As florists it should be your mission to get more flowers into the hands of more people, and sharing the occasional free stem is one way to do so. The added element of surprise and getting something for free, sends a very charged individual out to market your shop. Here’s what your fellow florists say about free flowers:
Hi Sue,
Yes I do give away flowers. We participate in radio promotions and give gift certificates redeemable for flowers and roses (depending on the promotion). We do most of those around holidays. I donate flowers to a local seniors home weekly for bud vases in their dining room, they do purchase on a weekly arrangement for their lobby. In the past we have sent flowers to a potential corporate lead, and at holiday times when the news stations or reporters have been here we make sure they all leave with flowers, so they remember us for the next time.
Twice a year Kingston Road holds a street fest and we hand out a free flower (usually a carnation or a gerbera) with our business card and a coupon attached for a % off a future purchase in the shop.
Hope this helps.
Brad Higginson,
416 5Flower.com/Alma Florist Inc., Toronto, Ont.
Hi Sue...
Yes, we need to constantly promote ourselves and sometimes we need to give before we get. Here’s what we did and still do:
- Single flower add-ons to orders from regular customers.
- Single flower give-aways at the end of a wedding consultation.
- We take along a flower to an out-of-shop appointment.
Right now we have 3 buckets filled with small plastic containers and some bouquets (priced to sell) placed on a stand, outside our store.
A sign says “TAKE 1”. A client walked in asking how many she could get for a day-care, etc.
Business is miserably rotten and it stinks. We therefore work longer hours for less pay. But we are no GM.
Cheers,
Herbert Teichmann,
Le Pot de Fleurs/The Flower Pot, Montreal, P.Q.
Hi,
is this where I tell you about giving out free flowers? Yes, I frequently give free flowers out to good customers, advertising, staff, and a free toss bouquet to our brides.
Lori
Bird of Paradise Floral Boutique, Campbell River, B.C.
Hi Sue,
Yes, I do give away free “flowers” to further promote my business. I only do it though within a certain parameter close to my flower shop. I am lucky to be neighbors with a couple of popular coffee shops and a bridesmaids’ store. Every week, I give a vase arrangement for each one of them with my business cards right beside the flowers. I make sure that the arrangement is prominently displayed by the counter for everyone to see. They may be free of charge but I often get new customers and orders, which makes it a worthwhile investment.
Sam Solis,
Buy The Bunch, Vancouver, B.C.
I want to put my two cents worth in about freebies:I find that although we don’t always see immediate results from giving flowers, a plant of whatever away, it “plants the seed” for future good fortunes. I really do believe this, Sue!
Whether it is future business, a deal on a dinner out or just good karma, the power that a few flowers holds is quite something, and this is a power that we as florists can use to our total advantage!
I remember giving the odd flower to a young fellow years ago when he would faithfully come in for one for his girlfriend...little did I know that his family had $$$ and when they got married, I got to do all the flowers, and it was a biggie!
I do many charities, and that helps out not only my business, but also the floral industry as a whole, as it gets folks interested in flowers and the love of them too. I remember someone in New Brunswick telling me that after seeing me do a show for a charity, she started buying her flowers from the local florist in her town, as she saw the good work we all do. Nice one.
Even if there is no possible chance of getting future revenue from a freebee (Or you might think this) you never know who you are impressing, so I also believe that we should either do it right or not at all.
Big Kiss!
Neville MacKay,
My Mother’s Bloomers, Halifax, N.S.
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