Florist News

Just a thought......... if you have regular weekly contracts how do you deal with it when you want a holiday? Do you get one? you can never go for longer than a week surely? Do you make up the arrangment and get someone else to deliver it for you whilst your away??

Aaaaaah Holidays i remember what those are I think !!!

Yes we do. We just inform all our contracts customers of the dates the shop will be closed (listen to all their petty grief about not being able to have holidays) and away we go.

After all they all get to go on holiday don't they!!

They're always glad when we come back, they then realise what good service and flowers they recieve. So it can actually work in your favour.

there are three of us working in the shop so we try to cover for each other when there are holidays,i know its very difficult for others if they are on their own a girl in the next town has to close for her holiday coz there is only her running the business. i did ask if i went freelance would there be any call for me to run shops when owner on holiday/sick etc but many people not willing and i can understand that,matter of trust etc but i thought it was a good idea!

Everybody needs and has a holiday/break..be it 1 week or 2 weeks,and all the contracts you do be they little or big know(whether they appreciate it is a different matter)that holidays are part of everybodys working life.
Now as for how to achieve a holiday with the least disruption to you financially,and with little upset to the contract is tuff...but you must be strong / confident /wily /and use a little "floral fibbbing" when needed(i will explain this later).
Give your contract as much notice as is possible...sometimes the contract may forego there floral requirements for the 2 weeks or 1 week you are away,or perhaps in the case of 2 week break they may eeeeek out the display for a little longer than the usual 1 week turnaround("floralfibbing" may come in handy here...as if you use something that easily lasts the 2 weeks they may then decide upon your return to have a display less frequently)so choose something that whilst still looking good for the week, may just crisp up or dull enough as to appear nicely jaded under the warm conditions and general lack of water most contract flowers get..
This second option is a tad more precarious,you have given your contract plenty of notice yet they have done nothing or failed to acknowledge(cause heck they are soooooooooo busy)that the holiday is fast approaching...then they say"well what are we going to do(usually bigger companies/hotels,that use this)...deep breath...now they can either(they usually have another florist in mind..friend of a friend type of thing...)get in another florist whilst you are away,to fill in("floral fibbing time",you don't have any objections to this..and you will gladly speak with whichever florist they have chosen to fill in whilst you are away,so that they get a seamless service,just ask them to give you a call......seldom if ever will other florist ring you...now bit more "floral fibbing" is needed here,the last display you do for your contract(the one before the stand in florist steps in)...whatever value you are allocated for the display/arrangement go over the top(not crazy just make it look gooooood)because new florist whilst working on same budget..they also will be trying to dazzle(if they have anything about them that is!!!)if not it's plain sailing...you look great as always,stand in doesn't measure up,contract is lucky to have you..cause it's just been proved you are better florist,and now that you are refreshed and tanned...you is gonna rock em!!!!
All of the above is the perfect scenario it can of course go all terribly wrong,but that is up to you not to let it.......once you have established a reasonable working relationship with a contract,you are more in control of the holiday situation...be business like,whilst friendly and hopefully you shouldn't go far wrong...best of luck.....see ya in Turkey...Scorchiooooo!!!

__________________
seldom rong!!!!

.... i dont want everyone to hate me for this... but i have 10 weeks holiday

Btw i am treens son if you are wondering who the hell this snotty little twerp nosing around threads is

are you sure? your post is awfully short for someone related to treen

oh yes im well aware of my mothers epic posts on FN, im just getting a footing on here and dodging advances from funky monkey before i start to compose some longer posts

Ha ha!!
Do you mean 10 weeks of not working or actually packing your case and going off for 10 weeks??? Are you a teacher??!! term time??

i mean 10 weeks of no school 16 you see

Wow you have it all worked out dont you!! Very helpfull though. Yes everyone needs a holiday. I hate to hear people say "holiday? i havent been away in years" I need a break every year, even just a week in Devon which i am getting this year.
Yes i think if you are upfront with the client and honest then it should go in your favour.
Thanks for that Obowl