz]

The shoe fits, Ralph (sorry confused you with someone else I guess)

Given that I do all I can to get orders back from wire services - I qualify as a HOG.

Question again

Do you consider me the enemy?

 

[BOSS]

As you play the game you are making money and as long as there remain filling florists you will continue to make money. Believe it or not, I respect that. But you can't beat ME at the game if I am not playing. It sounds to me like we are both good business people. You for staying in the game and me for dropping out.

True, but remember I am also a filling florist, so I have to add that into my numbers, but honestly the rebate covers much of the loss on the filling side. I fill every *florist* order sent to me, rarely do I ask for more $$.

As to staying in the game....for a while I will, yes it's profitable, just no longer important, as I focus mostly on local business. I used to battle for outgoings with advertising, and at one point had close to 7500 a year, still I am small time in this area, knowing shops that have hundreds of thousands a year. These days as the volume goes away, I simply do not worry about it, because I truly think it will all be gone, in perhaps 4-5 years, but I'll still be here...for a while, as retirements planned for 8 years and 9 months from next saturday whan I turn 60

 

[mrflowermarket]

Given that I do all I can to get orders back from wire services - I qualify as a HOG.

Question again

Do you consider me the enemy?

Bloomz---- Answer--I don't know you well enough to consider you The enemy.
Best wishes. mrflowermarket

 

[bloomz]

Thank you - point I was alluding to - many honest florist OG's are fighting the real enemy

1-800-PROTFTD

I'm proud to consider myself in the above bunch.

 

[BOSS]

Simple fact is:

If no one would fill **company orders** they would all go away, and the volume would return directly to the florists.

End of story.

 

[Joe Mioux]

OH..... Frank???? (prestonway for those of you who are new)...

Do you have an opinion?

Joe

p.s. you know i do.

 

[mrflowermarket]

Sounds like a call to action

Simple fact is:

If no one would fill **company orders** they would all go away, and the volume would return directly to the florists.

End of story.

That sounds like a call to action. Lets all do it and see how long it takes!!!! I for one have jumped on the wagon and it's rolling. Let's spread the word and start a revolution. Best wishes to all mrflowermarket
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
:wave::wave::wave:
Now That's What I'm Talkin' About!!!

 

[Hollywood]

:che::che::che::che:I am with you Kevin, Hollywood!!
:wave::wave::wave::wave::wave::wave::wave::wave::wave::wave::wave::wave::wave::wave::wave::wave::wave::wave::wave:
:axe:axe:axe:axe:axe
:musical::musical::musical::musical::musical:

 

[safeguy]

That sounds like a call to action. Lets all do it and see how long it takes!!!! I for one have jumped on the wagon and it's rolling. Let's spread the word and start a revolution. Best wishes to all mrflowermarket

Now That's What I'm Talkin' About!!!

Actually, mrflowermarket, that's exactly what I was talking about when I started this thread some three weeks ago. I'm on the bandwagon...we carefully scrutinize all incoming orders and try to identify OG's. Once identified, we reject the order immediately. We've got quite a list and they are growing everyday. It is amazing how many times they try to talk my employees into taking the order, even though we state quite forcefully that we will not support them!

At the risk of repeating my original post, I issued a call to action three weeks ago to my fellow florists. Alone, I am nothing but together, we can! (A cord with three strands is not easily broken... Ecclesiastes 4:12)

Looks like more and more are beginning to see the elephant in the room but we need many more. For the sake of the retail floral industry, spread the word. Let's start the revolution right here...right now!

:ned
Safeguy

 

[bloomz]

Looks like more and more are beginning to see the elephant in the room but we need many more. For the sake of the retail floral industry, spread the word. Let's start the revolution right here...right now!

:ned
Safeguy

I hate to be a naysayer, but we've been saying that for about 10 years now.

And it's gotten worse.

I wish you well on your quest.

 

[safeguy]

I hate to be a naysayer, but we've been saying that for about 10 years now.

And it's gotten worse.

I wish you well on your quest.

...so you are saying that you should just roll over and let them stick it to you?

You can find the KY Jelly on aisle 3.

:ned
Safeguy

 

[inferno63]

I hate to be a naysayer, but we've been saying that for about 10 years now.

And it's gotten worse.

I wish you well on your quest.

Bloomz is just doing what business people do and that is to make money in the most efficient, economical way possible. If we all were in his "sending" position, it would be hard to say that we wouldn't play the same way. With that being said, the objective for us to be is to respectfully, in an ethical and competitive way, lessen the supply of "filling" florists. We can begin a persistent campaign to make it hard for Bloomz, WS, and Ogs, to find a florist to fill their orders and the practice will slow and hopefully stop. I truly believe (without the benefit of exact stats) that more florists are in a "filling" position in comparison. I just wish all florists would see that it is a benefit to the industry as a whole to bring customers back to the real florists.

 

[theRKF]

I think what Bloomz is doing is getting in the ring with the big boys. Rather than passively pulling out of the game and hoping the corps will just take their ball and go home, he's competing for every order. Each time someone orders from a Bloomz national site, that's an order that didn't go to FTD/TF/etc./etc.

For the record, as it's been stated before, Bloomz was the original anti-WS cheerleader, calling for the boycotts and all that jazz. The majority of florists don't get it - just like those emails suggesting we don't buy gas from a certain brand station one a certain day ...

JB is in the game to win it, just RC and many others. Corporations like FTD won't just pack up if they run out of fillers, they will open their own locations (discussed that with Soenen within the last 6 months) or drop ship their items. "Same-day" is not going to save the florists ... not ever.

Forget getting on the band wagon - get in the ring!

Ryan

 

[BOSS]

I truly believe (without the benefit of exact stats) that more florists are in a "filling" position in comparison.

Basic stat, as explained to me years ago, and I have no reason to think it has changed, is that 90% of the order volume is controlled by 10% of the florists.

Meaning that 10% of the florists control 90% of the volume of flowing orders. I suspect this is still somewhat accurate, except for the *company orders* that the .coN's have been able to take away from EVERY florist...

 

[inferno63]

I think what Bloomz is doing is getting in the ring with the big boys. Rather than passively pulling out of the game and hoping the corps will just take their ball and go home, he's competing for every order. Each time someone orders from a Bloomz national site, that's an order that didn't go to FTD/TF/etc./etc.

For the record, as it's been stated before, Bloomz was the original anti-WS cheerleader, calling for the boycotts and all that jazz. The majority of florists don't get it - just like those emails suggesting we don't buy gas from a certain brand station one a certain day ...

JB is in the game to win it, just RC and many others. Corporations like FTD won't just pack up if they run out of fillers, they will open their own locations (discussed that with Soenen within the last 6 months) or drop ship their items. "Same-day" is not going to save the florists ... not ever.

Forget getting on the band wagon - get in the ring!

Ryan

Curious....if they open their own locations won't they need real professional florists to run their brick and mortars? Also, I don't think drop-shipped flowers will ever, ever satisfy Jane consumer.

And, I respect Bloomz for what he is doing. And if I could make money on what he is doing then I would be singing on his band wagon. But I am not in a market that has demand for sending orders. Therefore, I am on planted firmly on the other side. It's a chess game that I am in to win for as long as I am a florist. The win I speak of is the ability to drive more customers to my store and be profitable. That means I have to stop filling orders for WS and OGs to be profitable.

 

[theRKF]

Curious....if they open their own locations won't they need real professional florists to run their brick and mortars? Also, I don't think drop-shipped flowers will ever, ever satisfy Jane consumer.

And, I respect Bloomz for what he is doing. And if I could make money on what he is doing then I would be singing on his band wagon. But I am not in a market that has demand for sending orders. Therefore, I am on planted firmly on the other side. It's a chess game that I am in to win for as long as I am a florist. The win I speak of is the ability to drive more customers to my store and be profitable. That means I have to stop filling orders for WS and OGs to be profitable.

Are you located in North America? Do you have internet access? Then you are in a sending market.

The internet is where the market is moving to - and as usual most florists are left behind, or trying to make do with a duct tape minimum-expense solution. FTD and all the big boys are capitalizing on this market, and the early bird gets the worm. Or in this case, the customer. We're at a point where if florists don't adapt to the new reality they will be an afterthought.

Ryan

 

[inferno63]

Are you located in North America? Do you have internet access? Then you are in a sending market.

The internet is where the market is moving to - and as usual most florists are left behind, or trying to make do with a duct tape minimum-expense solution. FTD and all the big boys are capitalizing on this market, and the early bird gets the worm. Or in this case, the customer. We're at a point where if florists don't adapt to the new reality they will be an afterthought.

Ryan

See me with open eyes? I will research that possibility and maybe put that to the test. The ideas are already buzzing in my head.

However, I still believe that I would need filling florists and not everyone has the money or knowledge to enter the internet market. And if you have a WS website then they control your marketing. They gear their websites for you to get "filling" orders, not "sending." Your scenario may be our long-term future but doesn't help our short term problems with profit and cash flow in a struggling market.