This customer was pi**ed off!
We had sent him a Delivery Confirmation email, and he KNEW the flowers weren't delivered.
It started with an email, then a voice mail, and finally a private message on facebook.
He claimed that the flowers were never delivered, and they better not be sitting in a truck overnight!
So we tried confirming with the delivery service...no response. Didn't expect one, as it was 9:00 at night.
At 7:30 the following morning, the service confirmed the flowers were delivered the previous day, and SIGNED for by the recipient.
So what's going on here??
The sender phoned me later that morning...
You see he hadn't signed the greeting card.
He assumed that she would know the flowers were from him...but she thought they were from somebody else.
So when he called her, she didn't acknowledge the flowers as she thought they were from an OLD BOYFRIEND!
And when she phoned the "ex" to thank him, he didn't correct her. He let her think the flowers came from him!
Thankfully the sender & I had a good laugh...and hopefully proved to him we weren't total morons!
Monday, 4 March 2013
Friday, 8 February 2013
5 Great Reasons to Deliver Valentine's Flowers Early
1. I'm a guy.
Procrastination is my middle name.
 |
| Canada roses & alstromeria vase |
Come Valentine's Day, I probably wait until the last minute, and get really disappointed...even ANGRY when a florist can't "get 'er done".
Here's 5 great reasons to order your Valenitne's Day gift for delivery A DAY EARLY (for Wednesday, February 13th):
- Your "Valentine" will be the centre of attention at home or in the workplace, while others are still waiting...and hoping...all Valentine's Day.
- Your Valentine will know you thought of them early, and it was not a "last minute" effort on Valentine's Day.
- Deliveries can happen at any time throughout the day on the 14th at NO specific time, while your Valentine will feel loved all Valentine's Day.
- Remember: The unexpected gets more "brownie points".
- We sell out of roses & most flowers every year. Ordering & delivering early avoids any chance at disappointment!
A Happy Valentine's Day often means a Happy Valentine's night!!
Monday, 21 January 2013
Roses - Are You Sending the Wrong Message?
Red, white, yellow, pink, mixed colours...so many choices!
But are you sending the right message when you send roses, especially with Valentine's Day on February 14th?
Here's a list of the meaning of roses, to make sure you're sending the right message!
Over the years we've also compiled a long list of flower meanings of all types, at www.simonsaysroses.com/flowermeaning.htm
But are you sending the right message when you send roses, especially with Valentine's Day on February 14th?
Here's a list of the meaning of roses, to make sure you're sending the right message!
- Red - love, respect, courage, beauty, prosperity
- White - humility, innocence, purity
- Pink - grace, gratitude, admiration
- Hot Pink - desire
- Yellow - joy, freedom, slighted love, friendship
- Red & White together - unity
- Red & Yellow together - happiness.
Over the years we've also compiled a long list of flower meanings of all types, at www.simonsaysroses.com/flowermeaning.htm
Thursday, 10 January 2013
3 Reasons Why Rose Prices Skyrocket at Valentine's Day
We all know it's going to happen.
After all, it's happened every year in the 20 years we've been in business.
Rose prices go through the roof at Valentine's Day.
There are 3 reasons for it:
The key is that it all starts with the farms. Throughout the year, farms barely cover their costs. But they see a chance to make money when virtually everybody wants roses. And that time is Valentine's Day.
We hear all the excuses from the growers. There was a cold snap. There was a heat wave. There was a drought. There was a flood.
The list of excuses goes on and on...but they really never change.
The reality is that this is the one time of the year when growers can make a profit. It's that profit that sustains the farms throughout the rest of the year.
But imagine if the florist passed this increase onto their customer...doubling their prices! It's easy to see that the rose market would disappear pretty quickly.
Yes, florists increase their prices for roses in Canada somewhat at Valentine's Day. We have to. But we certainly can't double prices for two or three weeks in February.
We florists have to hope that the volume of roses being sold will make up for smaller margins.
But there's no guarantee.
At face value the reasons for increased rose prices is simple, but it's really hard to explain to our customers.
We get flack because the florist is the face of the industry, so we bear the wrath of increased prices.
This year on Valentine's Day, Thursday February 14th...please be gentle!
After all, it's happened every year in the 20 years we've been in business.
Rose prices go through the roof at Valentine's Day.
There are 3 reasons for it:
- The grower/farm increases the price of roses.
- Which in turn causes the wholesaler to increase their prices.
- In the end, the florist must up their price to the consumer.
The key is that it all starts with the farms. Throughout the year, farms barely cover their costs. But they see a chance to make money when virtually everybody wants roses. And that time is Valentine's Day.
That's when the prices from the farm double!
We hear all the excuses from the growers. There was a cold snap. There was a heat wave. There was a drought. There was a flood.
The list of excuses goes on and on...but they really never change.
The reality is that this is the one time of the year when growers can make a profit. It's that profit that sustains the farms throughout the rest of the year.
But imagine if the florist passed this increase onto their customer...doubling their prices! It's easy to see that the rose market would disappear pretty quickly.
Yes, florists increase their prices for roses in Canada somewhat at Valentine's Day. We have to. But we certainly can't double prices for two or three weeks in February.
We florists have to hope that the volume of roses being sold will make up for smaller margins.
But there's no guarantee.
At face value the reasons for increased rose prices is simple, but it's really hard to explain to our customers.
We get flack because the florist is the face of the industry, so we bear the wrath of increased prices.
This year on Valentine's Day, Thursday February 14th...please be gentle!
Friday, 16 November 2012
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?
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)!
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
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:
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:
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.
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! ;)
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."
What was neat was the destinations:
- Chile
- Argentina (2)
- Ecuador (2)
- Peru
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Costa Rica, and
- Mexico
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! ;)
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Did We Forget to Ask?
Please, I really do want your business.
There, I said it!
Did I offend anyone?
We go to mixers, meetups, and network like crazy. We volunteer with the local Chamber of Commerce and with Rotary.
We share information with anyone that's interested in the flower business through Social Media.
But it seems with all the niceties in Social Media with "liking", "linking", and "following" we've forgotten the most important thing about being in business.
It's not that tough, but it's something we so often forget in trying not to offend.
So please, check out my Social Media platforms and website:
"Ask, and Thou shalt receive". Conversely if we don't ask, we won't get any business.
So thanks in advance for doing business with Simon Says Roses Florists.
We sure do appreciate it!
There, I said it!
Did I offend anyone?
We go to mixers, meetups, and network like crazy. We volunteer with the local Chamber of Commerce and with Rotary.
We share information with anyone that's interested in the flower business through Social Media.
But it seems with all the niceties in Social Media with "liking", "linking", and "following" we've forgotten the most important thing about being in business.
We've forgotten to simply ask "please, can we do business together"?
It's not that tough, but it's something we so often forget in trying not to offend.
So please, check out my Social Media platforms and website:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimonSaysRoses
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SimonSaysRoses
- Blog: http://www.flower-delivery-in-canada.blogspot.ca/
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/simonsaysrosesflorists
- Google+: https://plus.google.com/104638910184933637960/posts
- YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SimonSaysRoses/videos
- And of course our website: http://www.simonsaysroses.com/
"Ask, and Thou shalt receive". Conversely if we don't ask, we won't get any business.
So thanks in advance for doing business with Simon Says Roses Florists.
We sure do appreciate it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)