Florists For Change

[BOSS]

Doug, not sure about you, but my funeral biz is strong and thriving. I do think you chose a bad analogy, as the biggest reason fir decline in sympathy biz is cremation, not underselling of stems.

I agree with you tho, florists need to take care of their own back yards... Starting with a fence that blocks severally discounted work from any source yet allows 100% direct consumer sales and reasonably profitable florist to florist business in.

 

[sandytf]

I am a firm believer that it is the small florist that must change to deal with today's world, something that many have great difficulty doing. Rather for whatever reason many feel the better solution is to change the world around them to suit their personal needs, wishes, and desires.

You hit the nail on the head, Doug. I 100% agree. In our case (as in many others) we changed by getting away from the wire services. That model is something for the past....at least for us.

 

[secretgarden]

I shake my head every time I read a shop owner on here state that "supermarkets and big boxes don't affect my business". If we believe that the overall volume of flowers sold hasn't changed dramatically in the last few decades where do they think that the 60% of overall flower sales that these two retail sectors currently have came from

.

I do not think that all of that came from the florists. I think some of that was created by the bucket shops, Walmart and the likes. I would love to see the actual number of flower buyers then and now. I think you would see a great increase in the number of people who buy flowers. I think you would see an even larger number of people who buy flowers for themselves. It's the Martha Stewart Syndrome. More and more people are buying flowers to arrange for their own tables. The flowers sold in from those buckets, in my opinion, are impulse buys. They are waiting in line at the check out and the flowers catch their eye. I have yet to see someone in line with JUST flowers in their buggy. That may vary at Holiday time, but not much. They have us beat hands down on convenience. We will always be an extra stop. What we are doing in our shop is giving them a reason to stop. Rewards points, good deals on cash and carry bouquets, and impulse items of our own at the cash rap like pocket stones and gift cards.

But I do rest a bit easier when I walk through the bucket section after a holiday and see all of the left over flowers, I know my cooler is picked bone dry.

 

[Doug Munro]

Doug, not sure about you, but my funeral biz is strong and thriving. I do think you chose a bad analogy, as the biggest reason fir decline in sympathy biz is cremation, not underselling of stems.

I agree with you tho, florists need to take care of their own back yards... Starting with a fence that blocks severally discounted work from any source yet allows 100% direct consumer sales and reasonably profitable florist to florist business in.

When I used the "funeral biz" analogy it was because at one time it was estimated that funeral work accounted for up to 40% of the average florists sales (much like incomings for some shops). As well the loss of the funeral business was for the most part out of the florists control, much like the changes in the WS sector.

 

[Eric S]

Doug your right. At one time your local florist was the go to person for flowers. Then the supermarkets came into the picture and the convenience factor could not be ignored. However from what I see at many of these supermarkets they are cutting back on their floral products and I don't know why other then they just aren't selling enough or it’s not worth it.

I believe the store front days of doing business are disappearing. More people are shopping online and that is all we have left. Sure I get customers coming into the store and picking the single rose or single lily wrapped. Yeah that pays the bills.

The supermarket took the loose flower sales long time ago. What is left is the online flower sales with same day delivery and its being done by me and every single shop that continues to stock flowers in their colors. Why shouldn't we as the last florist standing demand that the quota change to our favor.

And if they don't then bye bye baby because florist numbers will continue to drop or should we call them filling florist will continue to drop. Hey that will be fine for me. I'm not going anywhere. Oh wait I'm going to miss the 30 orders that have been sent to me this year. Whopi Doo. And the 200 orders I have sent this year well I'm sure I'm going to miss the $4,000 in profit minus sender fees from those crappy sales.

That is okay because I'm fine with the 8,000 orders that we have designed and delivered this year.
There is a better way to do business. But I feel sorry for the shops that just can't get orders any other way. They have to fill and they are losing their asses.

 

[BOSS]

When I used the "funeral biz" analogy it was because at one time it was estimated that funeral work accounted for up to 40% of the average florists sales (much like incomings for some shops). As well the loss of the funeral business was for the most part out of the florists control, much like the changes in the WS sector.

Ah... gotchya.... sorry I misunderstood in the first place...

 

[jamie]

There is a better way to do business. But I feel sorry for the shops that just can't get orders any other way. They have to fill and they are losing their asses.

Some shops just aren't going to make it in the new economy. I can't think of any instance where a shop "can't get orders any other way" Those shops have many problems and the Wire Service is just one of them.

 

[bootcampguy]

.......At one time your local florist was the go to person for flowers. Then the supermarkets came into the picture and the convenience factor could not be ignored. However from what I see at many of these supermarkets they are cutting back on their floral products and I don't know why other then they just aren't selling enough or it’s not worth it.

I believe the store front days of doing business are disappearing. More people are shopping on line and that is all we have left. Sure I get customers coming into the store and picking the single rose or single lily wrapped. Yeah that pays the bills.

The supermarket took the loose flower sales long time ago. What is left is the on line flower sales with same day delivery and its being done by me and every single shop that continues to stock flowers in their colors. Why shouldn't we as the last florist standing demand that the quota change to our favor.............................

From a Florida perspective, probably good all over, the grocery stores are losing their shorts due to shrinkage. Eric's right on the money, they we're the new came in the 80's and 90's and yes they took 10 -15% of the business. Now the OG or DS with the cheap Flowers they are no longer king. My cousin was the senior floral buyer for the Publix chain here in Florida, she said the "shrinkage" was killing them. They mark items up by percentages only and no labor involved. The rest of their products just sit on a shelf, flowers sit there and need some care and really should be sold within 24 - 48 hours. She told me some months hit as high as 30%......wow, now they are attempting (as others are) to get the vendor to eat the "shrinkage"..............that will put a nail in the coffin of that vendor. We all know how business is, someone will say "yes".............
Lori is right, I've gone to a Cosco several times and buying habits is like Lori says, it's not the only item in the cart. They have gorgeous Flowers and reasonably priced (for now). I agree Eric, the B & M will have a pendulum swing in the next year of 2. I think the on-line flower company's will be like the .com of the 80's, when that happens, our "open" signs are still shinning bright.

 

[Johan]

I have been reading this with some interest - even though I'm quarter of the way around the world, this would potentially affect the whole floristry world (I apologies if I have repeated anything anyone has already said - but I have only read to page 8 so far).

I think the solution is to develope as internet based platform that can be used in every country around the world. There needs to be a website that the consumer can go onto and put in the area where the delivery needs to go and then a list of florists (with full details of address, telephone numbers, website link, some pictures, opening times etc) would come up for them to look through and link through to the florist of their choice. (Yes similar to google). Each florist on the website has to have an e-commerce site (seems the customer would be looking to buy online and also to show THEIR designs and not some WS pictures). There would need to be clear entry criteria for the system i.e B and M florists only, no ws or og allowed and maybe the florist would be placed on this giant directory by the the company that hosts their website initally and then they would keep the directory updated themselve (someone like strider that specialises in florists websites). The florist would pay a fee to be on this site to their hosting company with their monthly hosting fees and this would be then be pasted on to the directory company or they could pay direct. The fees would be used to get the site to the top of the search engine rankings and maybe for advertising to go to all the shops listed. It would be a place to go to find a true b and m florist without being bombarded by OS and WS advertising on every site they can and paying to get to the very top. I would be good for the site to allow customers to review the shop they have used. (if they could go onto the site to review the shop using a special code maybe would to some degree stop bogus reviews). And for other florists to report OG posing as B and M shops to the website for removal.

I have found running my own e-commerce website is no more expensive than being in a WS (infact it is cheaper) and with good SEO can give great results. I receive more orders through my own site with online orders than I ever did as being in with a WS. And you get the added bonus of people checking you out online then phoning an order through. And as long as you put your details on every available free website listing for advertising your business you can really boost the hits even if the customer didn't come to your site via the 'true florist' site.

If every florist on the site pays a fee (at a sensible price) and as long as there are no sponsed listing and the shops came onto the listing as the nearest to the delivery address it would be a level playing field for even the smallest of shops to be a part of and compete with the bigger businesses. Yes you are going to say that there are similar ones now like direct2florist but you have no individuality with this site and you have no website of your own which is vital in todays customers shopping habits. This needs to be all interlinked to be a viable solution for every florist to get a decent opportunity to receive orders direct for the customer. And if you are a florist wanting to send to another florist you could use the same system and a house relay charge could be made to the customer for the service. The company credit/debit card would be used to the transaction or you could even have a computer in the shop linked to the site that a customer could use to place the order themself with there own credit/debit card and just pay and additonal user fee to you direct.
Each shop could then set all there own prices and delivery charges to make this a very viable way to receive orders.

 

[keith]

There has been a few posts on the FFC FB page about FSN
Here is my take FWIW......

This is why I do NOT trust these guys, they do no vetting of deceptive ads. This is what appears in Beaverton when you go to their site!
Search for Beaverton OR and you get this header with the following ad.
Flower shops serving Beaverton Oregon (OR)
Help us help you. Let the local flower shop in
"Beaverton, OR - Oregon"
know you found them on
Flower Shop Network.


Beaverton, OR Info

Beaverton, OR - Oregon Funeral HomesBeaverton, OR - Oregon HospitalsBeaverton, OR - Oregon Wedding Flowers
Looking for Cakes & Bakeries, Wedding & Event Catering, Limousine Services, or Photographers in Beaverton, OR
The first listed ad is this!

ROSE CITY FLORIST

Local: (971)221-5014
ROSE CITY FLORIST website!
16900 MERLO ST
BEAVERTON, OR 97005 Note the address!!!!

Local: (971)221-5014
ROSE CITY FLORIST Profile
Rate ROSE CITY FLORIST
Map

Email ROSE CITY FLORIST
~ Full Service Local Florist Serving Beaverton, OR and the surrounding area ~
Minimum prices shown in US dollars, do not include delivery charge and will vary during holidays.
Dozen Roses: $48.00
Fresh Flowers: $35.00
Sympathy/Funeral Flowers: $45.00
Green/House Plants: $30.00
Balloon Bouquets: $25.00
Fruit/Gourmet/Gift Baskets: $30.00
ROSE CITY FLORIST offers these additional floral products and services.
Candy/Chocolate
Gifts
Greenhouse/Nursery
Home Decor
Scented Candles
Silk/Artificial Flowers
Stuffed Animals
Tropical/Exotic Flowers
Wedding Flowers


When you click on their ad you go here, gee looks like they moved!
ROSE CITY FLORAL
Tollfree: (877)-239-8005
~Full Service Local Florist Serving Beaverton, OR and the surrounding area!~
8005 SE 13th Avenue, Portland, OR 97202 NOTE this address is on the other side of Portland, a little city of 600,000+!!!
Local: (503)-239-8005
Tollfree: (877)-239-8005


HMMM, wonder why I do not pay to be a member anymore????

Keith

 

[Eric S]

Don't even get me started on those guys.

 

[BOSS]

Don't even get me started on those guys.

Too late I'll bet....

 

[roysecityfloristand gifts]

Dear Lord Keith,

I thought your post read ROYSE CITY...I almost had a heart attack!!

That would have been trouble I do not need. LOL

 

[keith]

Well it looks like this worked out well for the "Rose City" florist

 

[keith]

Hey all Flower Chatters, the Florists for Change face Book page is nearing 800 likes! Do you know anyone who may not know about it? We would love to start tomorrow with 800.

Thanks for everyone's input and posts, there is much to discuss.

Thanks,
Keith

 

[Hal Conklin]

Thants great !! It's also nice to hear you almost have 20% of them attending !! GREAT

 

[KABERS]

http://flowercloud.net/faq/
I see flowercloud that was mentioned a few days ago on ffc now has a website and facebook page. interesting

 

[secretgarden]

I still don't think you will get people to type in flowercloud.com and then a city and state. It is easier to open your browser and type, florist in decatur il. I understand the principal but I just don't see average people using them. Just like yellowbook, or dex. No need for them online, the search engines will give you every piece of info, and sometimes more, then those sites.

I see how it would be good to boost your SEO and that alone might be worth it, but it would have to be well established to provide the link juice you would want for your money. That's my take on the SEO thing, I could be off the mark. If so Ryan or one of the techies will catch it

 

[BOSS]

Yes, the FlowerCloud folks are even doing Sponsored Ads on FB and elsewhere....

They're not marketing for consumers (yet) they're marketing for florists to "join their network".... get their web site, use their (still unavailable) order transfer system and more. Thing is for me, THEY are the ones processing the CONsumer sale, not the florist... if that's what you're looking for you might as well fill for the BIG3.coN's....

I'd stay away from FlowerCloud...

 

[bootcampguy]

You never can tell, people go to some websites, incliding myself that I would have never thought of going to. I do want to question someone on their FAQ that are wrong...................