Designing many, at the same time...

[rewolf]

Came across this past thread on improving production and I thought the discussion between RWK and Cheryl B. was quite interesting in regards to designing between 2-6 identical arrangements at the same time and not individually. I understand for holidays this is critical but how many shops use this method for event and wedding centerpieces?

Here is the thread
http://www.flowerchat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11388&highlight=greening

 

[lori042499]

Came across this past thread on improving production and I thought the discussion between RWK and Cheryl B. was quite interesting in regards to designing between 2-6 identical arrangements at the same time and not individually. I understand for holidays this is critical but how many shops use this method for event and wedding centerpieces?

Here is the thread
http://www.flowerchat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11388&highlight=greening

I just reread that thread and indeed it was a good one....Great find and good bump for the newbies..

 

[Palms]

I use this method for event and table decs and at busy periods but on a day to day basis as we dont have much footfall and many of our designs are orders, i would find myself with a lot of wasted designs.

If i was lucky enough to have a really busy shop then i would adapt to this method (i wish:rofl.

 

[Erlene]

how many shops use this method for event and wedding centerpieces?

Always use that method for event wedding. We use production where ever we can, even for regular every day orders if it works out that we can..

 

[logan]

:treadonmeAssembly line style is the only way to go with volume work and peak times. Work out a recipe and bang them out!
Every one does their part and no double handling if you can avoid it. Learned this in my very first floristry job. Works great for weekly corporate work too (and wedding/functions etc.), pre-green all at once and ahead of time, then use same flower content for all those contracts, save $ buying quantity, then whip them up using a recipe. Fast! (speed really is the name of the game) On a daily basis I look through the orders, match same or similar ones and whip them up at the same time, much faster than individually, pacing around gathering materials. The other valuable time saver is never walk back empty handed. Anything to work more efficiently is great by me (and being fast pays better too):tread:

 

[wrdlady47]

Time is money. Assembly work is great for producing many arrangements in the shortest amount of time.
Say a designer makes $20 hr. They need to produce $160 and hr in product.
Doing line work reduces thinking and creates automatic response. The less people think the quicker they move.
I use this theory not only in for designing in busy times but also when cleaning buckets, filling buckets, getting flowers in water. Repetitions speeds up the process with out taking away from the creative end

 

[CHERYL BAKIN]

Always, Always, Always use this method -----
In everyday as well as Wedding, party & Event work.

It also can be used to some extent in sympathy work.

Create the receipe one time --- then do multiples.

Teach your employees to sell what you are making!!
There is no reason in God's good earth to custom design every $35 to $50.00 piece, individually, each & every time!

Just MHO - For what it's worth.

Been doing this a long time -- speed is $$$$ and $$$$ count!

Cheryl

 

[Palms]

i also do use a "recipe book" as you say, (love the phrase). If someone just rings for a £20 bouquet or a £30 bouquet without specifying what they would like i have a list of what to put in so that i still make a profit, the staff can easily follow it and it does reduce thinking time.

Trouble is here though no matter what preparations you have in place you will always get the lady who wants to spend £6 and wants you for an hour first :wallhead:

 

[wrdlady47]

Back in my younger days when I was more ambitious, I actually made a list of money value to go into a particularly priced arragement.
I believe the formula was.
Price (-) 20% Labor (-) container (-) greens/oasis=ttl amt of flowers
A $30 arrangement would get $18 worth of flowers. Eliminates stuffing and gives you money to work with if you need to fill in a space.

 

[rewolf]

Came across this past thread on improving production and I thought the discussion between RWK and Cheryl B. was quite interesting in regards to designing between 2-6 identical arrangements at the same time and not individually.

I think I need to clarify myself. I thought (and I could have misread it) was that RWK makes two arrangements at a time. We all use a recipe, but that is more of an assembly line production - I do that now. But I do not have my staff working on 2 or more centerpieces at a time. My routine is that all centerpieces are greened-in prior, then individually completed with the flowers prescribed in the recipe.

 

[CHERYL BAKIN]

Assembly line it all.

Once the arrangements are greened, first insert the Roses in each one, for instance. Followed by BB in all. Then followed by alstromeria in all, etc, etc.

You will find that it goes much faster, and your placements in each arrangement are much more precise.

We were one of the ones that said to make multiples of each arr you make -- to for the order, and 1 for the cooler to sell next. Speeds up the process.

very important part of the process is to get the sales people to sell what you have made or are making!

Cheryl

 

[wrdlady47]

Not to mention you save, save, save money and time. Less stuffing, product loss, less idle time for staff. If one arrangement takes 10 mins to make than 2 should take 16-18 mins. And these minutes add up giving you less time to do other types of marketing.

 

[rewolf]

Thanks Janet G., oops I mean Cheryl for jumping in here.
I was reading your thread from a few months back and was intrigued. We design all altar pieces at the same time but just didn't think to have my staff working on 2 or more centerpieces at the same time. I will impliment this strategy for this coming weekend's wedding.

 

[CHERYL BAKIN]

Rewolf,
About the only thing we make one at a time is a brides bouquet.

If you have multiple BM, you set up & make them all at the same time. if they are done in bouqet holders, then the centerpiece assembly line style works great. If they are hand tieds, then the assembly line gets modified -- someone is stripping the roses & counting them out, 2nd person is getting the greens counted out, third person can finish off the wrap & tie part after the designer has assembled.

It's all about breaking the tasks down into little, tiny, not over-whelming pieces.

We do the same thing with corsages, & prom work. One person does the bouts, one person does the bows & backings, one person assembles the corsage. someone else checks the order, puts the pieces together, and boxes it for the cooler.

All prom orders are Paid in Advance. No COD. Speeds up the pick up process.

All prom orders are to be picked up after 2 pm -- no exceptions!! (This may sound harsh -- but boys are dumb! About 4 years ago one of the schools dismissed the senior class on prom day at 9:05 AM. the boys were picking up at 9:15. They put the corsages in the trunk of the cars and road around with them for about 6 hours -- before they went home. We ended up replacing about 20 corsages that year. -- Never again!!

Also, corsage orders are placed on the outside of the box. Name is in large magic marker on the order. Boxes are stacked about 5 or so high, in aphabetical order. We do not keep the order separate from the product. Again, speeds up the pick-up process.

Hope this helps someone -- remember, I operate on the basis that I have to be as smart as a 5th grader -- and so, we follow the K.I.S.S. method at all times.

Cheryl