How often have you wanted to talk to someone “in charge” at a vendor and gotten a complete runaround? Maybe it was just a question about how to use their product or service—you didn’t even have a complaint! Nevertheless, the closest you could get was a customer-service representative who promised to “pass your concern along to management.”
That issue is one that members of FlowerChat.com don’t have to face with some of their vendors. That’s because individuals in key roles at those companies also are members of FlowerChat. In fact, that’s often why they join the website—to be able to talk directly to their customers.
Recently, for example, I had noticed some ongoing conversations (one on “Keepsake/rewearable bracelets” and one on “Resistance toward Fitz bands”) among florists in the FlowerChat forums regarding Fitz corsage bracelets. Wondering if others outside FlowerChat were facing similar concerns—and might be able to offer suggestions—I posted a note on the FlowerChat Facebook page on the topic.
Wow! The response was immediate! Katie Fitzpatrick of Fitz Floral saw the Facebook posting and logged on as a new member of FlowerChat to begin answering the concerns. She was able to provide some tips and suggestions to members, as well as make some recommendations regarding how to handle certain issues. What a boon to FlowerChatters—direct communication with a vendor and immediate access and answers!
(If you are a vendor interested in having these same types of personal conversations with your florist customers, contact Ryan Freeman, FlowerChat founder and administrator, at Ryan@flowerchat.com. He can provide details on the specific benefits, including special advertising opportunities.)
Last week, we reviewed some advice regarding your cooler’s annual maintenance. This week, I wanted to offer you a few more tips on your cooler. Specifically, don’t adjust your cooler’s thermostat. Really. Don’t do it. Unless you have a true technical understanding of how the thermometer and thermostat in your cooler work, you should leave all adjustments to a trained technician.
The problem is that many florists notice alterations in their cooler’s temperature and think they need to adjust the thermostat to compensate. But your cooler thermostat isn’t like your home thermostat, and even minor adjustments can make dramatic changes in how your cooler regulates itself.
The safer technique is to develop an understanding of whether your cooler is maintaining the proper temperature throughout the day. To do that, you need to maintain a temperature log. Over time, the log will verify whether your cooler is maintaining the same temperature on average or inching upward.
To develop your chronicle, each day, log the temperature when you first arrive in the morning—after the cooler has been shut all night. (Make sure it is not in the middle of a defrost cycle. If it is, wait until that is completed.) Then, around midday—after the cooler has been opened numerous times throughout the morning—take another reading for your log.
Over time, you’ll see a pattern to your cooler’s temperature variances. You’ll realize whether your cooler’s thermostat truly needs to be adjusted if you notice a change in the pattern—such as a sudden increase in temperature after it’s been holding steady for several months. That’s when it may be time to call in a refrigerator pro to check it out.
Florists are a creative bunch (obviously!), each with his or her own personal style. You can let that style be reflected a little bit even when you are online with FlowerChat.
To customize your FlowerChat experience, log on and look at the bottom left of your screen. In the lower menu bar, a drop-down menu offers you the ability to change the way FlowerChat is displayed. Click on the options to see how they look on your screen. Change back to a previous option at any time.
Check out the trending discussions available to ALL FlowerChatters--no matter what your membership level:
Popular Pro Discussions
Pro-level members get into the nitty gritty of florist life. Below are some of their trending conversations. (Want to participate in these in-depth topics? Sign up for a Pro account. Try it FREE for a month! Look for the red tab that says "Go Pro - FREE!" See what you've been missing!)
Until next time, keep your business blooming!
Gina Kellogg
FlowerChat Community Manager
gina@flowerchat.com
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