Florist News

Hi Guys

I'm sure this must happen to everyone at some point or another (or at least, I hope it does!). I am stuck in a rut and I cant seem to pull myself together and get out of it.

I have been open 6 months and things have been going 'ok'. I would say, only ok though, not brilliant. I have lots of wedding bookings for this year which I am really happy about and VD and MD went well, but in general I am not where I want to be! I'm not getting much passing trade, the 'relay' group I belong to is not bringing me many orders at all (1 over mothers day) and I just feel really lost for what to do next.

The shop has been a florist for the last 25 years, it was closed for 6 months before I took over and I made it completely different to how it used to be. I found out this week that the last owner used to employ 1 full timer and 2 part timers as well as herself working full time. I work on my own and some/most days there is nothing to keep me busy!

I am struggling to get corporate work and I really just feel like I'm in a black hole with what to do!

Advertising wise, I have done bits and peices in local magazines, leaflet drops and a wedding fayre. I am reluctant and nervous about sapending more money on advertising at the moment, but realise I need to do some more- but what?

Has anyone got any suggestions or advice for me?? I could really do with hearing some wisewords and opinions for you guys.
Thanks in advance
MD

Oh MD I know how you feel!
Im most probably not the right person to give you advice as I feel the same. I have been open for nearly 5 years and feel like throwing the towel in. I havent had 1 customer today, the weather is awful and I am freezing...not a winning combination hey?! Try and keep your chin up, Im closing after today until Tuesday, we dont do anything at Easter, so that is cheering me along!
Chin up and try to keep smiling
Lou x

Tell us a bit more about your shop MD. You don't have to give away anything specific that may identify you if prefer not to. Just generally...high street / back street...busy town / quiet village...small shop / large shop...forecourt...types of shops or businesses around you..things you sell apart from flowers..etc etc.
It all helps to form a picture..

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Keep your chin up MD, as fly says give us a little detail and background knowledge and we will try our best to help you and give you some suggestions xx

Thanks guys.

The shop is on a busy road thats leads in to the town centre. There is no parking directly outside, but there are lots of side streets where parking is easy.

I am surrounded by a huge residential area with quite a few new build flats and luxury apartments and nice big houses.

I also have an overground station only a couple of minutes walk away.

2 crap things have happend since I opened...........a tesco express has opened in the same parade and.............a lady has started selling flowers from the station : (

Snap m.d, there must be loads of us out there... everything u put is the same as me...... I am in a village though and everyone and their dog tells me I’m wasted here ! I have won over 40 competitions since I opened 7 yrs ago and that keeps me creative... but I’m empty. my family pushed me in to doing this and in my heart I didn’t want it... I don’t know as with yourself what to do, I would love to work @ a college helping ppl to be creative but jealousy gets in the way !!! Here’s a hug...and if I come up with some fab plan I will let u know....love flower....

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who wants to come move to france with me


ive had enough too

I'm no expert MD but I've been open a year now. I really do think the market has changed recently. I talk to alot of other more established retailers and they have really noticed the difference. Every day the papers and news are full of doom and gloom and this affects our customers.

I would really concentrate on the things that tesco and the flower seller at station cant do, ie your weddings and funeral bookings. This sounds really daft but I put a card spinner outside the shop with gorgeous cards on, people stop and notice then actually come into the shop so know what you are doing. Dont waste money on advertising it really doesnt work, you'd be better leafleting the surrounding areas perhaps with a 10% off voucher attached.

Dont worry you're not the only one thats quiet though, its pretty poo at the moment.

I'll go I can be the mummy, granny ould doll whaever you want but don't do housework I'm allergic to it

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Hi MD

When I read your post this morning, like a lot of the other guys I thought God I'm not the only one. We opened the shop from scratch a couple of years ago and I did have some contract work already established and weddings booked so that did help to begin with but the business has built up slowly and gradually since then. I think this type of retail business can be every up and down, not for everybody, but i find for instance november is rubbish, balanced out with a good december then january is rubbish followed by a good feb and good march and then you even back out because by then the weddings begin so I think we've now come through the hardest part of the year...it's also been cold the whole time and when there isn't a huge amount to do it can get you, but the warm weather is coming and you get the good feel facter back, you can leave your shop door open all day and people feel better.

In terms of moving forward, I wouldn't pay too much attention to what the other florist did before you and how many staff were employed, with the greatest respect to the other florist, we all have our own way of working and it's your time to put your stamp on things. Home in on providing a personal service, as an idea for your corporate work and how you can pick up new work this is what I would try: watching the movers and shakers in your area, if you get business news in your local rag keep an eye on it for leads, use your friends for networking, etc once you've established good leads and you need to get their names, rather than phoning or writing, i would deliver a single flower dressed to impress with a small postcard size flyer offering your services and it must have a catch-phrase so that it sticks in their mind, this way YOUR catching their attention as oppose to with advertising I think most of it is ineffective and you may as well through the money out of the window, you very rarely see a decent return (in my experience). Also try your local hotels find out who the co-ordinators are, do they offer a package, we were lucky and got into our first hotel but developing a flower package for them which included top table, 4 x guest tables, cake flowers and a voucher for the bride to use towards her bouquet, hotel got charged a set amount the brides always end up adding stuff and upgrading and it went down a storm. In terms of relay, its such a tricky one because its a really hot subject and there are lots of pros and cons, if you only had 1 order for mothers day thats crazy, phone them and get one of their reps out and get an explanation, if its a crap response move on and drop them, for all the ups and downs with relay I look at them as purely an extra bit of business, so there are four areas to our business; corporate, weddings, shop and relay. Be positive, make a plan to help you move forward so that you have a clear picture in your mind about what direction to move foward in, I think accept that somethings wont work but as long as your happy to drive your business forward then keep at it!! Hope this helps.