Support small local businesses.....

With everyone going internet friendly, you've got to have a website for your business, you should have a web shop blah, blah, blah    well I have, and I fill the site full of pictures of my work but with a florist do you really want to order online?? actually what wrong with speaking to any company direct, this kind of customer service is what we all want but the big boys don't always give it....small businesses can, and will.

I ask because every now and again we get an inquiry about wedding flowers or funeral flowers, can we have a price............no two florists do the same thing, it may be similar but it won't be the same. We all put our own twists on things, its like a signature. So to just email for a price how do you know what your getting?

If you order online from my web shop, yes you have a picture but isn't it more personal if you call me or pop in if you can so I can make it special for you or the person your sending it to?? By chatting to your local florist you can be sure of the following;

1. You are definitely dealing with a local florist not  a faceless, order gathering company who don't know a daffodil from a daisy!
2. They can offer you advice and ideas.
3. They will cater for your budget, what ever it is. If want you wanted is not in your price range they will offer alternatives
4. The customer service will be excellent. You talk to real people and know what your getting. No tapping at a keyboard, waiting for the page to refresh or talking to an automated message....grrrr
5. You will be keeping shops in your area, in business, no empty shops means a thriving community.
6. Every small, independent business is run by hard working families and friends, most of whom are just making ends meet, keeping themselves and their  staff, if they have any off the Dole queue!!

So next time you go to click online, spare a thought for us......the little fish!! Buy local, its important now more than ever

Looking for Wedding flowers

So its wedding season, I'm getting a lot of brides ringing or emailing me for prices and I'm sorry but I find that really odd? Why? Because this is one of, if not THE biggest event in your life and you just want a price......don't you want to chat to the florist, have a look at THEIR work, visit their shop or studio so you know you are dealing with a professional??

From the florists point of view I like to get to know my Brides, I like to have a chat and get a feel for what they like and also, just as important what they don't like! You see for me to create a brides bouquet I need to understand how she see's her theme, colour's...............your flowers are a personal choice, they are what you want.

So I personally don't feel comfortable just emailing a price back to someone........to me that tells you nothing about what you will get and just the same I don't really have a feel for what you were looking for. You might want seasonal flowers, you might hate roses so how can I just give out a standard price?? There is nothing standard about any bride or her flowers

Believe it or not it helps to go through books and pictures, its so easy now for brides to Google pictures and images, we have albums in our shop and our designs on our website and that's where we start. But I have never yet meet two brides the same, and that's how I like to treat you as individuals.

Even the bride that doesn't do flowers, but has been told she has to have some!! after a chat, quick phone call we can discover together what we can do for you.

There are plenty of people who 'do flowers' but a real , professional florist does so much more. We can offer you a wide range of flowers and foliage's;  we know what is in season, whats expensive and what's not if your budgeting and with such a wide range of materials why not use this professional knowledge to make your day extra special??

So think carefully when you looking for prices, do you know exactly what you will get for that price? Do you really just want a price or would you like a bit more.... are you sure that picture on that website is that florists design or is it a standard picture used on several sites for many different shops. Hey some of mine are not brilliant pictures but to borrow a phrase from a friend ( Sarah B I hope you don't mind?) I'm a florist not a photographer! but they are my designs............What you see is what you get    

This time next week it will all be over......... Mothers Day that is. A day  which is lovely for all Mom's, myself included however things are a little different in our house. Indeed my own dear Mom has never known a conventional Mothers Day since I got my Saturday job in a florists at the age of 14.

I have never been fortunate enough to work in one of the few shops that can shut on Mothers Day, here in Birmingham we all tend to be open.....although since having my own shop I do shut the door at 2pm, that's my time with my family ; especially after all our hard work and especially their understanding. The next week will involve me planning everything from flower buying, design making, shop display, plants, prices and most importantly making sure we have something in store for everyone.....whether they have a £1 to spend or a bit more.

My children have to spend most of the week watching, and supporting me through the price rises, the flower deliveries and putting into water (conditioning process) and they do it cos they love me? and probably because they would like to see me at some point during the week! They put up with a lot, during peak periods I work stupid hours.....that no one would understand  except my family. The 4am starts to make sure the shop is open and ready for our customers. Worst of all they have to listen to people telling them how easy a florists job is, so pretty and easy it looks!! or defending the high prices because they know how it works.........I've told them to give up on the latter, after years in the industry I still can't make people see its not me who dictates the prices.

Mothers Day always falls a week late in our house, my poor Mom helps with deliveries on Mothers Day and I will be exhausted so we postpone it for a week and then everyone comes to lunch, better late than never?? What would be nice is if just a few people remembered their Moms at other times through out the year ; its lovely to be busy for Mothers Day but we should love our Mom's all year round and  make sure they know it.