Florist News

You have a customer (say a bride) who comes into your shop and asks you for a quote, giving you ideas on what she wants, etc, and then you give her a price and she says she's happy with that, books the job and goes away.

Then you undertake the commission, but when she sees the flowers, she says she doesn't like them and asks for her money (deposit?) back and won't pay the outstanding amount owed for the work.

I know this scenario is a long, long way away for me at the moment, but it's one of those nightmare scenarios that makes me break out in a hot sweat, just thinking about what might happen when (if ever) I'm working for a florist (or even myself).

I'm a bit of a worrier and I can't imagine what I'd do, or say, if it was a really difficult customer (in every sense of the word). The reason I ask, is because there wouldn't necessarily be a Right or Wrong would there?

I mean, if you take your car to the garage and they don't fix the problem, you take it back and tell them they haven't fixed it and they have to do it again.

But if you artistically interpret what someone wants (for example, someone has come in with a colour swatch, or a particular photo out of a mag) and then says "Omigod that's horrible.", what do you do?

You really are a worrier.

If you think about it, the bride receives her flowers on the day of the wedding. She is not likely to say "I hate them, take them away!"

Some ask for a sample prior to the wedding, which, of course, you charge for. That way no surprises.

Often clauses are put into the written agreement stating that colours can vary, seasonal variations cannot be attributed to the florist etc.

Don't panic. Others will tell you how they deal with this sort of problem.

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as jakey said
but also you will have recieved the full payment for the wedding work before the day ~ well before the day ~ if there is any probs someone will call you because the flowers will be delivered quite earlish on the day ~ but i'm sure if you talk to the bride for long and often enough you will know what she wants and expects ~ so there will be no probs

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If youve explained and discussed her requirements in a professional and experienced way , that bride should leave your shop with total faith in what are about to do for her. If she gives you a picture that you are unable to make, you are not ready to take weddings at all, due to lack of experience or qualification. I have never had a bride unhappy with a design. If shes given me pic to copy, thats what she will get, unless of course the materials are out of season and i would then discuss substitutions before she leaves my shop.If she doesnt trust you, then you have not sold yourself correctly to her. Remember she is buying something from you that she wont see until the day, so she must feel confident that you know what she wants !

Hi,
I don't understand your question, I'm sorry.
If she booked you and you know what she looking for you cannot make anything what she will not likes.
You have to be sure you can do what she wants.
I think if my customer will ask unusual colour of flowers or design I'll bring sample for her or make a ruff design fot her in my shop.
Difficult customers will comes million times (my experience) to check with you things. My biggest wedding I had 2 meeting with the bride. My next weekend wedding will be small, but we had already 8 meetins

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Flowers in Stylewww.flowersinstyle.co.uk

In all my years we only ever had one bride that was not happy with her bouquet. She had given us a picture of her mother's wedding bouquet and we had copied it EXACTLY......she sent it back to add more length, (just some fern) and we again delivered it to her......she was not happy, it was still not long enough for her....so we added more length, (this bouquet is now dragging on the floor).......result, one happy bride with a bouquet that was nothing like her mother's.........it's all in the interpretation of what the bride wants......

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plastic fantastic not suitable for recycling
['I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it'. Voltaire

Last Saturday I Was Working Away Doing A Wedding Order For A Sunday Wedding - I Was Short Staffed Because Of Holidays So There Was Just Me And My Trainee/driver. The Time Was Approx 11.15am The Phone Rang And Jo Answered It And I Could Hear Her Saying - A Wedding Today? What Time? Just A Moment I Will Fetch My Manager - I Asked If I Could Help - A Lady On The Other End Expained Her Friend Was Getting Married Today At 4pm And Her Flowers Had Been Delivered And They Were - In Her Words "disguisting". I Listened With My Mouth Open To What She Had To Say - Could You Please Do Us A Brides Bouquet, 2 Bridesmaids. 5 Buttonholes 1 Corsage And 12 Table Arrangements And Deliver Them! I Explained That They Were Pushing It Abit But If I Could Help I Would - I Asked Them To Bring The Flowers They Had Recieved To The Shop And If I Could Redo Them For Them I Would As The Person That Had Done Them Was Someone Who Worked From Home!! 1 Hour Later In Walked The Bride With The Flowers - I Could Not Believe My Eyes - They Were Awful I Suggested She Return Them And Demand Her Money Back I Could Not Use 1 Single Flower. She Had Paid £180 I Picked Up The Brides So Called Bouquet And The Pins She Had Used To Bind Ribbon Onto The Stems Went Straight Into My Fingers The Roses Were All Drouping And Brown - I Had Thrown B Etter In The Bin!! I Did Do All She Asked For And Got Them Delivered By 3.15pm And They Were Thrilled And Bought Us Some Bottles Of Wine To The Shop On Tuesday And A Thank You Card. My Words To Her Were "have You Learned Your Lesson? Will You Use A Florist In Future?" The Answer Was A Very Big Yes. I Felt Very Proud That I Had Made Someones Wedding Day A Good One That Could Have Quite Easily Been A Total Disaster.

That's fantastic! You are a very kind and caring person. I am so pleased you were able to help out.

She must have wondered what the quality would be like considering the quantity of arrangements she expected for £180.

Congratulations!

P.S. It must be exhausting typing with a CAPITAL letter at the beginning of each word!

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talking of worrying,,I too am a trifle anxious at the thought of the wedding I have next weekend! I don't usually worry but I have not had much to do with this bride,,left it to the girl that took it and has built up a relationship with her but who has now gone on an unexpected holiday leaving it to me..fine but this bride has done drawings of an arrangement she saw in january at some show ,,what concerns me is that its so long since she saw the original thing will her mind have played tricks on her over time! I just get the feeling that whatever I do ,,to her it won't be what she saw all those months ago...as she is an events manager I really really want her to be happy cos you just never know when she might be looking for a florist in my area for a do! Hmm,,,we'll see I suppose next week. Not looking forward to it at all.

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live long and prosper

Could you not talk to her about it? Or speak to your girl that has built a relationship with the customer. Make sure you understand it all. I'm sure she'd appreciate your honesty. Don't freak her out! Just say you want to 'clarify' a few things. Just an idea!

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