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Originally Posted On: https://www.thefloristsupplyshop.com/blogs/learning-center/4-things-to-look-for-in-a-wholesale-floral-supply-company
For florists and flower shops, choosing a wholesale floral supply company is one of the most critical, and difficult, decisions that they will ever have to make. Finding the right floral supplier is crucial to the success of your business, as a wholesale supplier who is knowledgeable, reliable, and provides high-quality products will help ensure you are able to build a loyal customer base. Yet, in today’s market, you will no doubt have countless wholesale floral supply companies to choose from, which can make it difficult to know where to start. Whether you are opening a new flower shop, or you are simply looking to switch providers, you will need to make sure that you research wholesalers in order to ensure that you find the best company to meet your needs. Yet, how can you ensure that you are partnering with a wholesale floral supply company that you can trust? To help you make this important decision, here is a look at 4 things you should look for in a wholesale floral supply company.
Make Sure They Offer a Variety of Products
As you narrow down your list of wholesale floral supply companies, it is important that you take the time to research each candidate to find out more about their business history and the products that they offer. Make sure that you speak to each wholesaler on the phone, as you will want to ask specific questions about their products and services. In particular, you should find out how diverse their product offering is, as your customers’ desires will vary greatly depending on the season, the occasion, and their budget, and you will need access to a variety of vases, containers, and other products that meet your customers’ unique needs.
It is then critical that you work with a wholesale floral supply and accessories company that offers as wide a range of products as possible. This will help ensure that you have access to the items your customers want, widening your client base. Having access to a wide variety of container styles and designs can also increase your chances of gaining repeat customers, as you will be seen as a reliable source for all occasions.
How Easy Are They to Reach on The Phone?
When talking to a potential supplier, you will also want to take this time to assess their customer service skills. The fact is that you will likely be dealing with your supplier on a regular basis, and you want to choose a floral wholesale company that you not only feel comfortable working with, but also, who you can rely on to be there when you need them. Before making a final choice, contact your top supplier several times to get a sense of how easy it is to get a hold of them. Do you have a difficult time getting a real person over the phone? Do they offer multiple forms of contact including a website where you can place orders and receive support easily when needed? The last thing that you want is to encounter a problem with a project/order only to realize that your supplier’s representatives are difficult to deal with, or you can’t get a hold of a person over the phone when you need assistance. Take the time to find a floral wholesaler you can be confident will provide the support you need when you need it.
How Knowledgeable Are They?
When talking to a florist supply shop, you should also be assessing how knowledgeable they are. The fact is that you want to find a supplier who knows their product and will be able to provide you with guidance when you are placing orders. A good way to get a sense of a wholesaler’s knowledge and experience is to ask them how long they have been in business and what their history is in the industry. You may even find it helpful to create a list of questions to ask in preparation for talking to a potential wholesale partner. Asking questions will allow you to assess their industry experience, which can help you to decide whether or not you feel comfortable working with them.
Do They Offer a Guarantee?
You should also find out whether a floral supplies companies you are considering working with offers any kind of guarantee on their products and services. A reliable wholesaler should be confident enough in their services to guarantee their products will be delivered on time and are as described on their website. Make sure that you find out how long their deliveries take, whether they offer overnight delivery, and how they guarantee on-time delivery.
The fact is that if you are working on a big project that requires a deadline, such as a wedding, you want to be able to count on your floral supplies arriving on time. You should then make sure to ask a potential wholesale floral supplies partner what guarantee they offer on their products and services. Do they offer simple returns/exchanges? How do they ensure your order will arrive on time? A quality wholesaler will be transparent about their returns policy and delivery guarantee, as they will want to do whatever it takes to keep customers happy and make things right if something goes wrong with an order.
You should also find a supplier who is willing to take responsibility when there are quality issues with their products. Try to find out how a supplier handles product defects and other quality issues. What is their quality inspection process like? How do they take care of customers when a quality issue arises? The last thing that you want is to work with a supplier who does not hold themselves accountable for quality issues, as this could cause you to miss deadlines and/or lose business to competitors.
These are just a few of the qualities you should look for in a wholesale floral supply company. Feel free to contact us for additional advice on how to choose a reliable floral wholesaler you can trust.
