WS Holiday Container Thoughts

[Lady Biker Florist]

Just thinking back...
.....about how many years we bought the holiday containers from not only one, but sometimes both wire services when we belonged to both. That was when I thought receiving wire in orders were a very great thing so the more choices the merrier, right? Didn't want one single order to slip by us so bought all 12 or 24 to avoid that.

Man oh man, I wish I knew them what I know now. I know, don't we all?

I was just viewing the FTD Christmas containers on the FTDI website and I see FTD is getting smarter. It's hard for florists to find a "similar to" when it's a name brand like Fitz & Floyd or Laura Ashley.

They are so doggone expensive I don't even want to split with another florist. They've always been expensive, but I only got on top of that a few years ago.

It can be very discouraging to small shops to not be what feels like "in the loop", but after going through quite a few holidays without the current featured holiday containers I can boldy proclaim that it is NO BIG DEAL!!! We feature our own stuff and I even try to steer them away from wiring out those containers. Once in a while they are stubborn and that's ok.

I guess the main point that prompted my ramble is how expensive those holiday containers are. You know they can use the buying power they have and offer them cheaper and also charge REAL shipping charges instead of inflated ones. Just makes me angry!

 

[theflowersmith]

We feel the same way. I've been "shopping" several days now for our own house specials. I've also contacted the John Henry Co. to send me their "generic" brochure that has no wire service specials. The only TF special we like is the Snowman, but if I can't find someone to split with us, we probably won't get it either!

We've also got orders for the Be Happy Mug and are looking for a cheaper alternative. The shipping kills ya!!

 

[Lady Biker Florist]

We feel the same way. I've been "shopping" several days now for our own house specials. I've also contacted the John Henry Co. to send me their "generic" brochure that has no wire service specials. The only TF special we like is the Snowman, but if I can't find someone to split with us, we probably won't get it either!

We've also got orders for the Be Happy Mug and are looking for a cheaper alternative. The shipping kills ya!!

Here's a cheaper alternative for you. Springhill Floral Supply Co.
Baskets, Containers & More 1-800-773-2554 M-F 8a-7p, Sat 9a-3p EST
DL4065 $1.39 ea. if you buy 6 or $1.19 ea. if you buy 24
Shipping is reasonable and their customer service is great. They have other alternatives in smile face items, but this is the closest.

 

[Connie]

It's been said before, but one way I improved our bottom line was to avoid buying wire service containers. We put up the WS posters with a disclaimer that we can wire out the order or do similar locally (but with more flowers because we are using a similar, less costly container). No one has ever complained about our not having the container.

 

[Pam]

I agree with Connie ..... we stopped with codified products a few years ago and we have a couple of requests per holiday but people here want the money into the arrangement and not into the dish. I usually try to have at least one keepsake container for the people who want a fancy dish but our customers want the flowers and the effect. The only time that the codified pictures come out is when someone requests them for out of town orders. Again they would rather have a nice long low christmas centre with candles than the light up village scene or glass ball.

Someone mentioned that it must be a horror for small town florists or small shops ........ darn right ......... a case of 12 would be too much .... 4 would be the better number. And as for splitting .... sometimes just too much work.

 

[Luc]

SPlitting cases

I guess I am getting smarter in my old age and before I would get a case of everything until I realize that I was getting too many for nothing. Good relationship with a few florists in my area and Sault STe Marie, we are able to buy in a larger quantity, giving us a better price, but getting us smaller amount of WHAT WE WANT. Since Mann Florist and Alpine are the biggest shops who will be using the items, we have smaller shops tagling along to help us buy at a cheaper price therefore we are all getting a good price.

I also tend now to get more generic containers to do our centerpieces in, since mostly lots of people wants that for Chrsitmas.

I notice one of Waterdale christmas containers this year and looks familiar to one of the wire service a while back. You know the one that had a star in the center and a candle inside....Did not appeal to me at that time, and won't this time around.

Luc

 

[Mikey the Flower Guy]

I'll be the "contrarian"...

on this one!!
We asked FTD some years back, to PLEASE, PULEEZ, reduce the numbers, AND overall selection of holiday containers, and FTD obliged by lowering the holiday container numbers, AND, increasing the viability of those holiday containers that they DO produce!!
Remember that, it takes 2 years to bring product containers from concept, to fruition, AND, once the "advisory board" suggests possible trends, and decides on which types of containers to offer for any particular holiday(s), it's a long, drawn out process to get this stuff designed, produced, shipped, warehoused, and then RE-SHIPPED to YOU!!
The fuel surcharges ALONE have added almost 20% to the cost of these containers, that are borne, and burdened to the end users (you and me)!
Mike Soenen would love NOTHING BETTER, than to drop the containers COMPLETELY, but, MOST FTD florists, INCLUDING OUR SHOP, do indeed normally sell out of these products, and hence the "need" for "collector type" containers!!
ALSO, with the "lowered demand" for these containers, the shipping AND storage, and "development" costs for them is higher, thus, an overall INCREASE in prices, per case.
NO ONE likes the much higher costs...everyone is scouting out their lowest possible COG's, but, the marketplace IS THERE, if you sell it, like anything else...but you have to "believe"!!

 

[Pam]

I cannot sell a case ..... 12 or 24 ..... once the arrangement is made up to code, the selling price is too too high for our customers .... we would not sell enough to make it cost effective for "OUR" area. My customers, and I know them, will not spend that amount of money to have a keepsake container which will probably in most cases gather dust in their cupboards. For those people who will, I have a keepsake container they may purchase. For some areas, the customer base is enough to warrant a case of dishes to sell over $80 arrangements (plus usually more money in Canada). Then to get rid of the left over dishes, you use them at a cheaper price the next year or take a lower price just to get rid of your stock. I cannot afford to stock my supply shelves with dishes that will take 2 to 4 years to vanish. These codified products do work well in some areas, just not here. It would be so easy, less creative, to do nothing but codified arrangements for all sales .... one would never have to think or be creative ..... however life would be too boring and that is not what I built this shop on .... we individualize for each order, holiday or not.

So basically I am saying that codified products do not do well here ... they do have their place and some people make a living on them, I just don't happen to be one of them.