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It's should be an easy, feel-good experience to order
flowers. Here are some simple tips to ensure that you
are satisfied with the results.
There are several pieces of information
that you need to communicate to your local florist.
A good florist knows these pieces of information and
will ask the right questions. If you do not have a good
local florist, you may need to take matters into your
own hands and order flowers online. Either way, if at
any point during the ordering process you don't feel
you're getting through, don't be afraid to ask for what
you want. If you still don't feel comfortable, politely
cancel the order and try again elsewhere.
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What date do you want the
flowers delivered? Many florists offer same day
delivery and some even offer timed delivery. If
the timing is important to you, understand that
you may have to pay for a special service. A good
florist will meet your needs and charge you accordingly.
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To whom and where are the
flowers to be delivered?
Do your part and have the
recipient's name, address and phone number ready.
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What is the occasion and what
do you want the flowers to say?
Here's where you may need to
interject the details. If it's a Congratulations for
a new baby, there's a big difference in what you’d
likely say to a business associate upon the birth of
her baby than for your beautiful wife on the occasion
of bringing your precious little girl into the world.
If you would say different things to the people, then
you’d send different flowers. When the clerk asks
what the occasion is, give the details he or she will
need to help you choose the right flowers. For instance,
for the associate, you might end up sending a pretty
basket of pink and white flowers with a balloon attached.
For your wife and new baby girl, you might end up sending
12 light pink sweetheart roses arranged with baby's
breath in a silver mint julep cup. Big difference.
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What is the budget?
Unfortunately, many florists
will ask this question before any of the others, it
sounds like "how much do you want to spend?". You're
not a professional florist; you don't know how much
it will cost to say exactly what you want to say. Still,
there is probably a budget you have in mind, so answer
this question with another question like "the flowers
are for my dearest Uncle’s funeral. I want a special
tribute that includes his love of rose gardening. Can
you give me some suggestions and tell me how much they
would cost?".
This is where ordering online
appeals to many customers. If your local florist has
become so accustomed to the "how much do you want to
spend?" manner of sales that you cannot have a meaningful
conversation about the options they can provide, it's
time for you to do some shopping online. Find a site
where you can see photos and prices and take your time
choosing the product that is right for you. Be sure
to pay attention to order processing and delivery fees.
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How will you be paying for
the flowers?
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Very few florists still have
house accounts, and if you are ordering online,
a house account is out of the question. Be prepared
to pay by credit card or to go to the store to pay
in cash.
Armed with a little knowledge
and some confidence, you can order flowers that say
just the right thing. Take a minute to be prepared before
you pick up the phone and once you have, gently and
firmly insist upon good service. If you take the time
to be clear about your expectations, you won't be disappointed.
About the Author
Karen Marinelli is a Floral Industry Professional with
nineteen years of experience in the academic, retail
and wholesale sectors of the industry. She believes
the common goal should be to sell more flowers to more
people, more often. For information on How to Open a
Flower Shop, visit http://openaflowershop.com/.
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