Hi Susan & fly2hi, Sam at Petals HQ here, just reading your post's and wondering if you knew that eligible Petals members have a free website that we have set up for them. These sites have all the petals products and pricing on them so that customers can choose something to send from there (and we clear the credit card etc, and send it back to you if it is in your area)or they can contact you direct as your contact details are on the site.

These sites are generating a nice number of orders and we only released them at the beginning of May. We are also working on search engine optimisation so that our member's sites get good placment on search engines but this process is a little slow.

To check out if you have a site and to modify the look etc visit the petals florist directory www.petals-florist-directory.com and search for either your town or postcode and find your listing, then click on the florists website link and you will be taken to your site.

If you have any questions or would like more information please dont hesitiate to contact me.

Cheers Sam

Thanks for your advice fly2hi. Sounds like a great idea to include shots of the shop and give internet shoppers an idea of who they are ordering from. It must be much easier for people to order a product they have seen. Hey Sam, how many orders are for the florists choice compared to Petals options? Have any florists been approached by a group called BNI?

Hi Sam, yes..you already have me under your wing with the members website. I've still yet to set up some active links from your images on my own site to your order page. Where does the time go when you're supposed to be having fun!
Susan, I nearly always try to encourage people to opt for florist choice or at least something flexible. You must know what it's like when you get a very specific order, like for delivery that day, and you just haven't got the right flower or the right colour and you know you could do something better if given the choice. Of course with something like a dozen red roses, then there is no alternative, you just have to cater for it. I try and think of the shop executing the order and 'do unto others...' Likewise I try and avoid sending 'minimum value orders' as its a real pain when it turns out to be long distance. Most people accept that you will get a much better product for a little bit more money. Something like.."Yes we can send for xx, but honestly, another fiver is going to look like another tenner".
Northern suburbs of Perth? When I lived there, you could count them on your fingers without using your thumbs. Nowadays I guess everyone carrys the UBD in their back pocket!

HI

If you mean how many orders are for florist choice rather than a specific product it varies- the orders that come from a member florist would definitely have more petals products than florist choice, but the orders generated from the website - over the mothers day period- the florist choice items won out over the Petals items.

This is one of the reasons we have increased our florist choice product range on the website to include more items like a gerbera arrangement, lilly arrangement, tropical arrangeemnt etc.

My own personal thoughts on ordering flowers is that a florist has had training and experience in putting stuff together therefore they are the best people to decide what to send out. Also when we are talking to customers we also let them know that if they choose florist choice then the florist can use whatever is best in their shop on that day ie if they have great lillies then it allows them the freedom to use those.

I think also the florist choice products - which are generally the lower end of the price scale- are popular given people's reduced disposable income.

Now back to work I suppose :-)

I am looking for a full time florist to work in the Swan Valley area. If anyone can recommend someone please let me know or they can call me on 0400 393 343. Its a busy shop and they won't be bored.

Hi Susan, I just thought I ask you how your going with your web site & if it is very costly to have one. I'm finding because I have a reasonablly small business in a little town I dont get a lot of orders. To set a web site of my own sounds like a good idea even though I have one with Petals as well. What do you think? Does it work well for you? Hope to hear from you soon. Regards Helen

Hi Helen, I am not sure if you read my posting below in reference to the free Petals websites? If not I will briefly fill you in and see if this might be the way to go rather than setting up your own site for now. Petals provides free websites for all eligible members of Petals.

These websites can be personalised (to a degree) and offer shopping facilfities where customers can order from the petals catalouge and then if it is an order going to your area the order goes straight back to you to fulfill, and if the order is not going to your area it comes through to Petals and we allocate the order off to another florist and you get the "selling credit" The more orders that are generated off your website, the more orders you will be "owed" generally.

If you would like more information on the websites or how to find out if you have one just ask :-) sorry if you already have this information

Hi Helen,
I am still getting it organized. The biggest hold up is having someone to take photographs of your work. You either have to have it all ready for them or they have to come in regularly to take photos. There needs to be good lighting, background etc, or you can take photos yourself on a digital camera. I have spoken to some florists who have a site with little use but they think it is essential as a future tool and most web site designers tell us the internet is the way. Many customers say that the web is the only way they have time to order. I agree that it is needed but you need a web designer that will get your site noticed because there are a lot of florists on line. Key words that will make your site be seen etc. Costs are around $1500 to set up with no e commerce plus $100 to rgister your name and it goes up from there.

Hi Susan, & Hi Sam,
Thank you both for all your infomation on web sites. I do have one with Petals but I was thinking of setting up another for my self as I need to generate more business. At this stage I'm trying all sorts of idea's to build my business & so all information is grately appreciated.Thank you once again for all your help.

Hi Helen,
Best of luck. When business is not walking past your door you have to be creative to develop a business that will come to you. I'd love to hear what is working for you in the future.

Hello everyone
I have been approached by a compnay called SERVOSAVER. They tell me they are huge in Australia (Im in New Zealand)...every purchase at one of their members stores gives the customer a receipt entitling them to 6c per litre off petrol. Are any of Petals members also a member of this group? Please tell me your thoughts.

Hi everyone
I am a new business owner and petals member. Just wondering what type of advertising is effective and inexpensive to do. I have been thinking about an editorial or advertisement in the local newspaper the is delivered free to residents in the area. What have some of the best advertising ideas that anyone has used and has been successful? I have just taken over a shop that was opened 14 months ago and the previous owner did no advertising, she just sat here and waited for the customers to come, the shop can currently only just cover itself and I would like to step things up and get the shop going as the shop is in a great positon and the only in the suburb.

Edited by author 09-18-2006 05:44 PM
Hi Siouxsie,

I am realitive new to business & Petals too in the last year. Buiness is very slow. I just advertise where & when ever possible & as I can afford. I am in a small country Town & theres two of us which makes things a bit competitive for me. What I tend to find is working a little is fridge magnets given with each purchase. People tend to throw business cards in draws not to be seen again but magnets go straight on the fridge. I also have larger magnets to stick on the side of my car door so that they are constantly seen by passers by. Eventually I will approach a property close to the Highyway & ask if I may put a advertising sign in the corner of his fence so that the highyway traffic will see it as they pass. For this priverledge I'm sure it will cost but advertising is half of your business I believe along wit good customer service so hopefully I have helped you. The fridge magnets I find are working for me at the moment but it all takes time to be known. Any business takes at least 2-3years to make a profit I think somtimes 5. I wish you all the best in your new venture & I'd be interested to see how your going down the track. Best of luck. Kind regards Helen

Re Advertising: Our florist wanted to get known quickly and I found that by giving our local school a regular arrangement for the reception, not only did we feel good but all the parents and staff noticed it too so that they ordered their flowers from us. Sometimes you have to give a little to get some. Best of luck to you Siouxsie.

Thanks Helen and Susan for your ideas. I have thought of both of those and have yet to organise them. The car magnets are great and I will eventually get some when I have a nicer looking car. The idea i had for the schools was different to the one you suggested Susan, yours may be easier to implement first. I have a lot of schools in the surrounding suburbs but I'll start with one or two first.
Thanks again
Siouxsie

Let us know how you go Siouxsie.
Regards
Susan