With Valentine’s Day less than 24 hours away, florists across the world are getting ready for the busiest day on their calendars. Not only is Valentine’s Day one of romance, red roses and chocolate hearts, but it’s also a florist’s biggest opportunity to attract business with unique arrangements that say, “I love you” in a very special way.
Beyond your store, the internet is a super effective tool that allows you to attract customers who may never have heard of your business. In fact, a florist website can be your best friend when it comes to capitalising on big calendar events like Valentine’s Day.
With the clock ticking away, there’s no time to rest on your laurels so take a deep breath, sit down and go through the following checklist to ensure you’ve got your ducks in a row to attract more customers on the most romantic day of the year.
Check for last minute specials from suppliers
Suppliers are known to hold out until the last minute before unleashing major reductions on their prices. So get on the phone to discuss any last minute specials your suppliers may have. Profit margins are what make businesses successful, so if you have any extra capital to spend, go on the hunt to see if you can source any additional petals for the big day. Don’t stress about not selling all your roses on the day, you can always introduce specials of your own and move that those pretty red roses off the shelf in no time.
Those extra red roses won’t go to waste after Valentine’s Day
Got all your add ons in check?
Balloons, teddybears, cards, ribbons and chocolate hearts are huge fixtures on Valentine’s Day. Get online and browse around for specials from retailers and stock up on anything you may not have in store. Cross selling is an absolute must for the enterprising florist who understands the importance of seizing every opportunity to increase the value of a sale. A simple item or two with your bouquet can increase your profit by almost 30% and that’s well worth making a few phone calls for.
Don’t forget to stock up on those romantic add ons!
Use your email contact list and announce your specials
Start digging into that contact list that resides on your florist POS system and reach out to your existing customers! Don’t let them slip through the cracks and go to the competition or call on wire services for a less than average bouquet!
If you’re a Hana Florist POS user, you’ll know that email marketing is one of the things we do extremely well, so reach out and connect with your existing customers. Also, don’t underestimate the fact that many folks leave Valentine’s Day gift shopping until the last minute.
Use your social media and seize the day
If you’re not doing it yet, make sure you’ve got a busy social media calendar that connects with people. The importance of a social media presence cannot be overstated in these digital times we live in and you’d be amazed at how many businesses don’t use it to their advantage.
However, the fact that so many florists lack a social presence can be a huge advantage to florists who do have one. Include yourself in the latter group of flower shop owners and get your Valentines Day bouquest on display asap!
Use your website wisely
At Hana, we’re big believers in the power of the internet. A cursory keyword research shows that folks are using search engines like Google and Bing to browse for specials on Valentine’s Day in huge amounts. For those of you who don’t have a florist website yet, a small word of advice: GET ONE. As a modern florists you’re missing out on tons of business if you’re solely relying on word of mouth and your brick and mortar store for business.
What? No website? It’s time to get one if you’re serious about increasing revenue.
If you do have a website, make sure a red and white theme permeates your home page and that folks know they can get the best and most beautiful bouquets from your website in just a few clicks. Let customers know about the availability of stock and that they can rely on you to make last minute purchases on Valentines’ Day.
Be prepared to burn the midnight oil
The total in revenues on flowers and peripheral items Americans spend on Valentines Day reaches in the billions. That’s pretty big pie and plenty to go around if you’re willing to hussle and get your piece of it. If you’re serious about cashing in on this year’s big day then be prepared to put in an extra few hours to get your markting machine working around the clock and those customers coming your way.
If you’re a Hana Florist POS user, then you’ve already got the upperhand thanks to the many marketing features built into the system. If not, then make sure you talk to us about how we can help you maximise those revenues on the next big floral calendar event.
Don’t miss out on revenue generating opportunitues. Get a Hana Florist website today
Florists with a website that’s designed and hosted by Hana have a pretty huge advantage over those who don’t. Not only are our websites superior to the many generic ones we see on the web, but they also enjoy automatic updates and customizations that align their online spaces with big calendar events.
But it’s not too late for those of you who still rely on generic websites to talk to us and prepare for the next big calendar day. In the meantime, use the tips provided to get better traction for your store. Happy Valentine’s Day!
