Here’s a review thats so great I thought it was well worth blogging – thanks to Pat at Pattington’s Florist in Johannesburg for great service. Keep up the good work!

“Your rating system does not go nearly high enough to measure happy I was with the florist, Pattington’s of Sandton, Gauteng, S.A. You need 10 stars!! They went WAY ABOVE and BEYOND, and I don’t mean just the incredible flower arrangement. Donna Leigh hand made the card for my loved one, customized to match the verbiage I wanted for the card. She added glittered lightning bolts and a mini red silk butterfly to off set the umbrella. Inside, the text was added over a faded lightning bolt (chosen based on my words.) I expected a simple, plain, generic card with my words written on it; I never expected this type of service! Outstanding! Donna has made a fan and customer for life. -C.B. Lawrence -USA , Texas”

Visit Pattington’s florist on Direct2florist

Tempted to cut your marketing spend during the recession? Here’s a couple of ideas that can help keep your name out-there without costing an arm and a leg!

(1) Reach out to local businesses so they can offer £10 Gift Cards to customers that spend £50+ with them. The  partner gains an incentive for customers to buy and your florist gains exposure to neighbouring businesses best customers.

Gift cards like this cost very little and the £10 value doesn’t hit until they are applied against a purchase. So unlike throwing money at a newspaper or other media types where there’s no guaranteed return, no money is spent until a purchase is made.

(2) Wallet Cards or Preferred customer program. Another local marketing effort that costs very little. Even in tough times, wallet cards can work wonders in terms of keeping customers coming back. One idea would be where customers earn a point for each pound spent at your florist. Each point could be worth 10p towards a reward of your customers choice – from discounts on flowers to a new mp3 player. Cards like these can work particularly well with office “decision-makers” who place regular repeat orders.

You will be able to see the success of the Wallet Cards by how many points are accumulated enabling you to see how many repeat customers are using them. They are easy to distribute and help create your own marketing activity. Each month you can send a newsletter with the Wallet Card to new customers or points to existing customers. Don’t forget to make your Wallet cards sturdy enough to comfortably live for years in your customers wallet and of course make sure there is a free-phone number on there.

Chicago

Although Chicago is famously known as “The Windy City”, a lot of the time the only wind you might feel is the delicate waft of the scent of fresh flowers.  The city boasts some really remarkable features such as nearly thirty beaches, each one with its own personality —from the romantic to the athletic and everything in between. From many of the beaches you can enjoy panoramic views of Chicago’s skyline along with vistas of Lake Michigan that are so endless, you might think you’re gazing at an ocean.

Fresh Flowers

Above all, Chicago is a city of flowers. As well as having flowers delivered to your home or workplace at any time of the day or night, you can also have Valentines day flowers, Mother’s day flowers, and even Christmas flowers delivered to your door!  What kind of flowers, you may ask – well just about anything from exotic blooms only available from the hidden corners of the earth sent by next day flower delivery Chicago, to the traditional flowers local to Chicago, such as roses, lilies and daisies.
Things to do in Chicago

Of course, there’s plenty to do in Chicago: You can take the half-hour Skyline Boat Tour that spans the entire panorama of Chicago’s world renowned skyline, traveling north past Navy Pier to the Hancock Building, east out to the Lighthouse, and south towards the Sears Tower and Museum Campus which includes the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum and Adler Planetarium. And don’t miss the chance to get a  free daytime cruise per day on either the Skyline Boat Tour, the Architectural River Cruise, or the Tall Ship Windy tour, with the Go Chicago Card or as One SIGNATURE Choice with the Chicago Explorer Pass.

Whatever time of year…

If you’re visiting Chicago early in the year, don’t miss The Belgard Chicago Flower and Garden Show in March.  This show is planned as much as two years in advance and features an astonishing range of blooms from far and wide. This show sets the trend for local florists in Chicago, many of the flowers delivered around the city being inspired by this show.

New member Daniel Lawrence of Narrogin Floral Studio in Western
Australia is certainly getting to grips with Direct2florist. Although
Daniel & Lara have only been members a short while and haven’t had a lot
of incoming orders (Narrogin is a small country town), Daniel has
managed to average an outgoing order every other day to other
Direct2florist members around the world. That means a lot more incoming
orders at 100% value to a lot of D2F members.
Daniel has also linked his website to his Direct2florist pages which
means his D2F products are automatically displayed within his own
website giving him an instant free shopping cart facility.
http://www.narroginfloralstudio.com

Although Daniel is new to Direct2florist, he is by no means a newcomer
to the world of floristry. Daniel has an NVQ Level 2 in floristry,
worked on flowers for Celebrities and Royals and has won florist of the
year in the UK. He is one of the youngest florists ever to be hand
picked from 7000 to compete at the Royal Chelsea Flower Show at which he
gained a Gold Medal.

Daniel says…
“I have really enjoyed receiving positive feedback from all the orders
we’ve sent, whether it be here in Australia or around the world. I like
that each member gets to be creative with what products are displayed,
it makes creating the designs so much more enjoyable. Florists are
creative people, it’s what drives us.

It’s time to break the cycle and not let the big boys rule the flower
market, we give OUR prices, we get 100% of the money and the customer
gets a very happy recipient.

What a great way to send flowers – a network of florists without paying
the middleman. The only way to send flowers and make everyone involved
happy!

Kind Regards,

Daniel Lawrence

Well here we are on a sunny day in England! Beautiful weather for St Georges Day and here in the D2F office we are trying to work out what makes England different, or what’s uniquely English about England. Here’s our top 10, or our top 6 so far!

(1) We like to queue in an orderly manner!
(2) We love to drink Tea – even in the hot hot sun!
(3) We like to think our musicians are the best in the world
(4) We love the under-dog
(5) We go for fair play in a big way
(6) We love our Pets! Here’s a picture of my Cat in one of her typical seating positions
(7) Ever need flowers? Swing by our dapper website Flower Delivery UK

Need to send flowers to family or friends in Canada? If  so, there can be no better way than with Direct2florist.ca the new florist website that enables shoppers to view local florists all across Canada. Each flower shops listed on Direct2florist displays a picture of their of shop and along with their individually designed product offerings.

What’s more shoppers get the double guarantee of not only seeing the local florist in the area, but they are able to read real customer reviews placed by previous shoppers.

Each of the florists in Canada deliver same day in their local area and because shoppers are dealing direct they often receive larger fuller bouquets. Our policy guarantees all the flower money goes to the florist and unlike other big name services we do not take any commission out of the flower value.

At Direct2florist we pride ourselves on providing excellent flower delivery in Canada, even same day flowers to Canada when the shopper is on the other side of the world. Our unique service ensures your flower order is passed instantly to the florist with the minimum of fuss.

Here are some of the cities and towns we deliver to in Canada, but to locate your local florist visit www.direct2florist.ca and search for your local florists in Canada.

flowers Toronto
flowers Grimsby
flowers Canada

We look forward to seeing you on the site soon!

Regards

Simon
Direct2florist.ca

More and more shoppers are finding a new way to order flowers and get the best value. And its down to a combination of internet technology combined with good old fashioned service. More and more shoppers are finding local florists on the internet via Direct2florist.com. D2F is a new and unique way for shoppers to buy flowers direct from local florists as if they are actually visiting the flower shop themselves.

Click to see thousands of local florists all registered on the site, each displaying their own bouquets, arrangements and floral gifts. All listed at each florists own price. The bonus to the shopper is that they are able to purchase direct from the florist and not pay expensive commissions to the middleman so the site offers a double bonus to the shopper, not only are they supporting local business, they are receiving better value for money.

Latest florist reviews and customer feedback can be read here.

The advent of the internet has opened a whole new world of opportunity for businesses and consumers alike and the Floral Industry and its customers are no exception. It is now possible to order fresh flowers from a florist who is based on the other side of the world and have the flowers delivered the very same day to a friend or loved one who lives in the vicinity, this is not magic just the power of the internet. Although ordering flowers online is somewhat of a new phenomenon it is a practice that is growing in popularity as the number of people with access to a computer and the internet increases. Here at Direct2florist we are committed to providing you and your recipient the best possible value for money as well as providing the local flower shops with the best possible deal as well. If you need to send flowers at anytime of year for absolutely any occasion you have arrived at the right place. By placing you flower order through us you are effectively dealing with the recipient’s local flower shop and as a result do not have to pay any commission or associated middle man fees for same day or next day flower delivery. Just because we facilitate cheap flower delivery you needn’t think for one minute that we compromise on the either the quality of our service or the quality of our suppliers flowers, we simply cut out the middle man and as a result reduce the overheads, we then pass these savings onto you. For flowers delivered there really is only one choice and that’s Direct2florist.

For many Christians, Easter is the most important religious festival of the year – but in an increasingly secular and multi-cultural society, is it still a good idea to promote it as a flower-buying occasion? The answer, we reckon, is yes – and our florists are coming up with many novel and inventive approaches.

Check out just one of florists in Bath, England. Her Easter designs are perfect and unique. Jonquil Florist

Recognisable secular symbols of easter include:

Bunnies: Rabbits are known as the most fertile of animals, so they symbolise abundance. Bunnies represent new life in the spring season

Eggs: An egg represents fertility and potential and is the universal emblem of life. Eggs were traditionally painted in bright colours to reflect the sunlight in spring.

Chicks: Chicks are also a symbol of new young life.

Sunrise: Sunrise has come to symbolise Easter because Mary Magdalene entered the garden and met Jesus at the rising of the Sun – but it can be just as potent as a non-christian symbol of hopefulness and light

With less than two weeks to go until Mother’s Day, which this year falls on Sunday 14th March, now is the perfect time to sort out the perfect present of a delivery of flowers.

Direct2Florist’s talented florists are this year offering a super selection of floral gifts suitable for mums of all ages, at prices that won’t hurt your pocket. From traditional seasonal bouquets that utilise the beautiful spring flowers now available, to brightly coloured modern designs, we’re sure you’ll find something suitable for all tastes. What’s more, delivery on Mothering Sunday itself is no problem – if you want it, you’ve got it!

Simply log on to www.direct2florist, select the town and city where you need your flowers to be delivered, and we’ll provide you a with a list of florists that deliver to your chosen location. From there, you’ll be able to choose from a huge selection of different gift ideas, with all prices clearly displayed and no hidden extras to worry about. And remember, with Direct2Florist, 100% of the flower value goes to the florist, unlike with our rivals.

Win Win Win!
When our florists deliver flowers to happy mums, it makes us happy too, which is why we’re giving away free flowers this Mother’s Day. Everyone who places an order for Mother’s Day flowers with us before midnight on Friday 12 March will automatically be placed into a prize draw to win a free delivery of flowers to the address of your choice, to the value of £30. We have ten prizes up for grabs in total.

So, for the perfect Mother’s Day gift, and the chance to win free flowers, simply visit www.direct2florist.com

Terms & Conditions of the prize draw: All customers ordering flowers between 1 March 2010 and midnight on Friday 12 March 2010 will automatically be entered into the prize draw. 10 prizes of flower deliveries to the address of the winner’s choice are available. Total prize value £30.00. Total prize fund £300.00. Prizes must be claimed by no later than 31 October 2010 with delivery made by no later than 30 November 2010. Winners will be selected at random by an independent adjudicator. Winners will be notified by email by Friday 26 March 2010. Names and addresses of winners are available on request from Direct2Florist. Details of how to claim prizes will be supplied to the winners.