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Top Ten Reasons to Order from a Real Local Florist

August 14th, 2006 | By: Kelly Curtis

Chances are, you know where the flower shop is located in your neighborhood. Perhaps there are several nearby florists for you to choose from. In fact, there are flower shops in practically every city, town, village, and parish, and it’s nice to be able to walk in or call and select just the right flowers, plants, or other gifts to send to your friends and loved ones.

What if you want to send flowers to a place where you don’t know the local florist? You might open the telephone book to find one that can fill your order. Or you may look on-line and see ads for some of the big names in sending flowers nationally or the so-called “wire services”. Easy enough.

But let the buyer beware… these may not be your best options.

Quite often, the largest ad in the phone book isn’t even from a real local florist! Instead, the ad may belong to an “order gatherer”. Order gatherers masquerade as real florists, making their money by collecting floral orders from consumers, charging hefty service fees, and then sending the orders out to real florists for fulfillment. When you call an order gatherer, you may wind up speaking to a person who has never even been inside a flower shop; a person who surely does not know what the delivering florist has in stock that day, or what looks most fresh and appealing. The same is true of the big “1-800” companies and national wire services, who will charge the sending customer a service fee and then collect a sales commission from the delivering florist at the other end.

You can usually tell whether a florist is truly local if their address appears in their phone book ad. If it doesn’t, they are probably an order gatherer operating from somewhere far away, even if they have a local phone number. If you’re not sure, and you choose to call them anyway, ask the person who answers the phone where they are located. Incidentally, several states have passed laws which prohibit order gathering through misleading advertising, and others have legislation pending.

So what’s the best way to send flowers to someone out of town? Visit or call www.FlowerShopNetwork.com where you will be directed to a florist that’s local to the area. With a credit or debit card handy, you can easily search online for a local florist by city, state or zip/postal code. Then, either phone the florist (the majority have toll-free numbers) to place your order during business hours, or, if online ordering is available, enter your order directly on the florist’s website, 24 hours a day.

Top Ten Reasons to Order from a “Real” Local Florist

1. Ensure Maximum Value

  • Save on extra service fees by cutting out the middleman.

2. Speak Directly To The Florist Who Is Filling Your Order

  • Find out what flowers and plants are in stock, what looks particularly good, or whether any blooming plants may be planted outdoors later.

3. Communicate Special Requests Directly

  • Does the recipient have any favorite flowers? Any dislikes?
  • Should the recipient be called prior to delivery?
  • Is the recipient hard of hearing, or slow answering the door?
  • Is one entrance better than another?

4. Select Additional Gift Items

  • Many flower shops also carry unique gift lines, such as candy, potpourri, figurines, plush animals or candles, which can be added to your order or sent independently.
  • 5. Get Same-Day Delivery – If Possible
  • By phoning the local florist directly, find out if same-day delivery is possible. Calling early improves the chances.

6. Pay Accurate and Appropriate Delivery Charges – No More, No Less

  • Pay the right local delivery fee without having it deducted from the value of your order.
  • A delivery to a location close to the shop may not cost as much as one farther away. Only the local florist knows.
  • Some locations, such as gated communities or certain businesses may require an additional charge.

7. Familiarity With Local Delivery Regulations

  • Hospitals, funeral homes, schools and businesses may have delivery cut-off times or size limitations.
  • Hospitals in particular often limit the size, quantity, or types of balloons that can be delivered.

8. Familiarity With Local Funeral Customs

  • In some areas a standing spray of flowers is customary, while in others a basket of flowers is most appropriate.
  • In smaller towns, a local florist may know what has already been ordered or sent to the funeral, and can then help you choose something different.

9. Establish A Relationship With The Flower Shop For Future Orders

  • Join a mailing list for email newsletters or seasonal offers.
  • Many shops offer a reminder service for sending flowers at special occasions.

Only nine reasons, you ask? The tenth is simple and universal:

10. Everyone Loves To Receive Flowers!

Research conducted by Rutgers University and the Society of American Florists indicates that flowers have an immediate impact on the happiness of the recipient, have a long-term positive effect on people’s moods, and increase the connections among family and friends. Not only that, but a study by researchers at Texas A & M University shows that flowers and plants improve productivity, innovation, and creativity in the workplace.

Don’t take the chance of paying more than you need to and getting less than you expected when sending flowers out of town. Communicate directly with the florist in the place where the flowers are to be delivered. To see a comprehensive directory of flower shops all over North America, visit www.FlowerShopNetwork.com and let the smiles begin!


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