“It made me cringe.” “What were they thinking?” “Totally avoidable.” Those are just some of the responses floral industry members are sharing in...
Skip These, and You’ll Skip Some Profits, Too
The next time you hear one of your sales team members pick up the phone, ask yourself: Did your employee identify herself right away? Did she...
North Carolina Florist Glows with Pumpkin Carving
In Winston-Salem, North Carolina, one shop has found an unexpected pocket of Halloween sales: pumpkin carving. For the last few years, customers...
Don’t Say This to Your Sales Team
Imagine the following scenario: You hire a new sales team member. On her first day, she asks you, “What do you expect of me?” You, as the owner of...
Free Test Call for SAF Members
Have you ever really listened to what your staff says to customers on the phone? Are they energetic and engaging? Do they upsell and cross sell and...
Missing Your Motivational Mojo? Find it at SAF Maui 2016
Is your sales team stuck in the same-old, same-old? Are you struggling to motivate people to increase average transactions and go after bigger...
What Can We Learn From The Campaign Trail?
Whether you’re #withher or #greatagain, there’s something every floral industry marketer can learn from the respective successes of both...
Step Away from the Cash Register: Tips for Timid Staff
If you constantly find yourself encouraging staff members to get out from behind the checkout counter and onto the sales floor, Tim Huckabee of...
Reminder Calls Key to Summer Sales
Want to keep the phones ringing (and the website orders buzzing) all summer? Don’t wait around. Pick up your own phone and start dialing. That’s...
Compete on Solutions, Not Price
The (relative) slowdown after Mother’s Day and before the busy fall months may be a good time to remind staff of a key sales philosophy for higher...
Best Practices for Time-Crunched Customers (and Stressed-Out Staff)
We’ve all seen it happen: A frazzled customer starts blurting out an order (“I need tulips delivered to 123 Main Street by noon today!”) before your...
Practice ‘Small Talk’ for Bigger Sales
When a call comes in for a sympathy arrangement in the middle of a busy, busy day, does your staff take the time to express sincere sorrow for the...
Free Customer Service Help, April 13-20
Have you had any tough situations with customers this week? Do you have questions about the best way to handle certain customer requests? Or have...
Out of Stock? How to Suggest Substitutions With Ease
We've all been there. A customer calls requesting an arrangement she saw online, but you don't have the exact flowers or containers pictured in your...
3 Simple Rules For Better Phone Calls
In the duration of a phone call, there's ample room for error, such as starting the conversation with price instead of the card message or placing a...