New Flower shop advice....

[hornbeam98]

I am thinking of starting a small flower shop, i have seen a small business premises that is closing that currently sells designer clothes, and feel it would be an ideal location for flowers, it has a good pass through of people as it is near the free car park and next to an opticians/hairdressers/cafe.

But I need to know if the flower shop trade is still profitable as a business if run correctly.

If anybody could PM me I will treat any information as confidential.

Cheers

 

[solopreneur]

I am thinking of starting a small flower shop, i have seen a small business premises that is closing that currently sells designer clothes, and feel it would be an ideal location for flowers, it has a good pass through of people as it is near the free car park and next to an opticians/hairdressers/cafe.

But I need to know if the flower shop trade is still profitable as a business if run correctly.

If anybody could PM me I will treat any information as confidential.

Cheers

If ran correctly, I think that any business could be profitable. Flowers are popular as a gift, and are not beyond the means of most as an occasional luxury. You would compete with the supermarkets, but there is competition in every walk of life- you need to consider your USP's and strategy.

Location and footfall are key in retail. Do your research, run the numbers and you will be able to tell us whether the business could be profitable...

Mark

 

[Pocket Money Designs]

How close would you nearest rival flower seller be?

Why did the designer close store shut? Is it in an affluent area?

 

[hornbeam98]

The shop is very small about 12ftx20ft and the area is not that affluent, which is possibly why the designer shop is failing as it is not big enough to accommodate affluent people (i.e. sit them down with a cup of coffee and prise there coppers from their hands).

But as a flower shop it has a very large frontage about 20ft x 20ft which for when the shop is open would be ideal to spread the stock outside (i.e. bedding plants and general gardening plants outside.

There is another florist in the village but it is a large shop and very drap with what I think would be large overheads.

The designer shop is small and the overheads i think would be small too.

But I need to know that the flower shop trade is still profitable as many high street businesses now are falling by the wayside due to the supermarket domination.

 

[deniser]

You say it's a village.

Two flower shops in one village seems a little excessive.

Don't underestimate the customer loyalty of the existing shop. Also, the only people who shop in village shops are the elderly so what you sell both style and price wise needs to be aimed at them.

In answer to your original question, you could probably make a job for yourself out of a small flower shop but not a business as such unless you live:
1. near a big town and can get the commercial contracts for offices, hotels, shops etc. (these are very difficult to get and you need to make amazing arrangements as well as have good contacts and great presentation skills)
2. near a thriving local church/crematorium which is very busy with weddings and funerals

Hope this helps.

 

[Rhodes100]

I have to agree that it is highly unlikely that the village trade will be able to support two florists. Most villages cant actually support one florist.

So you will probably not get enough turnover from retail. The best way forward would be to look at the commerical market, network with and market to wedding planners, event management planners, funeral directors etc there are always people who need flowers for commercial purposes, dont just think about the general public.

To do that do you actually need a retail shop?

Can you not operate with a website and a shed in the garden?

 

[Pete31]

I have to agree that it is highly unlikely that the village trade will be able to support two florists. Most villages cant actually support one florist.

So you will probably not get enough turnover from retail. The best way forward would be to look at the commerical market, network with and market to wedding planners, event management planners, funeral directors etc there are always people who need flowers for commercial purposes, dont just think about the general public.

To do that do you actually need a retail shop?

Can you not operate with a website and a shed in the garden?

Good advice from Rhodes

 

[papverpoppies]

I have to agree that it is highly unlikely that the village trade will be able to support two florists. Most villages cant actually support one florist.

So you will probably not get enough turnover from retail. The best way forward would be to look at the commerical market, network with and market to wedding planners, event management planners, funeral directors etc there are always people who need flowers for commercial purposes, dont just think about the general public.

To do that do you actually need a retail shop?

Can you not operate with a website and a shed in the garden?

Does not seem to apply to only villages, we have lost the one in the City Centre. The same owners have turned it into a cafe.

It was an absolute beautiful florists, but I feel the prices just got silly, and people began to buy their bunches of flowers from the supermarket, or the stall in the market.

A shop is a large cash upkeep, as already asked, do you need one?

I know that the premises you have in mind are not large enough for this idea, but 3 people locally, are trying to come together to rent a shop between them, each selling their own products, so they split all of the overheads 3 ways, and hopefully have a better chance that way of making it work financially - might something like that, work for you.

A florists would work well with arts and crafts, artist, jeweller etc etc.

Poppyxx

 

[berts]

I am thinking of starting a small flower shop, i have seen a small business premises that is closing that currently sells designer clothes, and feel it would be an ideal location for flowers, it has a good pass through of people as it is near the free car park and next to an opticians/hairdressers/cafe.

But I need to know if the flower shop trade is still profitable as a business if run correctly.

If anybody could PM me I will treat any information as confidential.

Cheers

The floristry industry is tough at the moment, and as just a florist shop you will struggle. Tesco have ruined the price of fresh flowers, and even the big flower wholesalers in the uk struggling because of this. You need to offer other services at the same time. At christmas you can make wreaths, in the wedding season you can make arrangements. You can add some value to your orders by adding the vases etc. A 60cm martini vase with no arrangment will retail for around £40. Add the flowers and accessories you can be charging £70 - £100 per table.

Also look for contracts at hotels, offices etc. Some of these will want fresh flowers in their receptions every week.

A nice website can help, although you will struggle to get ranked highly in such a competitive area. Also investigate relay companies, although be careful if you decide to use them as some force you to buy certain sundries to stock in your shop, and i've heard the number of orders that you receive from them and commission is not always that great.

Also you dont mention if you have any floristry training? To get some good value into your arrangement / bouquets you will need to know what you are doing, otherwise you will get a bad reputation straight away.

 

[Drpepper]

But as a flower shop it has a very large frontage about 20ft x 20ft which for when the shop is open would be ideal to spread the stock outside (i.e. bedding plants and general gardening plants outside.

Don't count on using this outside space. You may well find you are ordered (by the local council) to remove them or face a fine of £1,000. We had this problem in our town - mainly with A frames, a council "bod" went to every shop issuing notices to remove anything on the pavement or be fined £1,000 within four weeks.

However.... the retailers approached the council jointly and came to a "casual" arrangement that allows us to place the A frames etc on the pavements providing they are no closer than 1 meter of the pavements kerb.

 

[Philip Hoyle]

You need to investigate your costs and eligibility of joining the interflora (and other) national delivery networks. That's been absolutely essential in my experience of florists - without it, you'll really struggle to get enough business. It works both ways, you'd get to prepare and deliver the orders placed by people in other shops and you also get a share of the price of orders placed in your shop for delivery by others.

Commercial contracts (hotels etc) are absolutely essential of course but also are local contacts with undertakers, local church flower committees, etc. If you can come to some agreement with the local undertakers, you've a guaranteed regular work flow.

Customer service is obviously the biggest issue. Make sure your flowers are fresh and make sure you've always got the fullest range possible in the shop for casual buyers. Our nearest florist is absolutely hopeless - last flowers I ordered for delivery died within a few years - the bunch bought from Morrisons the same day lasted twice as long for a fraction of the price - not good! Also, same shop, I called in for a bouquet on impulse and they had none - just a few buckets of assorted oddments - said it would take a couple of hours to make up a bouquet - so off to Morrisons I went instead!

Diversity is also essential. Look into other complimentary items to sell. Obvious ones are the helium balloons, arts & crafts novelty/gift items, dried flowers, vases (home and cemetery), greetings cards, maybe even chocolate/sweets gift boxes etc.

Research your space outside the shop. Is it the council owned pavement or is it your property - you may have to partially fence it off if it's your own property. You rightly highlight the need for outside display space, but is it big enough - bedding plants etc take a lot of space - also, how about christmas trees - a pile of those outside would probably do well close to a car park - is there enough space?