How to Make More Profits in 2017
With the new year quickly approaching it's time to ask yourself a few questions.
Did I reach my business goals this year? What can I do differently next year to increase my profits?
Profitable small businesses are not formed by staying stagnant. Set aside time to evaluate your flower shop and look for ways to improve.
As you begin to strategize for 2017, take into consideration these tips to increase your profits and see future success.
Promote Your Website
First, it's important that your flower shop has a responsive website that adapts on any device. Customers are using smartphones, iPads, televisions and more to search for flowers. Your website needs to change formats depending on what device your customer is using.
All Flower Shop Network websites are mobile responsive and make the purchasing experience easy, convenient and quick for the customer. Learn More >>
See your sales grow when you start promoting your website!
You can have the best website in the world but without advertising efforts you won't be using this powerful marketing tool to its full potential.
Add your URL to these promotional items:
- Paid Advertising
(Radio, television, newspaper, magazines, etc.) - Delivery Vehicles
- Flyers, Signs & Other Promotional Materials
(Brochures, letterheads, email signature, business cards, etc.) - Add Your URL to Social Media
- Voicemail Message
Let customers know that even after regular business hours they can still place orders on your website. - T-Shirts, Pens & Other Promotional Items
Charge For Everything
Florists are known for their creativity, artistic ability and kind hearts. When consulting with brides and designing arrangements it's important to put aside the urge to cut prices and add a few extra roses. Your time, labor, professional skills, inventory and resources are all valuable and come at a cost.
Upsell
Customers are more likely to buy from a company they already trust and are familiar with. Upselling is a proven method to increase sales because the customer has already decided to purchase from you.
In the book Marketing Metrics, the authors share this finding from their research:
"The probability of selling to a new prospect is 5-20%. The probability of selling to an existing customer is 60-70%."
Instead of thinking about upselling in a negative way, view it as an opportunity to provide more value to your customers. Once you understand what the customer is really looking for, you can offer various add-on items or upscale flowers to enhance their purchase. Have a meeting with your staff to talk about the importance of upseling and rehearse various situations together.
Secure Weekly Flower Deliveries
Seek out opportunities to provide weekly flower arrangements to businesses in your community. This guaranteed revenue serves as a nice cushion during months with lower sales. When you approach businesses, remember to emphasize the positive emotional impact that flowers have on moods and lifetime happiness.
Approach these types of businesses:
- Doctor's Office
- Restaurants
- Car Dealerships
- Hospitals
- Hair & Beauty Salons
- Daycare Centers
- Banks
- Physical & Occupational Therapy Offices
- Boutiques
- Nursing Homes
- Rehabilitation Centers
- Coffee Shops
- Apartment Complex Welcome Center
- Insurance Offices
Practice your pitch and test to see what type of offer is more appealing. Some businesses might be willing to pay upfront for a full year of flower delivery, but some smaller businesses might only want to pay a monthly fee with no contract.
As you strategize for 2017, look for ways to increase your profits and create attainable goals.
Be willing to let go of practices that are unprofitable and be open to new ways of doing business.