Today I present another written interview with Laura Cadrin, she runs the flower shop – www.jaunefleurflowers.com which is based out of Canada. In this interview I ask her several questions that pertain to promoting her business online.
Check it out:
What got you interested in starting a flower shop? Share your story.
I worked as a safety specialist for many years. I was privileged to work within many different industries to keep workers safe and companies compliant with the law. I believe there comes a time to move on and I was at that point in my life to make a change. I had always loved plants and flowers and actually took a year off to work in a greenhouse. The work was very difficult but I loved it. The opportunity to open a flower business came about purely by luck. A retail space became available and they wanted to have a flower shop move into the area. I completely gutted and renovated the space and hired a floral designer to run the business for me while I continued as a safety specialist for a little while longer. At the same time, I took time off to study floral design and after receiving my certifications, I quit my job and went into the business full time. Head down!
2. Flowers are easy to acquire both online and through local stores, what have you done to stand out from the competition?
We have tried to give our customers a great online site to view and have made it very easy to buy online. Although we bring in many of the same varieties as other flower shops, we go the extra mile to have many tropical flowers available. Our online store is a sample of what we can do however, we love to work with our clients to create custom designs with our fresh and artificial flowers. We have an emergency service for those people that have not had time to plan their floral arrangements during regular business hours. We have developed a bridal worksheet and blog for brides to use when they are trying to determine what they should be spending on their wedding flowers. Our wedding bouquets are all designed with a water system that keeps them looking fresh and beautiful all day. Overall, it is all about our customer service. We go out of our way to provide the best service available.
3. What are some of the biggest challenges you face when working with clients to make sure they are happy with their purchase?
The biggest challenge I have when working with my clients is to educate them to understand what the value of flowers really mean. Flowers are an emotional purchase. People generally buy flowers for someone else when they are sad, happy, celebrating or creating a warm environment. Although flowers should be of good quality and long lasting, they do not last forever. Many people have been brought up to believe that what they purchase must be around forever. This is not the case with flowers or with people for that matter. It is not about the length of time they are alive, it is about what it brings to the person who is giving them as well as the person receiving them.
4. In terms of promotion, what are some things you have done to stand out online as a flower shop? Is SEO and Social Media a big part of helping you acquire new customers?
Over the past 12 months, our business has implemented new and effect methods of branding and marketing. Social media interaction, the use of multimedia. The creation of networking events. An image revamping on our website. Our attendance to the best tradeshows of our industry. The advice of our PR and marketing associates. We have made great use of social media such as Facebook, social media and our blog.
5. What are your future plans for 2014 and beyond?
Our business mission is founded in being the preferred choice of customers when it comes to quality, choice and service. Therefore, we envision our future to be able to set a precedent of what a floral business should be in these modern days.
We will continue to grow by always maintaining a balance between our communities and reaching out beyond our borders
