Friday, April 17, 2009


How to place a flower order with a Florist
When people place flower orders over the phone or on-line, it’s always a gamble. Normally, the person placing the order never sees the flowers, and few friends or colleagues will call to say, “ Thank you so much for the half-dead, ordinary-looking flower arrangement."When purchasing flowers over the phone, there are a couple of ways to guard against a florist providing substandard flowers. First, know a little bit about flowers and ask if what you like is available at that particular time of year then give the flower shop some room to be creative around what you have chosen. The more knowledgeable you are, the better off you will be. Secondly, remember that you are ordering for someone else not for yourself. We often hear “I hate a particular color” well, you not liking that shade does not mean the recipient also dislikes it. Lastly, if you must call a shop that is out of state know the caliber of florist that you’re calling. Are they up to Carey’s Flowers standards? Has Carey’s Flowers given their name and number to you or have you just picked a needle out of a haystack on-line?
To truly avoid disappointment and the hassle of requesting a refund or replacement, steer clear of ordering flowers on-line from what are known as ‘Order Gatherers’ as their loyalty is to the almighty dollar and certainly not to you. These ‘Order Gatherers’ are often found at the top of search engines but are certainly not the pick of the litter. 1-800-you-knowwho, FTD, Teleflora direct, Just Flowers, and this just points out a few.Even in NYC where the level of sophistication is supposed to be higher than other places, what arrives at someone’s door can vary widely. Have in mind the style and vase size when ordering. The low and lush look is popular in a glass cube or cylindrical vase and does double duty as a centerpiece or on someone’s desk at work. For more impact, expect to pay more; it is impossible to build a Castle with the budget for a mobile home. Call in advance and most florists will bend over backwards to get what you are looking for. However if given 1 day or even less (several hours notice) the florist can not magically make the flowers appear. We do not have the ‘Easy’ button often shown on the Staples commercial. With digital cameras, it’s not uncommon for the recipient to take a photo of the flowers and send a thank you e-mail along with a photo. This is a way for the recipient to let the sender know what the flowers look like, and if they’re substandard, or not fresh. If that is the situation, the sender can request a replacement be sent.If you’re really impressed with a florist’s work, it only takes a few seconds to call and say thank you. Believe me this sends us to the moon and back, running around with crazy smiles pasted to our faces all day!!!Once you find a florist that is consistent with turning out beautiful designs using very fresh flowers, stick with them. As we have stuck with you …..for 97 years now.

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