Are Floral Shops Fading?

The small, personalized floral shop may become a thing of the past. Don Goede of Skyway Creations explains, “Someone said to me, you should be excited that the competition is shrinking,” Goede said. “No,” he replied, “it’s scary — if it can happen to them, it can happen to me.”

With internet wire services such as FTD and Teleflora, customers can place their orders by phone or online. The floral companies who have an online presence can fill these passed-on orders but at a charge that cuts heavily into their profits. With stores like Walmart and chain grocery stores having fresh flower displays in their stores, where do the floral shops have the advantage? Personalized and caring customer service will always be a priority at this type of shop but getting the customer into the store may be the problem.

Even with the increasing cost of growing and shipping flowers, customers balk at having to pay higher prices. Working with your customers and trying to find ways to fit flowers into their shrinking budgets can help. Staying noticed is crucial and keeping your customers coming back is vital to keep you in business. Here are a few suggestions and ideas which may help keep your customers.

1. Have an open house: When you have an open house, you can display beautiful arrangements of your designers' work. Make sure the most outstanding one is offered as a door prize. Let your customers know what services you offer and your prices. Show off any new products or product lines in a prominent spot. Have your employees greet each customer, by name if they know it, with a warm smile to make them feel welcome. Have some coffee, tea and cookies on hand.
    
2. Offer a floral design class: Offer to teach a floral design class in your shop after hours. Help the students design their own beautiful arrangements to take home with them. The cost of the class would be whatever an arrangement would cost. Then your students get to tell all the friends and family. It will give them confidence to buy fresh loose flowers from your shop and try it on their own. Providing refreshments and snacks is also a good idea for the break time.
    
3. Write an article: Offer to write an article for your local newspaper or magazine. Showcase a flower, talk about it and give ideas on how to use it in a floral arrangement. Get featured in a local blog which details your shop and all the services it has to offer. Ask about a writing an article on giving design tips or cut flower care. 
    
4. Post online: If your store has a website, post a flower of the month. Post pictures, talk about its origins, how to use it in an arrangement and offer a special price per dozen.

By offering more personalized customer service, really caring about your customers, and making sure their needs are taken care of, the customers you have will continue to patronize your business.

Photo courtesy of dusky / freedigitalphotos.net