It's very nice.
I am not trying to be rude, but, why are you not using your own images of your own designs?
I'm sure you are a fantastic designer. Don't you want the world to see that?
This is the fabulous opportunity our web sites give us - to show the world what we do. To showcase our strengths and differences.
For years, I thought our industry was immune from the "Walmart Effect" of big business stamping out small. That we, as florists, were so individualized, our design work so person and different, that a consumer would use me because of my designs - or, the florist down the street, because of their designs. No big business could possible capture the essence of what we do. But, the internet and the order gatherers have changed all that, and degraded what we do to boot.
My site is constantly a "work in progress". Not perfect or polished or remotely finished by any standards. But, for the most part - it's MINE, and it's my work (I do have a few TF images on it, trying to get rid of them). And, it does it's job. I get phone call, after phone call, after phone call daily with customers telling me they picked my site because it was different from the other sites, with different designs.
If a consumer cares enough to scout out a "real shop", not to have flowers dropped shipped, then they want a florist with an individual sense of style - just like in the old days. I think we are coming full circle again. Thank goodness!!!
So, John Henry is now in the internet business. I always have admired John Henry, how they create such a necessary niche for their products.
But, even though the designs are very nice, if we would all use them.....
We would create the same monotony that we are currently seeing with the TF and FTD sites.
I know that it sometimes seems that I can't possibly do one more thing for my shop. I am so overloaded with work - like we are all.
But, it's not that hard to set up a picture station and keep it ready for shots. When I moved into my new shop a few months ago, the first wall I painted was white, for picture backdrops. I bought a tripod for my camera (absolutely necessary). I have made it easy to take a quick picture. I recently bought a tripod light with an umbrella from Amazon, for $53.00. This helps do away with shadows. I also have an inexpensive version of photoshop, which I still don't understand.... I use a mac at home to download my pictures - iphoto makes basic editing very easy (I love macs!!!!!)
This fall, I plan on taking a digital picture taking class at the college I teach at. I know all of this is more work, but the opportunity of the web is where all of our futures lie. At least, this is what I believe.
