Florist News

hi guys, just thought I,d see what your opinions are on the following change of situation I,v had are, (wasn,t sure where to put this actually, hope I,m kind of in the right place), so I,v plled the plug on the shop I was going for, having re done my figures given the forthcoming credit crunch/downturn, I,v gone for a cheaper shop, its a bit back street, but I,m figuring as a start up business on small budget I,m going to weather the storm better with a rent of 50 quid a week rather than 165., small business is the first to crumble in economic bad times, its been a blow to my heart and visions but a relief to my head and long term strategy, have any of you guys been in this position, where you,v had to sacrifice your initial plans?

sorry for going on abit!

__________________

i think that sounds like a sensible plan vik and dont let your dreams fade just because you have taken a different route. I am a local florist (not town centre) and the amount of event work we get is amazing so you dont always have to be in the town centre. You have got to put yourself out there more and be proactive in gaining work though but good luck - i am sure with the amount of number crunching and thinking you are doing it will work!!

I think Tulips is right in what she says. You can alway look for a larger shop in the future - maybe one on the high street.

Our first shop in West Sussex was in a small courtyard behind the High Street and although we didn't have that many passers by, we did have the customers of the New Age shop come in to buy and we then got a contract with a local solicitor to supply flowers to their clients when they completed on a purchase. We also had the contract for a local office block supplying flowers for the reception and plants for the building. Its a great way to get your name out there.

We have noticed a difference as we are not on the main high street and do get a lot more customers passing by.

Hope that helps!

__________________



LilyLady


Lily's Floral Design

We were originally going to buy a well established shop but missed out at the last minute so be bought our present shop which had a third of the turnover was run down and hadn't really got a lot going for it, it was a gamble but got it for a song as it was only days away from closing altogether but we have managed to turn it around and have built what I consider to be a good reputation. We are also a bit off the beaten track but the lower overheads etc are a definite bonus you do have to work hard to raise your profile but at the end of the day I'm glad things turned out the way they did.

I think youve done the right thing x I started my business from scratch as it was a newsagents before and its a little out of town and its working well full up with wedding till october and i think small is best good luck x

im a firm believer in the least stressful way the better I feel you feel you made the best choice, and if that work for you great and as already said you can get bigger and bigger, if thats what you want a close frien of mine did just that and now her shop is 5 times the size of min its amazing so go with and be happy with what you have, a bit of delayed gratification never hurt anyone. good luck with your venture>

__________________
Thorny Wire

Thanks guys, you know your a cracking lot on here! Its great listening to your friends and family feedback, but to speak to other florists with experience of the trade and all it entails is just priceless. I,m feeling quite good about the whole thing now but am still fed up with waiting to just get in and do what I do rather than talking about it!

__________________