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