FAO: Roses by Design guys

[mattley23]

Hi guys,

Not sure if this is you but never the less I thought I would give you a heads up just incase it isnt.

While surfing through ebay's business section I came upon this company for sale:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Unique-Flower-Printing-Business-Untapped-Market_W0QQitemZ7581121542QQcategoryZ2992QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem

If its not you I would get slightly worried that people are ripping your idea and selling it on ebay.

Matt

[Claire B]

oh dear, the image looks the same as the one on Marks site. :o

[easyasit]

i think it is the machine rather than the concept.

Mind u yes, that image does look familiar

Al

[fastfences]

Mark purchased his 'concept' and equip from USA, I think. But this is definately the same product. He'll be on here later.
Cheers, Nigel

[Urban Space]

Although Mark's not been in business long has he. I'm going to say something about this. Watch this space :lol:

Liam

[fastfences]

I suppose we should realise that Mark probably wouldn't have 'exclusivity' on the theme. Anyone can sell the equipment, just like anyone can sell anything else, unless Mark has exclusive rights of sale in Great Britain. That, would have cost him heaps!!
Cheers, Nigel

[Claire B]

I think we should boycott (and generally be very childish and disrepectful of ) anyone else, other than our Mark!

:D

[c4l]

Evilbay at its best!! Just glad no one's bid yet!!

[SillyJokes]

Other people will print roses. It is inevitable. In the States it seems like a very common add on for florists.

Good luck to Mark as he appears to have first mover advantage and his site looks nice.

[clairemackaness]

Mark has always admitted that it's big business in the states. He was just one of the first to bring it to the UK. At the end of the day others will jump on the band wagon, just look at million dollar homepage. But who do we think is the best? The first person who did it.

Mark will always be my choice.

[easyasit]

well it was only a matter of time b4 someone else would bring it ove here.

Though to be fair, mark has the head start in being established in this. He is also the person i would approach for a printed rose.

however i am sure other companies will use the concept, like interflora and it will become part of their service etc :-)

I think it also highlights the need to by dynamic in business as well. For ppl will soon catch on with ur ideas.
At the moment, mark has a novel idea i have not seen anywhere. But in time it will be a case of yeah so what everyone is doing it :-)

I apologise if that comes across as harsh.

Al

[DuaneJackson]

When Mark first aired the business idea I told him I would do it if he didn't, and I meant it.

Mark had already checked that it was a patented device - it was pat. pending which is good enough,

I spoke to the firm in the US that he eventually bought from and wanted to know about getting exclusive rights to it in the UK - they wanted me to meet them at some flower show in Amsterdam.

At this point it became clear that Mark was also going to go for it so I stepped back as it was he that initially brought it up and his background in floristry meant he'd have a much better chance at it than me. I never did get a price for exclusivity and I don't know if Mark went down this route, but I hope so!

[Cornish Steve]

Other people will print roses. It is inevitable. In the States it seems like a very common add on for florists.
In all the years I've lived in the US, I've never heard of the idea - but then I rarely send flowers. All credit to Mark for realising that it would fly in the UK.

[SillyJokes]

Other people will print roses. It is inevitable. In the States it seems like a very common add on for florists.
In all the years I've lived in the US, I've never heard of the idea - but then I rarely send flowers. All credit to Mark for realising that it would fly in the UK.

Then you are hardly qualified to comment! ;)

I should clarify that I meant online, since I am not in the States

It's also big in China

http://www.chinanews.cn/news/2005/2005-12-21/16176.html

[creospace]

It was developed in china with HP and a chineese florest. Didn't take long to find that out when i first saw the concept on here.

ahh the power of google :)

[SillyJokes]

The power of google indeed.

Online businesses have a low threshold to get started but also means your competition can study/copy you much more quickly.

You just have to live with it and keep trying to be better.

[easyasit]

perhaps i should apologise to Mark of flowers by design, i had no idea he had or was going for exclusive rights on the patent.

Sorry Mark

Al

[MarkPearson]

Hi Guys,

Just found this message!



It was always inevitable that we would get competition for such a business.

The personalised rose business is established in USA, China and Australia.

Like most industries there is nothing to stop other businesses springing up and competing for a marketshare.

The actual product could 'take off' quicker with some competition, as its still a very new concept here in the uk and europe, not many people are currently looking for personalised roses, as they don't even know they exist, they just stumble across them.

So with competition, even though this is not ideal for my business it will help spread the word on the product and would most likely bring us extra sales we would not have had from search engines.

Will be interesting to see how it develops.

But by no means does it affect rosesbydesign.com future, the process is time consuming and needs the floral knowledge and skills that I was lucky to learn during all those years working within my parents florist shops.

[Magsite]

Its not very often you come accross a good business op on ebay. Is that where you first saw this Mark?

Lisa

[Claire B]

glad to hear your not fazed by it all mark

you just need to practice saying "am i bovvered?...face....bovvered?

[Real World Hypnotherapy]

I don't think that any business is totally unique, what people do is take a product or service and make it better.

I think Mark is right that competition is healthy as it will get the concept known faster throughout the country.

What I advise Mark to do is keep a very close eye on the others and make sure he stays ahead.

Matt