Florists are the traditional link the public has with the floral business. Most local florists are small businesses with well under $1 million per year in sales. They care for and store flowers, take orders, make floral arrangements, make deliveries and all the hundreds of other tasks required to run a business.

In addition to having a large variety of technical and business skills, a successful florist must also be highly artistic.

When buying directly from a local florist you have 3 options:

• Buy flowers by visiting a florist's shop
• Buy flowers by phoning the florist's shop
• Buy flowers by visiting the florist's web site

Buying flowers by visiting a florist's shop

This is the best solution, if you have the time. Don't wait for a special occasion to use a florist for the first time. Send some flowers to friends or family as a surprise to test them out before relying on a florist for a wedding or anniversary.

Buying flowers by visiting a local florist's shop is probably a good solution if:

• You are buying flowers for yourself or you plan to personally deliver the flowers
• You want an artistic and appropriate arrangement for the occasion
• You need help choosing the proper arrangement
• You want the flowers delivered in that florist's delivery area
• You have plenty of time

Buying flowers by visiting a local florist's shop is probably not the best solution if:

• You want the flowers delivered to a remote are with no local florists
• You don't have time to visit a florist's shop
• You want to arrange the flowers yourself
• You are unsure of the reputation of the florist, a wire service will give you extra protection in this case

Tips for buying flowers by visiting a local florist's shop:

• Carefully explain the occasion or reason you are buying the flowers
• Carefully describe the personality of the person who will be receiving the flowers
• Give the florist plenty of leeway to use judgment in substituting flowers that are "showing well" (freshest and best in stock)

Buying flowers by visiting a local florist's web site

Buying flowers by visiting a local florist's web site is probably a good solution if:

• You want an artistic and appropriate arrangement for the occasion
• You need help choosing the proper arrangement
• You want the flowers delivered in that florist's delivery area
• You don't have a printed style guide to use
• You are pressed for time

Buying flowers by visiting a local florist's web site is probably not the best solution if:

• You want the flowers delivered to a remote are with no local florists
• You want to arrange the flowers yourself
• You are unsure of the reputation of the florist, a wire service will give you extra protection in this case

Tips for buying flowers by visiting a local florist's web site:

• Most florist's sites give you a chance to add comments to the order, type in what you would say in person or on the phone
• Give the florist plenty of leeway to use judgment in substituting flowers that are "showing well" (freshest and best in stock)
• Make sure the site is really a local florist's and not an "order gatherer" or middleman who will just pass your order to a real florist
• If the web site doesn't look good, the flowers won't either

Buying flowers by phoning a local florist's shop

This is the favorite way for many florists to take orders. You should use it as a last resort unless you know the florist well.

The reason is that too many mistakes can happen when taking orders by phone. The person taking the order must accurately take down what is being ordered and the address and phone number of the person paying for the flowers as well as the person receiving them. Any mistake can result in the flowers being late or unacceptable in some other way.

Buying flowers by phoning a local florist's shop is probably a good solution if:

• You want an artistic and appropriate arrangement for the occasion
• You need help choosing the proper arrangement
• You want the flowers delivered in that florist's delivery area
• You are on the go and can't use the web

Buying flowers by phoning a local florist's shop is probably not the best solution if:

• You want the flowers delivered to a remote are with no local florists
• You need to see some example arrangements or pictures of arrangements
• You want to arrange the flowers yourself

Tips for buying flowers by phoning a local florist's shop:

• Carefully explain the occasion or reason you are buying the flowers
• Carefully describe the personality of the person who will be receiving the flowers
• Give the florist plenty of leeway to use judgment in substituting flowers that are "showing well" (freshest and best in stock)
• If at all possible have a "style guide" (catalogue) from the florist to aid in explaining what you want

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