Florist News

Hello! I can tell everyone now it's definately going ahead. I'm buying my first shop! It's in Stockport, in Cheshire. I'm very excited! It's Interflora so I need to get my head around their system. It'll be mine from the first of september I'm working there this month with the current onwer to see how he runs it and meet all the suppliers and customers. If anyone has any words of wisdom about having your own shop I'd love to hear it!

Dear All

I was wondering if anyone had any tips opn writing a business plan for a home floral design business. I need some help.

Many thanks
ian

Dear Ian,

Try some of the bank web sites............some of them have some step by step business plans which are really easy to follow.

Good luck

Vicki

Dear Vicky

Thanks for your advice. I have just been looking at the Bank websites and it is all so over whelming. A small part of me thinks what is the point. THe bigger part of me REALLY wants to do this.

Thanks once again

Kind Regards
Ian

Hope all goes well with your shop!

Its a very tough business to go into, this time of year its pretty quiet aswell.

Just be professional, dont try and compete with the supermarkets, buy the best flowers and try and specialise in something, weddings, events, corporate work etc.

Interflora is a good side line earner, but focus on your own customers and customer area base.

Promote your busniess locally to private resisdents and companys. Send out special offers on post cards, get on the web with a website with online ordering (look around its not that expencive).

When buying your flowers look for quality rather than price, buying cheap flowers may look a good deal but might only last afew days in the shop and you will be left with dead flowers, paying an extra 10p for the same flower thats fresh, will last longer on the flower bank and in a customers house.

Do some searchs on google, found this site thats pretty good for small business

Hi Aspirin

I have been advised to drop you a line re: supplying fresh flowers. I am just starting out on my own and looking for a supplier. One supplier quoted me a minimum spend of ?200 per week. I can't afford this at the moment and nor do I have the work.

Hope you can advise me.

Regards
Ian

Hi, I started 27 years ago, didn't even have a clue about floristry!!! I'm lucky,i must have an inbuilt flair. my motto is, if in doubt, sling it out!! If you don't like what u've arranged,change it 'till you do. Whenever we send anything out ie funeral, baby, gift,we want ours to be the best,so if they recieve more than one item, we want ours to be the best. The next best investment,which will be a few years down the line for you, was sign written vans, best ?30,000 we've ever spent,forget any other advertising,put your money where youre mouth is if your confident your work is good,no the best in your area,go for it, good luck. work bluddy hard then you'll make it

Hi Ian

Yes we deliver direct from Holland but only to South East England and London countys at the moment, we also have a minimum of ?250 order.

I would say as you are only starting out, try and get a flying dutchman or just buy as you need from a local wholesaler or market until you can order directly.

__________________

I completed on the shop today(at last) all the fiddling bits and bobs have been sorted out and all parties are happy. So friday will be my first day owning the business! I'll be off to buy my first lot of flowers tomorrow morning. Then sat and sun will be frenzied decorating (I've roped in some friends to give the place a quick spruce up before monday). After that the hard work begins!