If you are opening a flower shop, this business requires sheer hard work, patience, love, and dedication, just like any other new venture. Floral ventures give you opportunities to be creative and work with the flowers all day but do you know the other facts that come in handy when opening a florist shop?
When you are a florist, you are not just selling flowers. You are responsible for maintaining these flowers fresh, sell, design, deliver, market and much more! So here we bring some of the most crucial advice you must keep in mind if you are starting a florist business of your own!
Marketing:
The most crucial aspect of your business is the right marketing. You need to establish your market in the digital world and stay on top of the most viewed search engines and sites. As a result, the customers are turning to online platforms to order flowers instead of visiting local stores.
Make sure you have a good digital presence.
Avoid Wire Service Lock-In:
Any business works with flexibility. Never sign in long-term commitments for florist POS (Florist Point-of-Sale) and florist websites. Keep check of the statements and see how much profit you are making.
Handle the delivery:
Logistics is indeed the core of a florist business. The customers look for delivery confirmation once they place their order. You must accept most of the orders to create a good image in the market. Since it's flowers, people expect same-day or next-day delivery services in Canada.
So if you are planning to start up with the floral business, you must tie up with good express delivery services with a fleet of highly qualified drivers that offer 2 hours, 4-Hour, or Next-Day Delivery solutions in Canada.
Mark the special days:
There would be some specific days when the demand would go higher than usual. So it's important that you mark them and keep notes on sales, prices, and weather. Plan all the holidays and the requirements for staffing, buying, and marketing.
Always see and notice your competition and compare their offers and prices.
Take care of the flowers:
Take care of the flowers and always store them in hygienic conditions. Change the water and recut any flowers that haven't sold within three days of arriving.
Don't overstaffed:
Florist shops do not need many employees, but that doesn't mean they do not require any staff. Try using students or people available for part-time. You can schedule designers for some hours and make them create some designs for the display case. Then the general help can take it from there. This will save you costs and avoid the problem of overstaffing.
Keep looking for alternatives:
In this industry, your competitors can be your friends. Do not hesitate in asking them about their vendors so that you know that you are paying reasonably for your supplies. Always make sure you get everything that you pay for. Communicate with the vendors and give them constant feedback promptly.
There are many aspects to a successful florist business. Good location, creativity, high-end deliveries, stable revenues, and the love for what you do are just some of the basics that can make your flower business prosper. Any business takes time to establish and bloom; just wait and preserve, success will come after you!