Expert Tips For Ordering Flowers

Tips that will help the florist to remember you in a positive way...

1. Tell the florist how you found out about their work and why you selected them.
2. People want to help people who are friendly. Rather than appearing threatening by saying, "I want the freshest, nicest flowers you have, or else!", ask them what they like most among their stock right now. If they were making an arrangement for themselves, what would they use?
3. Let them know a bit about your style preferences and, then, place an order for a "designer's choice" arrangement. Do not dictate exactly how it should look.
4. Once you find a designer who's work you love and who understands what you like, consider requesting them every time you place an order. If you request them, it will be noted and the order will be handed to them directly And they will remember you and want to make you happy.
5. When you are happy, let them know. Thank them for taking care of you so well. Believe me, they will remember that and people really do want to please others who appreciate them and their work.

The Cookie-Cutter Approach: What you need to know!

How it works:

Many quality flower shops belong to one or more of the well-known, nation-wide "groups" such as FTD or Teleflora. Florists pay fees for their association with these companies. They, in turn, serve the flower shops and the general public by offering visibility, nation-wide promotion, technical tools for flower shop operations and by coming up with standard designs from which you, as a customer, may choose to send anywhere in the country.

In addition to these books of "everyday" designs, holiday specials are offered by these companies each year and include trademark containers, some of which are thought of as "collectible". Local member florists choose which of these designs to offer their customers and they keep these containers and the flowers needed in stock.

Special Tip 1:

It is important, when looking at these designs, for you to keep in mind that in order to show you what is included in the arrangements and to visually present them at their best, these photos will place all the flowers facing toward the viewer, even though it may be an all-around design. because of this, the arrangement may look very different once you see it completed. It won't appear to be as jam-packed with flowers as the picture shows.

Special Tip 2:

Florists may very well not have all the flowers shown in these pictures. This is not at all unusual. They can't possibly keep every flower in every color in stock all the time.

How to use pictures to help you order what you want:

These images, however, can be a good tool, especially if you are new to ordering flowers. Rather than ordering the exact arrangement shown, consider using the photos as a guide to possible styles and/or color palettes. Refer to them as a guides and ask, instead, for a unique arrangement created by a designer on staff.

Be Unique:

As highly creative, well-trained people, designers are delighted to be able to provide you with something unique. Keep in mind that this may be one of the best options for you, because, in this way, the designer will be able to make choices for you depending upon the market and fresh flower availability in their area. And, the arrangement you send will be a unique piece of floral art rather than an attempt to duplicate a photo. No one else will have chosen that same arrangement to send to your recipient. And, your recipient will not be saying, "Oh, I sent that same thing out to someone once."

As highly creative, well-trained people, designers are delighted to be able to provide you with something unique. Keep in mind that this may be one of the best options for you, because, in this way, the designer will be able to make choices for you depending upon the market and fresh flower availability in their area. And, the arrangement you send will be a unique piece of floral art rather than an attempt to duplicate a photo. No one else will have chosen that same arrangement to send to your recipient. And, your recipient will not be saying, "Oh, I sent that same thing out to someone once."

A Strong Caution

You have seen the ads for 1-800 "(insert generic flower shop name)" and had them show up in an internet search. It may seem like an easy choice. However, please beware.

These are called "order gatherers" and are just a telephone bank of employees or an individual taking calls for a company from their own home. They usually have very little, if any, direct experience with flowers and they have no idea what any given shop may have on hand to offer. The order gatherer will keep part of your payment as a fee and then try to pass the order on to an actual, local shop. The shops they place the orders with have no agreement with the order-gathering company which is just fishing for a way to fill their "order" and many florists will refuse to do so.

If a flower shop actually does accept the order from one of these companies, the money you paid for the arrangement will not be what the florist receives at their end. Because the order gatherer will have taken a hidden fee and may have even offered you a supposed "discount" on your order, the florist will have less money to make your arrangement and you will simply be getting something of lesser value than if you had called the florist directly.

Remember, these non-local "gathering" companies don't fill the orders. They call a local florist in the location you have requested and try to get them to fill it! With each step, your final arrangement will be getting smaller and smaller and smaller.

Make sure when you are ordering that you have reached an actual flower shop located in your desired area.They will have the expertise to help you and you will not be paying a tricky, middleman.

Read the next section for tips on how to tell a local florist from an order-taking phone bank.

Consumer Information about deceptive and misleading advertising and marketing practices of order gatherering companies.

Here are some things to consider when choosing the style of your floral arrangement:

If it's going to the hospital, it may be better to choose something that will not take up too much table space.

If it will be a centerpiece to be used at a meal, it is best to keep it shorter than about a foot so that people can see each other over the flowers. "Long and low" is the term to describe a centerpiece for a long table and "all-around" refers to one for a round table.Your florist will know what to do.

If the table is quite long, you may want to ask for 3 arrangements which can span the length of the table rather than a large one in the middle. That way all your guests have a good view of the flowers. For special occasions, consider a teeny vase for a single flower at each place setting.

If it is for an entry table or a buffet which is up against a wall, a one-sided arrangement is best.

If it is for an artist-friend, then asking for something very creative is a good idea.

For a sympathy, consider asking your florist for a gourmet basket. It's a useful and welcome thing at the home of any grieving family.

For a funeral setting, consider bright colors in the lighter tones. Purples and blues usually do not show up well under funeral home lighting. You may be the kind of person who wants to ask for a very traditional, structured floral display, but I think that a looser garden look gives a nice feeling of nature and is pleasant to the eye and calming to the soul. Try it.

It makes a difference

Color is probably the most noticed feature of a floral arrangement. Many studies have been done on the effects of color on mood and several have been conducted which specifically study the effects of color in floral arrangements.

One of the most elegant and interesting color choices is monochromatic, or a single color, such as all purples or all yellows. A monochromatic arrangement brings out the beauty of each flower, emphasizing different textures and variations in hue within the color you have chosen.

One-of-a-Kind

A striking and classic choice for an arrangement is to use only one kind of flower such as all mini calla lilies, all peonys or all tulips. Ask for the flower heads to be gathered close together with greens that compliment the flower and do not distract the eye. This creates a rich and stunning display and emphasizes the bloom rather than the stem. Consider doing something different when ordering roses and ask for short-stemmed roses in a compact design. This will place the focus on the beauty of the blooms and the patterns that are made as they nestle together and gradually open. You might order this using mixed colors of the same flower or as a monochromatic arrangement of all one color.

Shown here are lavender roses done in a compact style with all the flowers nestled together closely.

Here are some examples of things customers have done when ordering flowers. None of them work well and I don't recommend doing any of them....

1. Place an order for your girlfriend, then order one for your wife, too. Scream at the florist when your wife opens the bill in the mail and asks who "Lisa" is.

2. Ask if the shop can open a personal house account for you because you can't afford to pay this month.

3. Ask them to not reveal to the recipient that you are the one who ordered the flowers. (Only to have the recipient complain to the florist later because you have actually been stalking her.) Then, ask for your money back because the recipient refused to accept the flowers.

4. Go on and on in great detail about exactly how you want the arrangement to look, then threateningly tell them that it had better look good, or else.

5. Ask for the most beautiful arrangement ever for $10.

What you need to know about this floral holiday

Almost everyone wants to send roses for Valentine's Day. Its tradition, isn't it?. They are considered by some to be the most romantic flower and it's an easy choice. There are other options to consider, though. Do you know why you might want to think about sending something different? There are some good reasons.

On and around Valeninte's Day, rose prices go up considerably. Due to high demand, growers must force more blooms, driving up prices which are passed on to the retailers and to you, the consumer. By ordering something other than roses, you will get more for your money.

Roses aren't always the most romantic option. I think showing how well you know your sweetie is much more romantic than going with the norm. Be creative. Find out what her favorite flower is then shower her with those. Or, send her a bouquet using everything that was in her wedding bouquet.

Another interesting way to go is to research the messages behind each flower used in bouquets during the Victorian era, when a great deal of communication took place through the giving of nosegays of flowers.

Have fun with it. Men want to play it safe on Valentine's Day, but use your creativity when ordering your flowers and save some money at the same time.

Then, again, there are some women who really want those roses!

Let us all know what you think. Do you have flower-ordering experiences to share? What else would you like to know?