As more and more flower shops begin operating again, the business community has been crying out to consumers to “Support local.” While that’s certainly a wonderful way to help them back on their feet and boost the local economy, as a consumer you may be asking “What’s in it for me?”. Plenty, actually, and here are a few reasons why:
1. You can save more money.
Some large floral shop chains will usually just redirect your orders to a florist somewhere in the same state or region as you. This florist will make up your order but you get to pay an additional fee to the big name flower site to be the middleman. In case they do not redirect your order but will make up your order themselves, you will then have to pay more for shipping, handling, and any other extras.
2. You can get better service.
Many floral shop chains utilize call center employees to handle calls for them. Any inquiry or complaint you might have will go through these employees who might not personally know a thing about your order. If you order directly from your local florist, any concern you have about your order will be immediately addressed by them and remedied sooner.
3. Your flowers will arrive fresher.
Purchasing floral arrangements from a flower shop near you means you get blooms while they’re fresh and while they’re in season. Many flowers that come from outside your region have usually been cut and spend several days in refrigerated storage before they get to you, which means they’ll likely wilt in your home within a few days.
4. Your arrangements are unique.
Working with a local flower shop means that you receive excellent recommendations that are customized to your style, needs, and budget. They’ll help you decide what specific colors, blooms, and design will convey your meaning the best.
5. You can get your orders quickly.
Staying with a local florist means that you will get your orders much more quickly than if you order from a giant floral supply chain. Plus because they will get to you sooner, you’ll be able to enjoy their blooms for longer.
Local flower shops aren’t any different from national floral supply chains. They have the same ordering capabilities and can provide you with many beautiful designs to suit any occasion. Once you’ve established a relationship with your local florist, you can be sure you’ll have someone who knows precisely what you need when you need it.
Supporting small businesses
Thinking local not only helps you cut on costs, but it can also help you and the community in the long run. Every dime you spend on a local enterprise is money it will spend on helping boost other local businesses. For example, your local flower shop is most likely to use a local bank to store its earnings, use a local farm to source flowers, use local crafters for ribbons, and so on. When your community thrives, everyone benefits.