Remember......" Creativity comes out of Crisis".
Further more ........ " FEAR is the enemy of CREATION"........ think about it for a minute.
Have no FEAR my friends.............create............. the less FEAR the more CREATION .
Power Versus Force !
The article, ‘Co-operation Versus Competition’ was written and published in a Florist News in 1991 by myself, predicting the future of the Florist Industry, when the Relays decided to go into COMPETITION with the FLORIST . It was published again to the Industry on Dec 2 2009, 9:26pm in the Flowergoss Forum by eFlowersAlive.
The predictions have come true, so much so that the Power of the Flower has been completely removed from the skilful hands of the Local Family Florist. Most Real Florists would have heard of the sad event in the closure of another chapter in Australian Floristry in the last week. Sadder still, is other florist colleagues planning their departure from the Industry this Christmas.
Adverse dis-honest publications and promotions both verbally and printed of the Local Independent Florist have become damning and very damaging to the Florist Industry as a whole across Australia.
Florists wonder at the absence of customers in their shop or the friendly phone call. The Local Family Florist is one service where a Customer expects to receive a cordially welcome and advice for their feelings and emotions of their day in requesting a Personal Service in Flowers.
A SERVICE which cannot and must not be denied by any Real Florist if operating a successful and thriving Floristshop.
Power Versus Force !
The Power of the Flower and the Service of Good Old Fashion Local Independent Florist is fast appearing to be less and less reliable in this Real Time of chaos. This is due to promotions, and fraudulent claims by the intrusion of the self assumed, self appointed non-florist, order-gatherers disguised as once honest relay organizations. These people have reduced the Power of the Flower in the Floristshop by FORCING THE CUSTOMER to order through their dis-honest systems, which, in the end, reflects on the Local Florist Shop. FORCE equals MORE STRESS while; POWER of the FLOWER equals PEACE of MIND
FORCE by deceit compels the local customer to order via these organizations.
FORCE by retaining and preventing personal contact with the customer.
FORCE by greed of the dollar, results in the florist and customer being “ripped off”
FORCE by withholding florists payments outside Florists normal trading terms
FORCE by demand to create from flowers, sundries and design not available
FORCE by dictate to price control to the system in each individual shop
FORCE by rejection of an order to one of your loyal local customers
FORCE by re-allocation of delivery areas without florist consultation
FORCE by productive time, order and customers lost in rejected internet requests
FORCE by spending the florists’ profits excessively on promotions of their own
FORCE by fear of test orders on the impossible with forced substitute flowers.
FORCE by nature of the facts above has FORCED a rapid decline in the value of Flowers in peoples lives. Deep down, all people are flowerlovers and will resort to any lengths to obtain the healing benefits of their stress filled life with Flowers, even if it is the supermarket, servo or roadside.
Why then, not the Florist?
FORCE has forced the florist prices sky high.
FORCE has forced the florist quality and quantity lower
FORCE has forced the customer to find Flowers elsewhere
FORCE has forced the customer to stop buying Flowers
FORCE has forced the florist to be clones or copycats of not their creative style.
FORCE has forced the florist to defend their florist shop Name
FORCE has forced the decline in Florist shop success stories.
FORCE has forced a morale slump in florist operators and colleagues.
FORCE has forced the creative juices to stop flowing, leading to ill health
FORCE has forced a change in attitudes causing failures in business.
FORCE has forced un-savory letters and ill-worded publications in the media
The attitude ‘you are damned, if you do, and damned if you don’t’ is definitely an attitude that needs a re-think when confronted with one of these orders. If you cannot answer to the affirmative to all these questions, the order needs to be rejected for fear of a reprisal and non-payment.
‘YOUR FLORIST NAME or the REAL FLORIST INDUSTRY does not need any more adverse publicity’ Do Not damage your name in your Local Community.
Can you complete the order to the customers request in style, flowers and delivery?
Can you complete the order for the value requested and make a profit?
Can you be sure of the real value of the order?
Can you treat the order as a local order with your own business systems?
Can you gain two customers (sender and recipient) for your Snap-e-FlorA database?
This feature is a “Wake-up Call” for all Real Live Florists to Co-operate with one another, to be AWARE of what is happening in your precious Industry, your dream and your livelihood.
We leave you with three words: WILL, DESIRE, AWARE
Your WILLINGNESS to be a Florist has brought you thus far.
DESIRE can be your stumbling block to AWARENESS.
Your AWARENESS to who is controlling your dream can only be learnt by your decision of DESIRE. This is one action that cannot be FORCED or taught, it must be your very own DESIRE to seek DESIRE to have AWARENESS of your Industry and the journey to your success as a Real Live Independent Florist. We hope and wish all Florists that read this would become AWARE of the truth. THRIVE BY HONESTY Your colleagues need you. Your customers need you. The FLOWERS need you.
It is our DESIRE at EFlowersAlive that all Florists join hands as one united family.
A thought for today “THE REAL FLORIST HOLDS AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE”
Let the POWER of the FLOWER be your DESIRE to take ACTION over Force!
Is this your DESIRE just to Survive? Or is it your ACTION to THRIVE?
Time to take Action!
Remember......" Creativity comes out of Crisis". Further more ........ " FEAR is the enemy of CREATION"........ think about it for a minute.
Have no FEAR my friends...........create........... the less FEAR the more CREATION
(Words of an American Florist Colleague, thank you)
Your comments to support@eflowersalive.com.au will be treated in all confidence
( All the content of this Feature are factual. EFlowersAlive have not drawn any personal opinions and the content is supported by a survey of Customers, Real Florists, Flower growers, Sundry Suppliers, Test Orders, and Personal Experiences of Local Independent Florist colleagues Australia Wide.)
Thrive by Honesty. Cheers from the Wise Old Owl at eFlowersAlive