Florists and Funeral Homes, Working Together!
The study conducted by NFDA News, confirms the value of flowers at viewings/ funerals. The study goes on to say that flowers offer the most comfort to bereaving families with sympathy cards second and food third. This is no surprise to florists as flowers are there to bring life to a sad and somber atmosphere as well as a way to show condolences for the passing of a loved one.
Some Florists who work heavily as sympathy floral designers know that working closely with their local funeral director is a must to maintain their flower business throughout the year. This may ultimately sound awful to some, as a business that relies on someone’s passing to make money but that is not so at all when it comes to florists.
No floral retailer is wishing for someone’s passing but there to comfort a bereaved family when the time comes for their floral design services. That said there are some florists who find it difficult to obtain funeral work, either by not having a comradery with their local funeral home or finding that some funeral homes are now also in the floral business themselves. So, what do florists do?
Florist & Funeral Home Relationships:
In my past days as a flower shop owner, I worked very closely with two funeral homes in my local area. I understood what they liked and didn’t like, such as, one funeral home director didn’t like full or even 1/2 saddle casket sprays as it covered their caskets too much. They preferred the presentation style casket spray which of course I obliged.
Floral business owners new or current should meet with their local funeral home directors and ask them their specific floral design preferences. You will find that they do have them, whether it be no handwriting on ribbons or having the card message attached or displayed a certain way.
This also shows funeral directors that you are open to following some rules and willing to work together.
Funeral Homes & Floral Wire Service:
I have heard often how some funeral home websites now display or direct to floral wire services making it impossible for florists to fill or obtain these orders. For florists who do participate with funeral floral wire services, they are happy to get the work but do still get a percentage taken off the top.
I agree with some florists that it is unfortunate that everyone now wants to get into the floral business pot and get a commission off the little money florists already get. It may work for some florists and that is great if you are one of those but for most florists, they are struggling to get sympathy work.
So what is the way around this? If you are one florist struggling to get sympathy work and meeting with your local funeral homes won’t work then this is a true concern.
The only thing you can do is make your floral sympathy work perfect! Yes, perfection is hard but florists make every floral sympathy arrangement you create outstanding.
I can not emphasize this enough- although I had my local funeral homes recommendations there were surrounding towns I never got recommendations for but ultimately did most of their funeral home floral work as well. How? Through precision, technique and the good old fashion word of mouth.
I made sure that my card messages were printed nicely with my flower shop’s information directly displayed on the sympathy card. This helped me tremendously, helping one family for a funeral home I could have never gained through the funeral homes recommendation by offering the family floral services at a discounted price brought in loads of work.
Funeral Homes Opening Flower Shops:
The best part about our society is that you as a person are free to open any kind of business you like, funeral homes opening flower shops is certainly fine with me and should be fine with you too.
Like stated there are many people who want a piece of the flower industry market, some with talent and true floral design artist creativities and those as we know as wire service and “OG’s” who are providing a service for a piece of the floral profit.
At the end of the day whether you are trying to obtain funeral work or any other kind of work it’s your product and professionalism that will secure your longevity. Rely on word of mouth and use your social media marketing to get the floral clients into your shop.
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