With all the new products out there, how do you decide which ones to try? Aug 2002

Cottage Floral (Hermistan OR) "We look at how it looks to us- "Will it sell?" and we try things that customers have requested. Sometimes people ask for a certain plant, a gift item or a specific flower and we do what we can to find it through our regular suppliers. When we are dealing with a new supplier for something we already use we look closely at price and quality."

Crystals Flowers (Spanaway WA) has only a few requests from customers for new things and he always evaluates products with- "Will it save me time? Will it save me money? Do I have a real use for it?" Price point is also important as "our area is very conservative blue collar workers and it had better look like a $150 value if we are going to ask $100 for it."

Diana’s Flowers (Bothell WA) looks for what will fit in the particular niche they have identified as their market. They don’t try to carry all things for all people and have fairly clearly identified who their clientele is and (hopefully) what they will buy.

Eugenes Flower Home (Eugene OR) "We make people run a gauntlet to get to me" joked Laurie. But she was half serious as she went on to comment how "with so many sales people calling the shop we have to screen the calls or half of every day would be wasted talking to people that I don’t want to buy from or with products I don’t use. I will try something new from someone I trust, someone I already have a relationship with but only rarely from new people."

John Hungerford can attest to call screening as a common situation in flower shops. Recently the Florida office and our office changed the name of our cut foliage company from Quality Growers to 1-800-CUT-GREENS so it would match our phone number and be easy to recall. When we started calling our regular customers and using our new name we were told over and over- "She is busy; No thank you; We are not interested", and phones were hung up on us. We called right back and told them it was Hungerfords and suddenly the buyer was in and yes she did want to order but had forgotten our new name. It has taken a number of months of weekly calls to get florists accustomed to our new name so we don’t get "screened".

Cluff Floral (Boise ID) buys "what I would be comfortable buying for myself if I were the customer and things that I feel comfortable selling to others." Scott agreed that most shops are a reflection of the personality of the owner and what he stocks reflects his own tastes and personality.

J-K Floral (Kendrick ID) says she is "always willing to try something new in fresh flowers, greens or plants" but when looking for working tools she evaluates closely- "I’m willing to pay more for an item if it will be easier to use or if it will save time." As a small shop she looks carefully at the terms and minimums of any potential new supplier.

Sandy’s Flower Boutique (Payette ID) is a self described "basic buyer". "If I like it, I try it" says Sandy. I love to go to trade shows though I don’t get to a lot, because I like to see new items. I’m an impulse buyer and am always willing to try new plants & flowers, new vases or ceramics.

Apple Blossom Floral (East Wenatchee WA) is always looking for new tools for the workroom but Jeannie admits, she is comfortable with what she has now and it would have to be pretty special for her to change tools. She has long been impressed with the Oasis company and how they are constantly introducing new items to make the designers job easier- "they really seem to have helping us in mind." As to new suppliers, Jeannie is a loyal local buyer and though price is an incentive she buys locally and consistently because she knows the people personally and knows they will come through for her in a pinch if the need arises. That reminds me of my dad, Bob Hungerford. Many Sunday mornings he would go to his wholesale floral shop at 6 AM to pack out a stage for a florist who had a funeral come up over the weekend. He came through in a pinch!

Kennewick Flower Shop (Kennewick WA) likes to try "pretty and unusual things." I was talking with Shari about her search for "Cherry Grass" which she had seen and used once but could not find now. She said it had looked interesting and the price was not too much so she tried it, liked it, but could not get any more of it. She chooses some of her new items by what appeals to her at the moment and it works well for her.

Winco Floral (Hillsboro OR) often tries new products that sales people leave as samples. "It helps me get a working idea of the plants or flowers" says Trena