The Most Important Question
Author: Unknown
During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had
breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her
50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Before class ended, one
student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.
"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your
attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello."
I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.
This short but very simple and commonsense story poses the question, "Do you know the name of your last customer"?
If the customer was in your presence in your shop, did you respect their thoughts and feelings and provide their request
in such a way as to create a peace of mind and confidence in your ability as a Florist? Did you record their personal details
as if they were your most importatnt customer, on your database?
Then on the other hand, it is not possible to answer these questions when orders are accepted from on-line relay/ordergatherers.
You are forbidden to know the customer, to know the state of mind of the customer, and how much they actually spent on their flowers.
The florist is given a second-hand order from the relay/ordergatherer who legally becomes the florists customer. (not the original customer).
More often than not, the order becomes impossible to fill because the customers chosen flowers are not in season, or colours not available,
or not enough money,etc.,etc.
Question: What is the first name of your last relay/ordergather? Is this a joke? Are they treating the local florist as a joke?
What is the name of "YOUR LOCAL CUSTOMER" who was poached and their order given to another florist?
Do these questions count in the "test orders" that have impossible questions to answer?
"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your
attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello."
The only successful criteria in accepting the customers request is
1. Know your Customers personal details,
2. Respect their feelings and emotions,
3. Listen and acknowledge what is required of you,
4. Offer the customer ONLY THAT WHICH YOU KNOW TO BE THE TRUTH,
5. The customer must be in a "alpha" state (peace of mind) having placed their trust in you.
There is only one test order that should concern the florist. That order is the one the customer sets on the above criteria.
Any other request attempted from any other source is at the Florists peril.
Good Day Mate, How's all the Family? Cheers................... from the Wise Old Owl at eFlowersAlive
