Why Even Open a Flower Shop?

Why even open a flower shop? Has it been your dream? Maybe you have worked for a shop and decided you want your own store. Perhaps you want to own your own business and not work for others. Possibly the flower business is a business you think you can do. Many people would like to own their own flower shop.

Owning your own flower shop is a business that is very achievable. With a little money and hopefully a lot of talent opening that store can be realized. Dreaming of opening your own flower shop is probably the result of many factors. Here are some reasons of why you may want to begin a journey of designing beautiful flowers and serving people.

1.       The flower business is a service industry. Helping and sharing with people their life situations can be rewarding. Helping your customers create the perfect birthday or anniversary or celebrating the birth of a child is satisfying and most definitely a worthwhile job if we are going to do any.

2.       Becoming a florist allows us to become a part of our community in which we live. We are all human. Florists are there to help with the human factor of our customers. It is gratifying to be able to help others in the moments of their lives.

3.       It is very rewarding to see the happiness of people receiving flowers. Observing the surprise, the awe, the beauty that we get from these people is just a wonderful part of being a florist. We get to add cheer to the lives of those to whom we deliver.  What better way to spend your time and vocation? People want to see us! They want our delivery van in front of their house.

4.       Creativity is a big part of being a florist. The work we do allows us to be creative and have our creativity serve a purpose. It is like selling our art and creations on a daily basis. No starving artists in this business!

5.       As a florist and designer we get to work with different mediums. We work with fresh flowers, dried flowers, silk flowers, or a combination thereof.  Live green plants, blooming plants, cacti, succulents, even silk plants are part of our repertoire of materials with which we get to work. Our designs and “artwork” are limitless. Every day is different in the flower business.

6.       People in our community rely on us to bridge their problems with others. Somehow, sometimes, flowers do say it all. We can help. Furthermore, along with people’s problems, there is a trust issue people have towards florists. We deal on a day-to-day basis with other people’s “sticky” situations and we have a duty to keep an understood silence. Most florists are trusted and relied upon to help work out the issues of others.

7.       What's more, let’s not forget the beauty in which we get to do our jobs. Even though a flower shop can get very busy and hectic, the beauty within which we work is extremely satisfying in itself.

The flower business is a win-win business; for us as owners and for our customers. This business is hard work. It takes time and devotion to build your shop. The hours in which you work may be long. All in all, the flower business is a great business to work, to live, to build friends, and to be part of a community. It is a worthy goal and a worthwhile vocation.

Telephone Selling in a Flower Shop

Much of the sales of a flower shop are done over the telephone. A local customer calls a flower shop for a local delivery. A flower shop gets orders from patrons calling out-of-town for local delivery. A flower shop gets wire orders from anywhere in the world into their shop for local delivery. Florists must place orders to other towns, states, and countries. All are placed over the telephone. The computer has come along and much is done by the computer. But the telephone is still vital to the florist business.

How a florist and his/her staff conduct themselves on the telephone is a crucial criterion on whether the customer will use a particular florist a second time. If an employee answers the telephone rudely or insincerely the customer will likely not call again, or even worse, terminate the current phone call/order. You do not want this to happen. Below are several guidelines for answering the telephone for a florist and their staff.

• 1.   Always answer the phone with an order pad and pen in hand. Never make the customer wait while you search for a pad and pen.

• 2.   Always answer cheerfully. Let the potential client or even a salesperson know you are happy they called your store. Cheerfulness and happiness is easily spread. You are setting the mood in which you can make a nice sale.

• 3.   Answer the phone by acknowledging your shop name, who you are, and how may you help the person calling. Speak with a clear voice; do not talk too fast. Be polite and courteous.

• 4.   Several questions must be asked when a customer is placing a floral order over the telephone. Ask these questions so you can easily sell this person what they need.

• 5.   Write down the information as you speak. Do not rely on memory. You do not want to have to call back the patron and ask questions such as “when did you want that delivered?” Your store may seem inadequate. Although, always do get a call-back phone number just in case an unforeseen problem arises.

• 6.   Repeat back to the customer the order he/she has just placed. Make sure all the details are correct. Agree upon a method of payment. Ask if there is anything else you may do to help.

• 7.   Thank the customer for their floral order. Politely end the telephone call, assuring the customer their order will be completed with the utmost care.

• 8.   You and your staff may want to get in the habit of confirming an order by e-mail as it is completed. That really finalizes an order and the customer knows the order went out with no problems. So beginning an e-mail database will allow you to contact your client efficiently.

Remember to always be helpful. Make suggestions to your phone customers. You are their eyes. You know what inventory your shop has at that time. They will appreciate your suggestions as well as it makes the customer feel if you really care. Moreover, you do care!! That is why you are in the flower business. 

 

 

Subliminal Florist Success