Thursday, February 26, 2015
Allure Floral Design is more then just a florist...PART II
1.Narrow your florist options to those that you LOVE
Do they regularly design bouquets and centerpieces that either look like what you have in mind, or just generally have the look you what for your own wedding. Florists don't magically adopt new design styles or design and flower selection methodologies, and some underestimate the amount of flowers needed to create magazine worthy designs that you may have brought them an image of. Make sure you can see past work that is similar to what you want. Some floral design studios account for a greater amount of stems per design, increasing the amount of flowers over their competitors to create those jaw-dropping designs. If they regularly do magazine worthy work, this probably why...more flowers = more fabulous.
2. Read their past reviews
Of course check out past reviews for an idea of what their clients have to say in the end. It's one thing to see pretty pictures, but reviews from brides that have had their expectations exceed is something you need to look for. This goes back to the cautionary tale -did the final product live up to what the client expected? Or did it look half the size of what the bride was asking for that maybe Florist Y (me, let's say) was actually quoting that client thought she was getting from Florist X. In the end, (and of course IMO) there is no way she got what she was envisioning based on my previous conversations with her.
3. Never. Ever. Ever compare quotes, ever ! Please just don't!
Unless you have an exact breakdown of how many flower stems (how many roses, how many orchids, the exact container types to be used), then it really is like comparing apples to oranges. Using my own business again as an example - if I quote you $3,000 overall for your wedding and the other florist quotes $2,000 - it's not because my flowers and labor are actually that much more expensive. It's most likely a situation of MORE flowers than the other quote you got. If one florist comes in higher than other, and this concerns you, simply ask the florist if there is a way they can help you understand either the amounts of flowers stems being used. A florist that wants your business should be able to do this for you (but don't hate them if they won;t break it down for you). If
the stem counts are the same amongst both florists, then yes, you are getting a more accurate flower comparison. But, other things to look for that could differ from florist to florist would be delivery, setup/installation, breakdown, rental charges.
We all use different stem counts than each other - you simply cannot compare apples to oranges unless you know how many stems each florist is using!
If wedding florists were charging for the same amount of stems, then yes, by all means price compare. But, if you have no idea how many stems Florist X is accounting for vs. Florist Y, then you are doing yourself a disservice by even bothering to compare quotes.
I know everyone has a budget, but keep i n mind that you may be comparing apples to oranges. If the florist you LOVE is charging $3,000 for what seems like the same flower types and pieces as the other florist that is charging $2,000, think about the finished product - don't focus on that end number. You'd be better off asking the 3k florist to help you meet $2,000, ensuring you get fabulous designs as opposed to settling for the one that 'seems' cheaper.
4. Are they a full time or regular wedding florist?
Simply using any flower shop on the corner does not ensure a smooth wedding floral ordering/delivery process. Wedding setups involve very small setup time frames, that sometime include strict schedules of ceremony, reception an other such time schedule as first looks. If you're using a standard flower shop, they may have any member of their staff 'drop off' the florals. They also mau not entirely guarantee they'll have everything where it needs to be and on time. Make sure you feel comfortable with their reputation as a wedding florist. Some things you acn do to check on this are asking fellow wedding vendors that they tend to work with (venues, photographers, etc. ) or if you're feeling bold, investigate some of their past brides to ask their feedback - don;t ask for a list of their past clients, or you'll probably get their favorites list. Wedding setup time frames are often short. 2-3 hours prior to a ceremony start time - smaller times for church deliveries that often overlap into the reception setup time. A non-experienced wedding florist could have a number of unexpected/unprepared events happen - they forget something vital to a pergola setup, they don't realize how long it's supposed to take for setup and guests arrive before a display is finished etc. !An experienced wedding designer has these things down to a science, and also has backups. Human error does happen, but it's about using the professional that is prepared with backup materilas, tools or staff for any last minute mishaps.
More is coming!
Send us your comments, questions, suggestions...
Call us at 917 603-8973
info@weddingflowersdesign.com
allurefloral@ymail.com
www.weddingflowersdesign.com
www.allurefloraldesign.net
Monday, February 2, 2015
Allure Floral Design is more than just a florist...
PART I
I have had a few rejections this past week. The dreaded " sorry, we have decided to go with another florist" emails have haunted me in my sleep this past week. I completely understand that choosing wedding vendor is a personal (and mostly budget driven) decision, and of course am %100 supportive of a bride's decision to book someone else. But when brides start comparing me to other florists simple based on budget, it can be quite frustrating. It's frustrating because I'm in a specialty wedding service business - not just a 'buy it off the shelf' business where we take your money and simply provide a product that can be compared to other suppliers simply based on cost. I pride myself on providing so much more than just the end product. Being accepting of constructive criticism, and doing my best to analyze thos and what I can do differently as a business owner, there are two things that I take from this rejection that I need to work on.
1. I need to help the client to understand Allure Floral Design is more than just a 'florist'!
2. To educate other brides about wedding florist shopping!
This post will be a little lengthy, but stick with me!
I'll start with this cautionary tale...
I had a bride contact me last summer for about a quote for her late 2014 wedding. She raved about my work and made it very clear she would love to book with me, said she was 'ready to sign', nut of course wanted a proposal first. I provided a quote for the designs, styles and flower types she was looking for - and what I would recommend to design in my style (i.e. full, lush bouquets) that is synonymous with my floral design aesthetic. I knew she would not get simply what she requested, but would also be WOWed on her wedding day. She had not told me her intended or desired floral budget. Because on the order, the flower types and descriptions may have appeared the same, but in comparison of my quoted costs to other florists, I lost the potential client. The client said my prices 'are much higher than Florist X'. Well, guess who's wedding flowers I saw pictures of on the internet today? You guessed it ...that bride. Sadly, they were nothing like what I had quoted her. I'm not saying this to be nasty or insulting to the other florist or the bride, but simply as a cautionary tale of how NOT to compare florists. If she would have wanted me to quote for those exact designs that she actually ended up getting on her wedding day, I very well could have had a similar price quote for her to 'Florist X'. But, I was quoting for much, MUCH more than what was in her final bouquets. I was quoting for almost quadruple what she had in her very small, drastically undersized bouquets that I saw in her wedding photos. No wonder she didn't book me. The other florist was simply (unbeknownst to the bride) modifying and drastically scaling down the designs and flower counts, but all while using the same flowers. There is no way for the bride to have known this when looking at proposal, because florists usually don't include flower stem counts. During the 'bidding' process and the bride's process of comparing florists, I appeared to the bride to have higher priced florals. Which, is just not the case.
Believe it or not, florists do this to my potential (and lost) clients quite frequently - and due to FB, I'm able to see the finished product and how it compares to what I quoted. I provide a quote, the other florist copies the quote, but fudges the numbers to make the bride believe she's getting a better rate (which actually means the stem counts are changed 'behind the scenes') and the bride gets a pared down version of what I quoted - and the bouquets aren't what the client expects.
You're probably thinking 'well, then how the heck am I supposed to get the look I want or know what to expect, within my budget? How do I compare florists if I DO want to compare prices?' These little gems of wisdom should help you o have the most successful experience with your wedding florist and ensure you get the best bang for your buck.
Another example of comparing prices -
pretend you went to both florists. If you were judging based on price, you would think Florist Y charges too much for 'the same thing'.
Florist X
Bridal Bouquet: Peonies, garden roses, spray roses, stock flowers hand tied and wrapped with satin ribbons.
Florist Y
Bridal Bouquet: Peonies, garden roses, spray roses, stock flowers hand tied and wrapped with satin ribbons.
Florist X quoted you $225, and Florist Y quotes you $340. Let's see why...
Florist X has designed and priced the bouquet based on these ingredients:
3 peonies, 5 garden roses, 5 spray roses, 4 stock flowers, ribbon, vase and pins+design labor of 30%
Florist Y has designed and priced the bouquet based on these ingredients:
5 peonies, 8 garden roses, 8 spray roses, 6 stock flowers, ribbons, vase and pins+design labor of 30%
What appeared to you to be a higher priced florist, is actually a florist that accounts for more flowers than the one you are comparing to. Those 3 peonies, or 3 garden roses might not sound like a big difference in your mind, but really can make a world of difference in size/fullness of a bouquet.
More is coming!
Send us your comments, questions, suggestions...
Call us at 917 603-8973
info@weddingflowersdesign.com
allurefloral@ymail.com
www.weddingflowersdesign.com
www.allurefloraldesign.net
I have had a few rejections this past week. The dreaded " sorry, we have decided to go with another florist" emails have haunted me in my sleep this past week. I completely understand that choosing wedding vendor is a personal (and mostly budget driven) decision, and of course am %100 supportive of a bride's decision to book someone else. But when brides start comparing me to other florists simple based on budget, it can be quite frustrating. It's frustrating because I'm in a specialty wedding service business - not just a 'buy it off the shelf' business where we take your money and simply provide a product that can be compared to other suppliers simply based on cost. I pride myself on providing so much more than just the end product. Being accepting of constructive criticism, and doing my best to analyze thos and what I can do differently as a business owner, there are two things that I take from this rejection that I need to work on.
1. I need to help the client to understand Allure Floral Design is more than just a 'florist'!
2. To educate other brides about wedding florist shopping!
This post will be a little lengthy, but stick with me!
I'll start with this cautionary tale...
I had a bride contact me last summer for about a quote for her late 2014 wedding. She raved about my work and made it very clear she would love to book with me, said she was 'ready to sign', nut of course wanted a proposal first. I provided a quote for the designs, styles and flower types she was looking for - and what I would recommend to design in my style (i.e. full, lush bouquets) that is synonymous with my floral design aesthetic. I knew she would not get simply what she requested, but would also be WOWed on her wedding day. She had not told me her intended or desired floral budget. Because on the order, the flower types and descriptions may have appeared the same, but in comparison of my quoted costs to other florists, I lost the potential client. The client said my prices 'are much higher than Florist X'. Well, guess who's wedding flowers I saw pictures of on the internet today? You guessed it ...that bride. Sadly, they were nothing like what I had quoted her. I'm not saying this to be nasty or insulting to the other florist or the bride, but simply as a cautionary tale of how NOT to compare florists. If she would have wanted me to quote for those exact designs that she actually ended up getting on her wedding day, I very well could have had a similar price quote for her to 'Florist X'. But, I was quoting for much, MUCH more than what was in her final bouquets. I was quoting for almost quadruple what she had in her very small, drastically undersized bouquets that I saw in her wedding photos. No wonder she didn't book me. The other florist was simply (unbeknownst to the bride) modifying and drastically scaling down the designs and flower counts, but all while using the same flowers. There is no way for the bride to have known this when looking at proposal, because florists usually don't include flower stem counts. During the 'bidding' process and the bride's process of comparing florists, I appeared to the bride to have higher priced florals. Which, is just not the case.
Believe it or not, florists do this to my potential (and lost) clients quite frequently - and due to FB, I'm able to see the finished product and how it compares to what I quoted. I provide a quote, the other florist copies the quote, but fudges the numbers to make the bride believe she's getting a better rate (which actually means the stem counts are changed 'behind the scenes') and the bride gets a pared down version of what I quoted - and the bouquets aren't what the client expects.
You're probably thinking 'well, then how the heck am I supposed to get the look I want or know what to expect, within my budget? How do I compare florists if I DO want to compare prices?' These little gems of wisdom should help you o have the most successful experience with your wedding florist and ensure you get the best bang for your buck.
Another example of comparing prices -
pretend you went to both florists. If you were judging based on price, you would think Florist Y charges too much for 'the same thing'.
Florist X
Bridal Bouquet: Peonies, garden roses, spray roses, stock flowers hand tied and wrapped with satin ribbons.
Florist Y
Bridal Bouquet: Peonies, garden roses, spray roses, stock flowers hand tied and wrapped with satin ribbons.
Florist X quoted you $225, and Florist Y quotes you $340. Let's see why...
Florist X has designed and priced the bouquet based on these ingredients:
3 peonies, 5 garden roses, 5 spray roses, 4 stock flowers, ribbon, vase and pins+design labor of 30%
Florist Y has designed and priced the bouquet based on these ingredients:
5 peonies, 8 garden roses, 8 spray roses, 6 stock flowers, ribbons, vase and pins+design labor of 30%
What appeared to you to be a higher priced florist, is actually a florist that accounts for more flowers than the one you are comparing to. Those 3 peonies, or 3 garden roses might not sound like a big difference in your mind, but really can make a world of difference in size/fullness of a bouquet.
More is coming!
Send us your comments, questions, suggestions...
Call us at 917 603-8973
info@weddingflowersdesign.com
allurefloral@ymail.com
www.weddingflowersdesign.com
www.allurefloraldesign.net
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