Order Flowers Online With a Discerning Eye

 

Bloom with Love: Ensuring You Order Flowers from a Local Florist, Not Third-Party Order Gatherers

 

Ordering flowers online has become an increasingly popular way to send a heartfelt message, whether it's a birthday surprise, an anniversary gift, or a simple act of love. However, the convenience of online shopping sometimes comes with a hidden catch: ordering from third-party gatherers rather than direct from local florists. Here's why you should always aim to support local and how to make sure you're doing just that.

Why Support Local Florists?

1. Quality and Freshness Most local florists pride themselves on using the freshest flowers available. Third-party gatherers, on the other hand, might store flowers for extended periods, compromising their quality and lifespan. Or they don't even fill your order in most cases they farm the work out at a drastically reduced price to a local, "starving" florist. Meaning they keep a good portion off the top and the local filling florist receives a much smaller portion to fill the order you picked out at a much higher value online.
   
   
2. Personal Touch Local florists often add a personal touch to each arrangement, ensuring it meets the unique desires of each customer. They may even offer customizations that you wouldn't get through a middleman.
   
   
3. Supporting the Community By ordering directly from local florists, you're helping to support small businesses within your community. This keeps your money local, strengthening the local economy.
   
   
4. Environmental Impact Local florists are more likely to source their flowers from local growers, reducing the environmental footprint associated with transporting flowers long distances.
   
   
5. Stretch your dollar By ordering from a local florist more of your money goes into the flowers and not into the hands of the go-between. Otherwise you may lose up to 25% of your spend to fees and commissions. 
   

Tips to Ensure You’re Ordering from a Local Florist

1. Research the Website Before making a purchase, spend some time researching the website. Look for an address or local phone number. A legitimate local florist will usually provide clear contact information.
   
   
2. Check Reviews and Ratings Look at customer reviews and ratings. Genuine local florists will have a presence on review sites like Yelp or Google Reviews with feedback from local customers.
   
   
3. Call Directly Don't hesitate to call the florist directly. Ask them about their services, where they source their flowers, and any other details that might assure you of their local presence. A real local florist will be happy to answer your questions.
   
   
4. Watch for Red Flags Beware of phrases like "nationwide delivery" or "we work with local florists" on the website. These can be indicators that the site is a third-party gatherer rather than a genuine local florist.
   
   
5. Use Search Engine Maps Use a search engine and their maps to try and help to find genuine local florists in your area by verifying their address. Many of these platforms verify the businesses they list, so you can be more confident in your choice.
   
   
6. Did you click and Ad or a Listing Something to watch for after you search for a local florist is what pops up? Ads or Sponsored searches usually come up first. Not to say a sponsored ad isn't a local florist but this is often where 3rd party sites will show up front and centre. This is were they are trying to entice you with "deals" to draw you in.
   

By following these tips, you can enjoy the convenience of ordering flowers online while ensuring you're supporting your local florist. Not only will you receive a fresher, higher-quality bouquet, but you'll also be contributing to the well-being of your community. So, next time you decide to send a beautiful bouquet, make sure it's from a local source—because local flowers bloom with love and care. 🌸

Happy flower shopping!