Is Selling Flower Subscriptions Worth It?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- Thank you for watching my latest video! My name is Sarah and I am a flower farmer in East Yorkshire, UK. I am in my 6th season of flower growing and I love sharing the highs and lows with you here on TH-cam!
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Not sure who I heard say this, but for missed weeks or for people who couldn’t pick up, she had a policy of donating to a nursing home, or other charitable place where they’d appreciate flowers, and then would tell the subscriber. The policy was explained up front. Seems like a reasonable system. I also like the idea of pairing with a local coffee shop, they agree to be a pick up hub in exchange for a weekly counter posey and a few likely customers too🌸
When I did deliveries I always brought extra glass jars, and if someone didn’t remember to leave a jar or vase out, I would use one of mine. Then I would ask them to leave my jar out with one of their as well for the next delivery. But most of my jars are jars from Pasta sauce, so if I never got them back it wasn’t a big loss.
I think you definitely need to charge the customer for delivery. It’s a huge convenience for them!
Nicole on Flower Hill Farm has some excellent content on flower subscriptions (CSA). She does drop off locations that work really well. She also does some amazing bouquet bars that are super successful.
I love your channel! Your bouquets are beautiful!
Hi Sarah, I had subscription flowers last year in Ottawa, Canada. I would recommend having a delivery hub. I t would have been so much easier to be able to pick up the flowers at my conveince on a certain day than waiting around for the delivery. It would probably be easier for you as well to deliver to a hub.
Hi Jane, I live in Orleans and wondering if you can provide the information of your flower subscriptions. I’ve been looking online to find someone that delivers in Orleans.
@@francinedavidson2629 It was Fleuriste Flowers but she is not in business any more.
I’m not a flower farmer but watched a video from Flower Hill Farm and she discussed her hit and misses from last year and how she was going to change her pre orders. 🌼🐝
Streamlining the subscription options definitely is the way to go. Would recommend Nicole’s videos (from Flower Hills Farm) on the CSA / flower subscription; the system she sets up looks quite efficient to both herself and the customers.
Wonderfull, the most beautyfull arrangements i've ever seen are yours 😍!!!
Sarah, I should have added in my last comment that the flower farm I had a subscription from did not use buckets. They had a wet triangular sponge attached the boquet with an elastic and enclosed in a freezer type plastic bag. It worked really well.
Hey Sarah! Have you ever considered doing restaurant deliveries? I work in agriculture and one of the farms I have worked at used to deliver flowers (alongside their veggetables) per bucket. So their flower specialist would cut an assortment of flowers, ornamental grasses and woody ornamentals and deliver them once a week. Then the restaurants would arrange them themselves for each table. From what I understand, you can generally also charge more for restaurant deliveries as well. It takes a bit of effort to arrange, especially if you are not selling vegetables as a way in, but you could arrange meetings and take samples to restaurants that you think might be receptive and if they like the idea, then you can deliver once a week on your regular deliveries.
You are so inspiring! 💕
Your bouquets are qorgeous 💐
good luck 💪💪💪
Those bouquets are stunning. I hope you're charging plenty.
I recently started working at a small town flower shop and they charge $50 for a simple hand arrangement or $75-$120 if it comes in a vase + $13 delivery (only within 7 miles....). Usually simple roses and carnations.
They have a good relationship with the school district, churches and two funeral homes. These places are consistent and have larger budgets. 💐
I love your style so much!
I would be delighted to come home to any one of those bouquets, they are just beautiful. Maybe a white board, fill in the month calendar in the studio would be handy to help keep track of everyone.?
You really do make the loveliest bouquets.
Absolutely love your videos, your farm and the information you share. Your bouquets are gorgeous, I could watch all day and you make it looke so effortlessly. Can't wait to see all your videos. Thank you!
You do such interesting videos. Thank you for all the information you share & honesty in the journey you’ve gone on with your business
Thank you for sharing your experiences and learning curves. It's interesting seeing those that love growing flowers as a business, how very different they market them, whether selling bouquets, doing events and weddings or flower schools. Which ever way its obvious the learning curve is hard work and not a piece of cake.
Beautiful flowers made even more beautiful into your bouquets. Jan
Thanks Sarah. Really comprehensive as always. Love your videos
Whew, so glad I only am doing farm pick-up for my subscriptions! Dodged a bullet there hahaha, as its also my first year. Thanks so much for the video!
Thank you for sharing some good sound advice, As usual beautiful bouquets and posies I'm sure your subscribers will be delighted. Best wishes.
hello! can you do a video recapping your early years and journey? For people just starting out, how did you start out selling flowers, which. sources were successes and which did you not do again? Thank you!!
Hi lovely! This is super interesting to hear because I haven't done subscriptions yet but have been thinking about it for the future. I have run into the same issue about buckets and people not being in for flower deliveries, and I decided to change my terms and conditions such that it becomes the customer's responsibility to leave a bucket out. I've not had one complaint using that system, even if I have left flowers out of water. I just pop them an email as soon as I deliver with a photo to let them know, and it seems fairer for both my time but also the customer's expectations of the service.
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for another super interesting video! I'm not doing flower subscriptions yet, but do veggie box subscriptions. I've got an excell sheet to keep track of my customers, when they are away and what type of basket they've ordered. I can easily see how many deliveries I've got. I will certainly use the same sheet for my flowers in the future.
I would not message each customer before delivery, but send them the dates on which they get their delivery. So it's their responsibility to be sure to be at home, to organise a neighbour for receiving the flowers or to leave a bucket. But sure I would take extra jars or buckets to put the flowers in.
However, I deliver all my customers (30) at home, in a perimeter of 10 km from my farm, but I find it very time consuming. So next year I'm planning to have several drop off points where customers can get their delivery.
Just some ideas, maybe it can help 🤷🏼♀️
I wish I could buy your flowers bouquets. They are so beautiful! The best I've seen so far with ridiculously cheap. Here I have to pay twice or more, and not as beautiful as yours!
Can you grow some flowers yourself, by chance? It's amazing how many flowers you can grow in a small space, even into pots!
@@jaimemorgan5323 I live in an apartment,growing only veggies in my small balcony
Great video as always 🌸x
Absolutely beautiful, thanks you for sharing, happy weekend 🇮🇩🙏
you are amazing love your flower farm
Absolutely gorgeous
I love your colour combinations.
I have thought exactly about what you were saying, as far as CSA's. I'm still debating it.Its timing consuming,and a hassle if people can't come to a drop,off, or aren't home.Thank you!!
I’ve purchased subscription flowers before and they’ve always been collection from a local cafe/shop. Which I think would be more convenient.
The company that did it also offered the bunches to purchase from the cafe if you hadn’t prebooked which was handy too
I may have to scout some places and see what the uptake would be then. It would definitely make my life a little easier!
This was very insightful. As always you make the most gorgeous bouquets :)
Maybe you could find someone to deliver bouquets for a large bouquet each week? A barter situation?
Another cut flower farmer I follow made a deal with a central business in town where she gave them a free bouquet to use them as a pick up spot for her CSA customers. She just put their names on the bouquets. Maybe a farm store would be interested. Would be nice to skip the time and fuel for delivery.
So pretty bouquets! What are the white flowers called, that looked like large yarrow/tiny feverfew? ☺️
The bouquets are gorgeous!
Could you work out an arrangement with a local shop owner where you drop off all of your subscription flowers and then whoever ordered them would be responsible for picking them up? One delivery and maybe you could give the local business owner an arrangement for free every week as a thank you? Just a thought? 🌺💚🙃
I think I’m going to do this next season if possible!
I just love your content!🌸💗🌸💗. Have you done a video that details your planting plan. I’m wondering what your process is for planning numbers of seeds to start and expected yields. Thank you !!!!
I have done something along those lines in the past but I should probably do a new dedicated video about this!
@@bloomandgray that would be amazing for me as well! I would love to know what you do about succession planting, and if you have a schedule for this, say, every 2 weeks and what flowers do you succession plant?
Keep up the amazing work as always! Your videos are always informative!
You mentioned valentine's day, what do you grow for then, or do you do dry bouquets? THANKS
Love your videos. I sell only at farmer's market. I feel more in control because I bring what I have. I'm scared to promise to anyone. I noticed your lady's mantle is still good. How many weeks can you harvest it? Thanks for an honest video that helps us newbies learn.
Lovely bouquets ✨
Hello I just found your channel and I’m LOVING it!!!!! How do you a longer vase life in the flowers? I only get about four days before they start to get droopy.
I tell people to keep the vase clean, with clean water daily or every other day. It also depends heavily on variety. Cosmos will only last about 5 days for me but lots of other things last a week or even two.
Thank you so much for the real information!!! I'm just on my second year and debating whether. or not to offer subscriptions. BTW, what is that dried pinkish flower you have hanging behind you in your studio?
What was the white flower you were picking? Not the cosmos, it almost looked similar to yarrow. Thanks! Beautiful bouquets!!
Loved this video, very useful information. What stem count do you use for your bouquet and posy, which has been the most successful size?
How much does the wrapping paper cost per bouquet. What is the sizing of each sheet and how many sheets do you use.
💙💙💙💙
Would it be worthwhile having some spare sheets of cellophane in the car so that if you have a customer that doesn’t leave a bucket, you could do a quick water pack on the fly, using the cellophane? I know cellophane isn’t something you typically use, but maybe there are compostable versions that could be less problematic than having to do another journey?
I just checked eBay and there’s rolls of compostable cellophane that’s made from wood pulp/ vegetable matter like beets. 👍
That’s a good idea thank you!!
Thanks for this video! Where do you purchase your flower seeds?
What are the white cards you put in the bouquets? ...I love your videos btw and I hope someday I can make as gorgeous bouquets as you! 💖
They are care cards, some info on how to look after the flowers and my contact information 😁
What do you mean by ‘condition’ the flowers over night? :)
They are left in a cool dark place to take up water, it makes the stems more rigid and usable 😊
How did you find buyers when you first started, Sarah? Im just starting, plan to harvest in the spring. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! 🌷🌱💜
When I first started I did my honesty box and farmers markets, I think the farmers markets really helped to get my name out there. From then on I think it was word of mouth and social media!
@@bloomandgray great, thank you! I plan to start with farmer's markets, too. Your flowers are so beautiful. Thanks for responding ✌️
Do you sell to New Zealand ?
maybe let the people do the planning for you, so you say what weeks you deliver and they select what week they like to have the flowers
Do you have a paypal link? Would be easier to donate this way for me. Love your videos. ♥