Would you Screw Your Neighbour?

Our customers aren't numbers. They're real people. They're neighbours, friends, people that like us...and we like them. It's called a relationship!

A relationship that is built by being part of our customers' lives from birth, celebration, sickness, and in passing.

So why would you screw your neighbour, when your business depends on trust, honesty, & integrity?

Why would you deliver less than your best? Why would you promise something, and then it doesn't happen? Why would you do this time after time after time....to hundreds & thousands of customers?

Would you be happy if these sympathy flowers were sent to a funeral service?

This product was NOT delivered by a florist, but by a huge company that ships overnight in a box...to the funeral home.

But unfortunately, the flower industry is dominated by huge public companies, that have millions of customers.

Every year, late orders are accepted by these companies at the very end of major flower holidays like Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Mother's Day.

These huge companies know that florists are operating at their maximum. Towards the end of a flower holiday, there simply aren't the designers, the drivers, or even the flowers available.

Yet flower orders are still accepted, knowing there isn't a snowball's chance in hell of delivery happening.

So what if these orders are delivered a day or two, or three days late.

For some reason, these big companies find it acceptable. I call it screwing your neighbour.

But I don't think screwing your neighbour is a good business model in the long-term.

A good friend of mine named Fred Sarkari posted this quote on linkedin earlier today. I've received Fred's permission to re-print the quote, because it is SO true.

"Be kind to everyone you meet, it will strengthen bonds between friends and family and it will also drive your enemies crazy."

Given the above statement, hopefully Simon Says Roses is driving our enemies/competitors crazy (in a kind way)!

Christmas Shopping Nightmares!

I just received the following email from a customer, and it was like a lightbulb went off!

Now here was a way to avoid Christmas shopping nightmares (thanks Maria).

First though, here's the email:

"Frank, as per our conversation and according with the list that I am attaching, please quote for us the gourmet- Christmas baskets for our customers in South America. Thank you once again this year!!!

Maria J."

Attached was a list of corporations, the names of the individuals, addresses, phone numbers, greeting card messages, and the Product Order Codes for the gift baskets that Maria wanted to send.

What was neat was the destinations:

• Chile
• Argentina (2)
• Ecuador (2)
• Peru
• Uruguay
• Venezuela
• Costa Rica, and
• Mexico

Ten different recipients, in 8 different countries.

What was really efficient was in one simple email with an attached spreadsheet, Maria's Christmas shopping nightmares were avoided.

No long phone calls.

No cumbersome online order forms.

No searching for a florist in each and every city, hoping that they do quality work.

Just a simple email to simonsaysroses at shaw.ca

And once the prices are confirmed, all we have to do is phone Maria for her credit card details.

Sweet, simple, and very, very efficient.

And now her shopping was out of the way.

This is something that many of our customers might consider, for multiple destinations around town, Christmas flowers across Canada, or even in Maria's case...around the world!

 Now I just need to promote the service! ;)