Retail florist in January, WHY?

isn't retail floristry in the uk depressing this time of the year. after the buzz of christmas, all you get are expencive wholesale flowers and few customers!. We dont even get any funeral orders as we are in a village that only gives money to charity (how selfish is that) I know valentines and mothers day is just around the corner, but then what till christmas again, a few weddings (when villagers are doing them half the price from home) some garden plants (when villagers are selling their own cuttings in their front gardens) and some mixed bunches ( when the fruit and veg and paper shop have cottened on and selling them at half price) what about silks? (the womens guild now sell them at stupid prices) When we started 3 years ago we were new and exciting, now every farmers wife and his 100 year mother are selling OUR ideas at a fraction of the price privatley. We are tied to the premisis for another 5 years and I love my job. (awarded the best in the county) what can I do to stay here

Retail florist in January, WHY?
All businesses such as yours will have competition from enthusiastic amateurs so you will have to start and think "outside of the box"


If you rely on your local community for support it looks like you might be in trouble. What about the following?


I presume you are interflora so can count on customers other than local?


Do you have a website where you can offer your services to a wider audience?


Can you do any local marketing yourself (ie flyers) in neighbouring villages or towns?


Can you widen your range of services to include (say) flower arranging courses?


Can you identify any large companies within close proximity of your shop who you may be able to interest with contract work - this could be very lucrative for you.


Is your shop big enough to section off so that you could sell something else in part of it?


What other needs do the village have which are currently unfulfilled by existing shops?





If you do nothing you will not survive in business

skates