What Inventory to Carry in a Flower Shop

It is always a wonder to enter a flower shop that is well stocked, fragrant, and with attention-grabbing inventory. People associate flower shops with beauty, calmness, and serenity; along with the services a person uses a flower shop. This is because of the inventory floral shops carries lend to this mind-set. The inventory automatically gives the flower shop the ambiance we all love. I have had a couple of terminal cancer patients come into my shop only to enjoy the atmosphere, quietness, and peace. The shop was a tranquil place that made the ladies joyful.  I will always remember those two ladies and the conversations we had.

Thus, we need to carry well-intentioned, inspiring inventory.  We cannot forget that first and foremost a flower shop carries fresh flowers. That is our main inventory and where we begin. Be sure to always have a nice selection of fresh flowers and foliage. Remember that your fresh flower inventory is perishable. There is a fine line between carrying enough perishable inventories and too much where you have waste.  

Next, you will want to have a line of baskets and novelty containers, the more the better. Clay pots are good. A florist has a lot of the inventory they use out on the floor for people to buy until they need to use something for an order. So stock your show floor well. Customers want a varied selection from which to choose.

Your shop will have to have a jungle of plants of all varieties. Offer all the basic plants and then strive to find exotic plants, herbs, blooming plants, tropical plants, and cacti. Just fill you flower shop full of all sizes and types of plants. Also, offer baskets gardens, dish gardens, novelty baby planters and such. Have plants dressed up with bows and accessories and ready to go. 

Balloons are a very nice add-on sale. Have a large selection of unusual and exciting balloons. You will want to carry latex and mylar balloons. Do not forget that you can stuff balloons with all sorts of stuff. Talk to your balloon wholesaler and learn all the fun and extraordinary things you can do with balloons. Balloons can help your shop stand out.

Silk and dried flowers all over your shop will add color and distinctiveness. Offer the best silk flowers, not the stuff you can buy at the dollar store. Buy upscale florals. Hang dried flowers such as statice, baby’s breath, eucalyptus, yarrow, from flower racks. Dried flowers will add visual interest and extra sales. 

For variety, you may want to offer candles, lotions, jewelry, mediation cd’s, and candy. Country gift items are popular. Wooden and tin signs in particular sell well and are visually exciting. Candles will offer a marvelous aroma to your shop. You can get private label lotions and soaps and such. Having cd’s for background music is fun. It gets the customers in a good mood. A good mood can equate to more sales. You can buy whatever types of music you think your customer base will purchase. They hear the music, like it and want to take it home. I bought a Smoky Mountain folk music cd from a shop because they were playing the cd and I heard it. The extra inventory around the shop can be used in gift baskets as well.

You can offer fruit baskets, but that inventory will be bought on an as needed basis. Fruit baskets can be quite showy and impressive, which is good promotion for your store. You might want to offer greeting cards. They go nicely with flowers and gifts. There are many unique card companies around so you can propose a different card line from what most see. Exclusive wind chimes will go nicely with your inventory.

Explore online all the gift shows around the country. You really need to attend at least one gift show in your life. They are inspirational, educational, and you will learn all the latest trends for the time. You will find products that you cannot wait to bring back to your shop. You will be captivated, fascinated, and charmed. Maybe even a little mesmerized and spellbound! Just have fun. What you learn, you can take back to your flower shop and help to make it improved and revitalized. Remember the gift shows in the summer are for Christmas. You have to plan ahead for the seasons. 

These are some basic ideas for inventory for your shop. I have learned that people will buy anything if it is displayed well. You must present your inventory to your customers in a fresh, simple manner, but yet make them feel like there is so much to look at. You do not want the bare look, but you do not want cluttered as well. Happy hunting for your exclusive inventory that will set your flower shop apart from the others!

 

 

 

The Merry Month of May in a Flower Shop

May is a very busy month for a flower shop. All month long there are floral occasions.  The busiest occasions are Mother’s Day, graduations, Memorial Day, schools are ending their school year, there seems to be a lot of birthdays in May, and it is the beginning of summer. All and everyone are coming to life. Memorial Day usually is seen as the first major leisure time of summer. 

For florists, Memorial Day is a time for their customers to remember their loved ones that have passed.  Florists get many orders for memorial pieces to be placed on the graves of the people requested. Florists should plan ahead and get maps of the local graveyards either from the local courthouse or the city offices of their town. Florists will be placing their floral pieces on the actual graves and the graves must be located. You will be walking the cemetery. Many memorial orders will come from out of town and called into the floral shop. Florists should stock up on memorial type containers of all kinds. Be prepared for all kinds of memorial pieces to be ordered. Memorial Day can be an occasion to make repeat customers. If you do a good job on the customer’s memorial flowers, they will call you year after year. They will be using a debit card, credit card, or check by phone, so it is instant cash. In addition, the customer whom placed the order will more than likely get some feedback on the floral arrangement from a friend or relative.

I used to get an order from out of town. The customer always had a friend photograph the memorial piece she ordered every year and send it to her. She was always pleased. These out of town customers may have more relatives nearby and will use you more than once a year on different occasions. Build a relationship with these customers. Let them know that they can trust you to fill their orders as requested.  Assure them their flowers will be on the grave as requested.

Mother’s Day is a busy holiday for florists. It is always the second Sunday in May, so the date of Mother’s Day varies. This is a time for a lot of wire orders from out of town; people wanting to remember their mother. Orders for floral arrangements, corsages, blooming plants, and green and blooming plants are common Mother’s Day requests. It would be wise to stock up on these items as well as balloons, candy, and gift items, such as wind chimes, jewelry, and garden items. Most of Mother’s Day orders come ahead of time, but there will be two or three chaotic days which will be very demanding. You may want to give all mothers that come in your shop a free carnation as a token of appreciation and to honor her. It is good public relations. You can probably count on working on Mother’s Day at least some of the day.  That is each individual flower shops’ decision to make. Advertising you will be open on that Sunday. You may get many extra walk in sales or last minute call in orders.

In between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day there are many graduations from highs schools and colleges that will need floral goods. Also, there are the seemingly many birthdays in May. Furthermore, the schools are ending their school year. People like to give teachers flowers and plants as a token of their appreciation.

So stock up on your inventory and be happy. You are in the merry month of May. Be thankful your shop is busy. Be happy you are in warm weather. And start dreaming of the weddings you will do next month in June! 

 

 

 

7 Very Simple Plants to Grow Indoors

Most people love houseplants, but unfortunately not everyone has a green thumb. Here are seven basically foolproof plants to grow. They have simple requirements and will allow even the brownest thumb to have a jungle in his/her home.

1.       Philodendron – the philodendron species originates from the Brazil, Panama, and South America areas. It is the easiest of houseplants to grow. The philodendron is tolerant of low light and impure air. It does like a bit of humidity; not surprising considering the areas from which it comes. Water as it becomes dry. They can be propagated by stem cuttings or some species such as the elephant ear philodendron is propagated by leaf-bud cuttings.

2.       Creeping Charlie – This plant is a very hardy, enduring plant. The Creeping Charlie is effortless to care for. Give the plant a bright location. Water as the top couple of inches of soil begins to dry. Creeping Charlie is simple to propagate by stem cuttings in water. Just root and plant in soil. They root quite quickly. An occasional fertilizing is beneficial. Fertilizing helps to keep its leaves dark green. Creeping Charlie does seem hard to find sometimes in stores. On a personal note, I asked my local post office for a couple of starts from their office plant. I now have four large Charlie plants, all from those two starts. Once you find a good spot the plant likes, leave it there for best growth.

3.       Dieffenbachia – The dieffenbachia plant is an undemanding plant that likes indirect, filtered light. Normally, the plant grows to about 3 feet in height. As it grows it will lose its bottom leaves. It is normal for dieffenbachia to do this. Be mindful not to over water. Overwatering is the most common mistake for this plant. Allow the soil to dry in between watering; do not overwater. An important note on this plant: it is very toxic. If the sap is ingested, the vocal cords and the tongue will swell. Just do not let children around these plants. This is how the plant gets its nickname “dumb cane”

4.       Spider Plant – The spider plant, as well, is known as the airplane plant. Moderate light and a fair amount of water is all this plant needs. If the plants color begins to become light in color, fertilize. This will bring back the dark green color, or the nice variegated color, depending on the species you have. It is forgiving if you forget to water here and there. The spider plant can be propagated by rooting the little “spiders” it puts out. A nice plant to hang.

5.       Mint – Mint can be grown in the house as well as outdoors. Typical of the mint plant is the “square stem.” A slight bright spot on the window sill is best for this plant. Water often, as mint likes it moist. In the outdoors the mint plant likes shadier locations. Grows quickly. Mint can be quickly propagated by stem cuttings.

6.       Good Luck Bamboo – Can usually be grown in the container in which it comes. Water often, as it can be grown in water as well as soil and rocks. I have found a bright, indirect light is good. Nothing to hot.

7.       Cacti – Where can you go wrong with cacti? Watering too much!! This will rot the cactus plant rapidly. Think desert and sparse water. Also the cactus can handle bright, direct light. If the cactus plant is in the window and the light does become too hot, the plant will become burned. So watch out for too hot of light coming in through the window.

These simple, trouble-free plants will add a pleasant variety to your indoor garden, without much care and effort.  Houseplants tend to create calmness, peace and tranquility in a home and they are great air purifiers. Be sure to add some humidity and keep any dead leaves picked off so that your plant collection can look its best.

 

 

 

 

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.

Using Architectural Props in Your Flower Shop

A very classy and modern way to accent your floral merchandise is to use architectural props for backdrops in your flower shop. You might ask what are architectural props. These are accents of old recycled pieces of buildings, such as windows, window frames, doors, etc. Here are ten ideas and ways to implement architectural features in your flower shop.

1.      A salvaged fireplace mantle could make a fabulous focal point in your shop.

2.      Stained glass windows would be an excellent way to accentuate your floral goods. You could put a price tag on the stained glass and sell the piece or just keep the prop for display.

3.      A Victorian screen door is a superior backdrop for a large dried flower wreath and blooming plants. Tuck the screen door in and about baskets, green and blooming plants, and other dried flowers. Very nice!

4.      Wrought iron gates leaned against the wall is a fine way to displays silk and dried swags or wreaths. Also, hang dried flower bunches on gates and wrought iron fencing. Similarly, old barn wood can be fashioned into benches for the blooming and green plants in your flower shop as well as backdrops for country products and signs.

5.      Old salvaged front doors are a lovely architectural accent. Once again use to display wreaths and swags or as an ornamental backdrop.

6.      Windows with glass add a unique backdrop for merchandise in your shop. Hang in and around products you want to highlight. Furthermore, you can put the window on a tall easel and display a magnificent wreath you have created.

7.      Windows without glass that have been rescued are just as much a splendid accent piece as windows with glass. These can be painted wild and bright colors or soft, muted tints. Whatever you need to highlight, the windows can be made to order. Several of them painted Christmas red and displaying evergreen wreaths would be a nice way to merchandise the fresh wreaths during the Christmas holiday season.

8.      Old recovered garden fountains and statuettes could put an emphasis on your plants and garden items. If the fountain really worked that would be extraordinary.

9.      Reclaimed stone could be used to make a garden path leading up to a water fountain. Not salvaged, but new fountains are readily available. The sound of water in a flower shop is quite enjoyable; tranquil, and soothing.

10.  Salvaged wooden cabinets, chairs, and shelves are very useful in displays. These can be used to display gift items and basket gardens. It is a way to get your merchandise off the floor. Check your local salvage yards. Keep your eye out at yard sales, thrift store, and flea markets for architectural props to use in your flower shop. Remember, making your floral shop a one of its kind makes it distinctive. 

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