Florist News

Hi, Im new to this site and need some advice! I have opened a shop about 8 weeks ago, in a village with several shops i.e butchers, hairdressers, newsagents, post office etc. We are on the main road which is a very busy through road to the surrounding villages. We have been fairly busy with a few funerals and a couple of weddings, however trade seems to have dried up the past two weeks! Is it the weather or people going on holiday??? Has anyone else noticed trade has been quieter?
We have advertised in the local magazines and have had a few responses from them! Is there anything else i could try? Please post some advice
Thanks
Flower Mill

Where is your shop flowermill?

We have been very quiet with passing trade because of the weather. It doesn't seem to have stopped raining for the last 3 weeks here.

Also 8 weeks isn't long, you'll probably still get people in after a year saying, "oh i didnt know you were here"

I got that at xmas, and my shop has been here for over 20 years!!

Perhaps you need a more eye catching window display, if you have window lights, leave them on for a few hours after work until it goes dark.

It's in derby, midlands. I know it's going to take time, we have had a good response from people saying they are glad that we have opened. I just feel a little disheartened with the lack of trade. Are the summer months usually quite? I used to work in a very busy interflora town centre shop and it seems like a big shock making the change. That business had been established for over 25 years though.

We have got a big shop window however there is't really any space for a display, but i might try leaving the lights on.
Thanks
Flower mill

Hi Flowermill,

have you tried doing a leaflet drop in the village/surrounding area?

What about trying to get contract work (see other threads, as it can be aggro when people don't want to spend money but want the world, but it might be worth looking at). Is there any big hotels/wedding venues nearby?

Also, I was out with a friend of mine who's been a florist for 14 years and just about to open her own shop in September and she was telling me of a special offer she is going to do which is to get people (men!) to buy flowers on a regular basis ie once a month and they get one free if they sign up for a year. She said it was successful in her old job.

Hope this helps

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www.treesfloraldesign.co.uk

We did a couple of free arrangements for a local large hotel and left some of our cards we had a couple of orders from the general public who said they had seen them. We had a slight miss understanding with the hotel as they said they wanted to start using us for there events and flowers for hotel rooms if requested by visitors. We thought this was great, however we have only had one HT to do and they wanted to know why we hadn't been doing them a FREE arrangement. I explained that we can't continue to do them something free every week and that we had only received one order from them. I have just received an email from them requesting spray carnations for the restaurants- classy!

I think we might have to try a leaflet drop
Thanks
Flowermill

Just had another thought - what about Derby County? They must do loads of corporate stuff/parties etc

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www.treesfloraldesign.co.uk

its quiet here too, the weather does not help, nothing but rain for ages, it takes a long time to build up a decent trade, paint you frontage a noticable colour, leaflets are good, business cards delivered with the local paper are better, people will grab the card and put it in thier wallet, purse etc

to be honest for you to have had a wedding so soon and funerals that is really good, it was 8 months before i had my first weddingso i would not worry just yet

Hi Flowermill, Don't fall into the trap of spending loads on advertising as it doesn't often pay off. I knew a florist that spent 8k on advertising over a couple of years and still ended up closing down. The weather does have a huge effect on trade and I do think lots of people are on their hols. I've been open 4 months and I have fantastic days and then days when you just want to cry (like today!) I'm pretty sure once you're established weddings will carry you through the quiet summer months. If you haven't already, get yourself a website is its a good cheap marketing tool but at the end of the day word of mouth is the best advert. Good luck to you, I know what its like but it does slowly pick up.

Hi Flowermill,
Just catching up and reading back over things i've missed. We opened on the 9th June and much the same as you we advertised in the local paper we have had some really quiet days when i come home wondering if i have made a massive mistake, then last week i had 4 funerals and a lot of walk in trade had a cracking week money wise, but this week we are quiet again. I have a fruit shop that sells made up bouquets and a co-op selling cut flowers. I have found my best advertising apart from word of mouth has been my free listing on Yell .com- wish i had of realised this before i forked out for my yellow pages ad.
This is a brilliant place to come if you have a bad day, i sat here the other night just reading and the tears rolled down my face i laughed that much at some of the threads. There is also loads of great advice.
Regards Debbie

Helloooo flowermill,,its been quiet all over really for a week or 2 now,,everyone gone on holiday!! Don't panic! Keep doing your best and selling quality flowers and word will spread. I'm not far from you,,just the other side of east mids airport,,do you use Pride flowers in Derby?