Near Perfect Florist Reviews

June 8th, 2009

Below is a typical screen shot of the D2F review system. All 5 star and 4 star reviews; its great to see such high levels of customer satisfaction everyday. Just goes to show going local is the best way anybody can order flowers…

customer-reviews21

Top Reviews for D2F florists

Top customer reviews for D2F florists. The reviews are instantly received by the florists also.

D2F Member Message

June 5th, 2009

Dear D2F Member,
Have you considered trying Direct2florist for your international orders? Its so simple and D2F provides an instant connection between shops - even when the delivering florist is on the other side of the world!

By going Direct you are removing 2 or even 3 middlemen when sending international orders. This saves time and can mean lightning quick deliveries. It also saves money providing better value for your customers.

To try it, just log in to the Florist Control panel and search for a florist using the big pink box. Select your chosen florist, phone numbers are published too along side the florists products & prices. Florists can also rate each other too if they so wish.

With coverage in major cities of 11 countries, its possible D2F may already have a member you can see and use.

Here are just a few cities covered:

In the UK
London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh. Virtual full cover of the British Isles

In Australia
Sydney, Perth, Melbourne + most major population centres

In New Zealand
Auckland, Christchurch Full cover of New Zealand

In USA
Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, New York, Miami, Atlanta, Washington, Charlotte

In Canada
Toronto, Montreal, Calgary

In South Africa
Cape Town, Johannesburg

In Republic of Ireland
Dublin, Cork, Limerick

In Cyprus
Larnaca, Paphos, Limassol

In Spain
Barcelona, Lanzarote, Javea, Rojales

All Hong Kong is Covered
All Malta is Covered

If you would like help on how to use the D2F control panel email: simon@direct2florist.com

Best Wishes
Simon and all at the D2F team in UK

Blooming PR Opportunity on D2F

May 29th, 2009

Direct2florist member Ione Woodger-Smith at Crazy Daisy in Buntingford, England recently received two 5 star comments on Direct2florist. Ione telephoned her local paper and they ran the following story.

Florists Blooming Reviews

Florist's Blooming Reviews

Congratulations to Ione for providing great service, keep up the good work!

Are you a Direct2florist member with a story? Have you received great comments from customers?  Can we help PR your story? email simon@direct2florist.com

Low cost florist websites: Special Offer

May 21st, 2009

Fresh new website?
Order from Direct2florist before end of May and pay just £150
(normally £195) email: simon@florist2florist.com

Example Sites:
www.kirbysflowers.co.uk (search kirbys flowers, flowers freckleton)
www.frintonflowers.co.uk (search frinton flowers, flowers frinton)
www.diamondfloresspain.es (search diamond flores, flowers rojales)
www.finefloristry.co.uk (search fine floristry, flowers hailsham)

Offer Includes:

12 months hosting
Submission to Google Map
Basic on-site Optimisation (titles, metas, keywords)
Design proofing and amendment
Link to your pages on Direct2florist (optional)

www.finefloristry.co.uk

www.finefloristry.co.uk

Note: the price does not include purchase of domain name

Direct2florist joins British Florist Association

May 20th, 2009

The British Flower Association is the only trade association in the florist industry that is recognised by Government both here and in Brussels. As the exclusive UK member of FEUPF, the European Federation of Florist Associations, the BFA is recognised as the ‘voice of the industry’ representing nearly 6,500 florists.

As a mark of professionalism and excellence, a florist that carries the BFA logo is serious about the level of quality and customer service they deliver. Every industry needs a central body ensuring that standards are kept high and so that its members are always striving for excellence. BFA florists also adhere to a strict code of practice as standard - meaning a high level of service to customers. Visit BFA website

British Florist Association

British Florist Association

Go direct and receive 20% more flowers…

May 19th, 2009

Sending flowers for a loved one or for a special occasion? The last thing you wish to experience is the feeling of being “ripped off”. Yet many of the large online flower operators may take 20-30% of your flower money as commission.

That means your bouquet of flowers may appear stingy or smaller than the one you expected. NOT GOOD!

The best way to buy flowers is go Direct. If you are unable to visit the florist in person, search online and try to find the actual local florist. Alternativley use www.direct2florist.com

The Direct2florist website shows you the local florist, their products and offers on-line ordering. 100% of your flower money goes direct to the florist ensuring larger fuller bouquets are delivered. And with the Star rate system you can be sure the florist will pull out all the stops to deliver a fantastic bouquet of flowers on your behalf.

So, next time you want to send flowers, you know what to do! Go Direct to a local florist :)

Direct2florist members on the MAP

May 12th, 2009

Direct2florist is home to local florists in 11 countries around the world. Here are maps detailing members in 6 of those countries (other 5 maps to be added soon)

USA Map

Canada Map

UK Map

Ireland Map

Australia Map

New Zealand Map

Value Comparison. Direct2florist vs Leading US service

April 25th, 2009

One of the key features of D2F is that florists set their own price on any give product, the florist receives 100% flower value with out any deductions and the florist receives payment before delivery.

For florists, the positive effects of this business model can be seen in the comparison between a Direct2florist order and an order placed with leading wire service:

Value comparison


In the left box we have a wire service order. The figures here have been taken from an actual order published on a US News website who were running a comparison of USA flower services in Feb this year. The figure breakdown was provided by a florist member of leading wire service. As you can see in the examples the customer spent around $44, in the case the wire service order the florist received $23 and in the case of the Direct2florist order, the florist received $38

The difference speaks for itself and highlights the reason why florists should get behind the D2F program.

Secret Life of the Flower Shop

April 16th, 2009

Steve’s security camera at  Hilltop Florist in Eastwood, Notts, England caught this “flower nicker” in action. Steve being a top chipper chap uploaded the video to You Tube. Have you seen this man?

The miracle of the FLOWER CARPET in two days

March 24th, 2009

The enterprising floral art ladies have once again brought the mastery of the floral and fauna carpet display to the FESTIVAL of FLOWERS.

The Christchurch Cathedral floral carpet is a premier event presented by the floral art group in Canterbury and the floral art group North Canterbury.

This was the 20th anniversary of the Festival of Flowers. There is no doubt the floral art ladies along with their fellow floral artist and designer Jan Leaper pulled out all stops.

The planning, the designing, the ordering of the flowers. These delightful ladies were on to it with many months of planning.

Carpet of flowers installed at the Cathedral in Christchurch, NZ

The logistics to prepare this mammoth task were assisted by the Academy NZ offering their facilities at the school of floristry in Manchester Street, Christchurch, along with the recent intake of 11 floristry students.

Quickly the teams from the floral art groups assisted by the Academy NZ floristry students began to assemble the foundations for the floral carpet by wetting the floral foam and cutting it to size to fit the very large trays in which the floral carpet sits.

Each of the 25 trays are filled with wet floral foam were then marked out with the design. By this stage, two days out from the assembly of the carpet in the cathedral I asked one of the floral art ladies, Margaret when she estimated the carpet would be completed she confidently replied Tuesday at 3pm. Wow ! two days from the time the trays arrive at the Cathedral. This was going to be a challenge.

The students studying horticulture at the Academy were the helpers required to convey the heavy large trays to the Cathedral, and set them up on trestles, the full length of the central isle. Prior to this the base of black polythene was laid on the floor. Then the plastic was covered with green artificial grass. This took no time to achieve with the experience of the floral art ladies.

Meanwhile the floristry students were assisting the suppliers, wholesalers and flower growers as the flower material arrived by trucks, cars and vans. It was a well oiled, organised procedure as buckets were filled with flowers, greenery, mosses, and fauna then all were placed in a regulated order.

It was quickly evident this was team work. The floral art ladies were taking the young floristry students under their wing and magical things were happing.

First every tray design was marked and covered with wet moss (dyed with green food colouring) leaving the design markings clear. Then each area in the design was given a little flag with the type of flower to be used. It was a very intricate pattern similar to a panel persian carpet with the plan set out like a generals war invasion.

The trestle tables holding the trays of wet floral foam with design markings, flags and the base of green moss were at a very manageable working height. In the old days I was told the designers sat or kneeled on the floor.

All through the cutting and placement of the flowers and foliage visitors from around the world and NZ came to view the Christchurch Cathedral and watched with avid interest as the floral carpet took shape.

The flowers used were green hydrangeas, blue gentians, hot red/orange celosia, cream and yellow chrysanthemums, hot pink gerbera, orange asiatic lilies, white lilies, succulent cacti in shades of green grey blue from tiny to enormous. Agapanthus dried and dyed a deep blue and silvered tipped, aspidistra leaves, conifer, ivy leaves, shells, sticks and coils of rope. Huge hand made paper mashie clam shells opened with pearls and sea urchins all intricately woven into the complex design of magical undersea world of flowers.

When each tray was completed the horticulture students held the trays as the trestle tables were removed then gently the trays were lowered on to the artificial grass mat to become the floral carpet 2009.

Thank you to the Festival of Flowers for the use of this amazing photo by Rodney Love. Please contact Marisa at the floral festival for more information www.festivalofflowers.co.nz or email festival.flowers@xtra.co.nz

Thank you the floral art groups Canterbury and North Canterbury, the students from Academy NZ floristry and horticulture classes and the many growers and suppliers of quality flowers. You have given so much pleasure to visitors and friends of the Festival of Flowers. I look forward to sharing this experience with you all again next year.

Joy Knight