FTD's NOT so New Direction

[BOSS]

FTD has hired form Albertsons Exec Cindy Rapshus as the VP of Business Developement with a focus on Mass Markets.

"The supermarket channel is a *big* initiative for FTD", "I will be working on products, services and **partnership** programs that create benefits for our supermarket customers"
_________________-
Too bad FTD did not apply that principle to Retail Florists.

Planning so the door does not hit me in the ASSets.... I remain...

 

[Kristine]

FTD has hired form Albertsons Exec Cindy Rapshus as the VP of Business Developement with a focus on Mass Markets.

"The supermarket channel is a *big* initiative for FTD", "I will be working on products, services and **partnership** programs that create benefits for our supermarket customers"
_________________-
Too bad FTD did not apply that principle to Retail Florists.

Planning so the door does not hit me in the ASSets.... I remain...

why should they - those fwoac are just like a hamster in the wheel......
generating profits for FdT and wondering why they aren't getting ahead.......:hammer:

 

[CHR]

Mark -

I posted about FTD's grocery store push in the Q2 financial thread. Supermarkets (particular Albertson's) were discussed during the conference call.

Supermarkets were mentioned more than once. I'm paraphrasing but Soenen said supermarkets would be 'big, big business for FTD long-term'. They've hired a former top executive from Alberton's and Soenen mentioned that FTD had 'locked-up' the biggest two (the other being Kroger) and that 'testing' at Christmas was very successful (although I never got how or what was tested vis a vis grocery stores).

Soenen definitely said 'big, big business.'

Would be lovely if Google's just-released OneBox (read all the way down the page to see the example) for local searches puts a nice dent in FTD's OGs and supermarket fulfillment plans. At least, it may cost them more to advertise.

BTW, our Alberton's doesn't have a full-service flower shop but they do have shelf cards and pamphlets promoting the FTD/Alberton's relationship and urging shoppers to go to Albertons.com for flower delivery.

 

[carol]

Mark -

BTW, our Alberton's doesn't have a full-service flower shop but they do have shelf cards and pamphlets promoting the FTD/Alberton's relationship and urging shoppers to go to Albertons.com for flower delivery.

this is where I think Mike S is going to 'come a cropper' It is all fine and dandy to get these orders into the ws system but someone somewhere is going to have to fill them..Obviously FTd is all set with the 'direct ship' and don't need us, don't want us, whatever.
BUT what happens to the local same day delivery..if the grocery stores are not full-service or only have this shelf card that is not going to help get these orders 'filled same day' and the way things are going there will be very few FWOAC left and the rest of us won't touch them.
Now this may take a year or two and Mike might well be gone with a big fat golden parachute..but in the long run the concept to cut off your retail chain is not smart.

 

[BOSS]

the concept to cut off your retail chain is not smart.

I don't think he looks at it that way, and I don't think folks like Kroger or Albertsons do either. I think more so that in an example like Krogers, they take the order in one store, and send it to one of their 2800 others, thus only giving up the 7% (or their negotiated %) garnering 93% of the order value plus service charge.

I think the "retail chain" will migrate to the "retail grocery chain".

 

[CHR]

But many of those Kroger's aren't full service and based on the quality, prices and varieties they carry, especially in small markets, I'd be surprised if they did go full-service.

Perhaps cherry picking holidays or offering a very limited menu for delivery, but do you really think they'll system-wide take a funeral order at 2 pm and deliver it for a 5 pm viewing? More likely they'll just jetisson the high-labor, last minute orders.

 

[sfox]

Chr

CHR you are right on, but the real problem is that most florists want more incoming orders. That's florists biggest reason for being mad at any wire service. If you don't believe just look at Boss, he's still with FTD. Looking for all those incoming , right Boss

 

[bluebonnet]

I don't think he looks at it that way, and I don't think folks like Kroger or Albertsons do either. I think more so that in an example like Krogers, they take the order in one store, and send it to one of their 2800 others, thus only giving up the 7% (or their negotiated %) garnering 93% of the order value plus service charge.

I think the "retail chain" will migrate to the "retail grocery chain".

Not true doing one store to another store (kroger)

I have a kroger right around the corner, they do not deliver, but do everything else in store. When the kroger from the woodlands which is north of me (hour away) has a order for my area , they send it to me to fill as well as the one from around the corner. The orders that come in to me are not bad, but that is b/c of the areas they come from in state... can't say that with kroger orders that come from out of state that I get also.(very cheap $'s)

I have found that just in Houston + areas with so many Krogers (100) that only 5 stores have delivery vans which is combo with deli/bakery, a lot of them have tried to get contract drivers or couriers to deliver but that stops after 1st bill comes in.

This is what I experience,
cyndi

 

[BOSS]

That's florists biggest reason for being mad at any wire service. If you don't believe just look at Boss, he's still with FTD. Looking for all those incoming , right Boss

Naw...you know better than that...

Yes I am still a member, filling other FLORISTS orders, but my days are numbered, the clock began a long time ago, and sped up when they put the logo on the Krogers across the street.

As far as my customers know, I am not a member, no logos, no selection guide...oh and I no longer send....just trying to balance the books...

 

[sfox]

Couldn't help myself

Boss, I just couldn't help myself. That was just too easy!

But what you are just seeing now, we in the large city markets have seen for years. FTD has turned it's back on florists. The only real need FTD has for florists is as a steady revenue stream. If you have a florist you don't like, tell them to buy a FTD computer system. That will lock them in for years and will mean they will be bleeding money to FTD every month.

 

[Kristine]

what's to stop a big city florist from making the deal to begin filling all those grocery store orders as the "hub" for Ftd?

We have a large florist on this side of the state that does all those fresh arrangement, bud vases etc for the Spartan store grocery chain located around Michigan, Ohio, indiana. Word is they are downsizing their retail operation and then doing what??? What do you think.