Getting into the business of growing and selling cut flowers is a tough nut to crack. Competition from countries with more warm temperatures, as well as local commercial distributors, makes it difficult to price your flowers at a reasonable price. When it comes to selling cut flowers, if you are skilled and passionate about the subject, you should promote yourself away from the larger wholesalers.
Decide on a niche in the floral industry. Consult with your local florists to learn about the products they use most frequently or are having difficulty locating. Consider your climate and greenhouse conditions, as well as the amount of time you expect to devote to producing and cutting flowers.
Bạn đang xem: How To Sell Cut Flowers? A Few Tips to Remember
You should set prices for your flowers. In addition to labor costs, consider the cost of the seeds or bulbs as well as dirt, fertilizer, water, and greenhouse space, as well. Calculate the cost per flower by multiplying that figure by the number of blooms you intend to cut. When selling flowers, you should aim to make at least twice as much money as you spend. To ensure that your pricing are competitive, check the USDA Cut Flower Wholesale Price Report and alter them as necessary.
Do some research on local florists and food stores to see what they have to offer. Produce an informational pamphlet or brochure that explains the advantages of supporting local producers and purchasing their products, such as how the money helps local schools and businesses. Strike up a conversation with the store owners or managers and persuade them to accept your business. Promote flowers that may be difficult for many stores to find quickly, such as peonies or Casablanca lilies. Promote flowers that may be difficult for many retailers to find.
Once you’ve received an order, make sure to deliver the fresh cut flowers on time and in perfect condition. To prevent stems from breaking during transportation, most wholesalers use paper or plastic cones to wrap their flowers. To preserve freshness at the retailer, make sure the flowers have been submerged in water since they were cut.
Attend farmer’s markets and rent a booth. Additionally, you can sell your cut flowers in venues where buyers are looking for fresh, locally grown products, such as farmers markets and farmers markets. During the summer months, farmer’s markets can be found on Saturdays in smaller towns as well as in major cities. As a farmer’s market vendor, you can often charge a higher price per stem than a wholesaler. You may also use leftover flowers to make bouquets and get rid of the extras that way.
A person’s eyes light up when I tell them that I’m a flower grower and that I have four acres of blooms. If you’re looking for a life that’s both beautiful and challenging, then this is it. As for selling cut flowers, it can be challenging to figure out where and how to sell them from your farm.
Where and How to Sell Cut Flowers from Your Farm
One of the first comments I almost always get is, “I would love to see your farm.” We live on a busy county road and just a couple minutes’ drive from the city limits. Our customers can drive by and see the flowers and us working in the fields. As our operation has grown in the past 11 years, so has the excitement for our locally grown flowers.
“I’d want to visit your farm,” is one of the most common compliments I receive. We’re only a few minutes outside of town on a major county route. There is a view of the fields from our customers’ homes. In the eleven years since we started, the interest in our regionally grown flowers has only grown.
Customer inquiries about where they may get our flowers outside of the Saturday morning market grew. To address a problem we encountered in one of our markets, we considered allowing customers to purchase directly from the farm. I wasn’t sure whether people would make the effort to come out to our farm to pick up, but they did!
For the most part, we’ve discovered that selling our farm’s cut flowers in the following five communities works best:
- On our property, we have a farm stand.
- Christmas markets (or other holiday-themed markets) are a great way to spend time with friends and family.
- A market where you can buy fresh produce from a farmer’s stand
- There are several small businesses in the region.
- The old-fashioned way of doing things
1. FARM STAND
Marketing your flowers requires that you put them on display. Think about what is visually appealing and how you can best utilize the available space in your home. Some of the items that we needed to include in our farm stand design were as follows:
- Shade from the sweltering heat
- As a result of its portability, we could easily relocate and transport it around for different occasions.
- Security
It was my father’s suggestion that we repurpose an old livestock trailer he no longer needed as a flower cart. It appeared to be in a poor state. To the bare bones, he removed all of the siding and roofing. This meant that if the trailer had two axles, it would necessitate special electronic brakes for the trailer as well as a set of brakes for the car that was pulling it. It wasn’t necessary with just one axle. Consequently, the trailer enclosure and roof were completely redone by this person. In order to provide a show area, the trailer’s sides can be folded down, and a folding awning was built in. Incoming payments were secured in a locked toolbox that he built and attached to the outside of the barn.
The anticipation was palpable when the flower cart arrived! Using social media, I would inform our customers what was in the cart and they would share and tag friends and spouses who drove by our farm on their way to or from work.
After such a short time, our secondary market was surpassed by the flower cart. We were able to make a profit selling flowers despite incurring only minimal overhead. Everything about it was great. Throughout the day, we replenished the cart several times. When it came to choosing flowers, we mostly opted for sunflower and gladiolus bunches.
A colorful Ribbon Guide and access to Team Flower’s video library are all on their way to you. Only if you pay for the service.
2. CHRISTMAS MARKET
My family and I attended an event at our local market’s Christmas pageant during the holidays. Decorated with charming lights, wreaths, and table arrangements, the cart was transformed into a Christmas wonderland for our guests. Customers remarked that our display looked like something out of a Hallmark film.
And you’re not restricted to the stalls at your neighborhood Christmas market, either! Consider participating in holiday or seasonal events that allow local vendors, such as a summer arts and crafts fair or a Fourth of July celebration in your neighborhood, to meet potential customers.
Is it possible to start or maintain a flower farm? Even if you have a small amount of space to work with, you can still benefit from these helpful hints and tactics. You can get access to free video tutorials and more by signing up here.
3. FARM STAND MARKET
Xem thêm : How To Make A Small Greenhouse For Seedlings? Easy Step-by-step Guide
Besides the local farm stand markets, we also offer our bouquets online. Produce grown by the market’s proprietors is on hand, as are items sourced from the surrounding area. Both of these markets have our bouquets prominently displayed and near the cash register in order to encourage customers to buy them on the spot.
These bouquets are full of vibrant and lively colors to attract the attention of the consumer, and that’s exactly what we strive to deliver. The flowers in this arrangement are for our wedding work, not yours. No monotones or pastels here. If you’re going to be selling a bouquet in the market, it should include brilliant yellow sunflowers, bright scarlet zinnia, bright orange celosia, and colorful purple lisianthus. We enjoy using basil as a filler in these bouquets because it gives out such a lovely scent as the consumers arrange the flowers to make their selection.
To hold our buckets, we’ve either built one from ourselves or bought one off the shelf. Prices are listed on a chalkboard attached to an ancient farm wagon that stores 6–8 pails at one market.
4. LOCAL SHOPS
We also sell our bouquets at a local espresso bar. They serve as both an early-season location and a pick-up location for our subscriptions.
We also sell our bouquets at a local espresso bar. They serve as both an early-season location and a pick-up location for our subscriptions.
Our bouquets are also available for purchase at a nearby espresso cafe. In addition to serving as a pick-up station for our subscriptions, they are also an early season destination.
You don’t need a storefront to sell cut flowers in your neighborhood.
5. FARMERS’ MARKET
There is a lot of history to our farmers market. Our shelter is provided by 100-year-old pavilions and buildings. The original design of the market tables has been preserved, but they have been restored. It is possible to display up to 20 buckets of flowers at a time on the tables. Vendors line both sides of the central consumer promenade, which is open to everybody.
Due to restricted table space, we’ve learnt to be resourceful. With the help of some wooden blocks, we create another level by turning over a bulb container and covering it with a lovely cloth or burlap. Customers are drawn to multi-level displays because of their aesthetic appeal.
6. Weddings
If you enjoy making bouquets and are confident in your floral design abilities, weddings are a fantastic fit for you. Educate your brides about working with seasonal flowers and the need of being flexible with a local grower by keeping an eye on popular colors.
Plan the Perfect Garden
Create the garden of your dreams with our free Garden Planner and printables.
7. By the Bucket
By selling your flowers by the bucket, you don’t have to worry about assembling bouquets. Make it a “U-Pick” option, or ask them for any color preferences and then select a bucket on their behalf.
8. Farmstand
Live near a lot of people? For some, the solution may be a farmstand on the border of their land! Make sure the flowers don’t wilt by placing it in a shady spot.
9. Selling at a Brick and Mortar Store
In order to give their consumers a wide variety of locally grown flowers, some local retailers have teamed up with local flower farmers. The retailer will often charge a markup of 10% to 25% above your original purchase price. You may also be able to drop off your flowers at the store of some proprietors.
10. Sell Wholesale to Florists
Florists are good customers for wholesalers because they have a lot of space and don’t have to deal with the public on a daily basis. If you want to grow the flowers your florists need, get to know them and their clients.
11. Bouquet Making Workshops & Tours
Sell the experience as well as the flowers. After a brief tour of your site, customers can choose their own bouquets. Allow them to snip as they like, if you’d like, or cut the flowers for them ahead of time.
12. Fall & Winter Wreaths
Fresh evergreen wreaths and centerpieces can help you extend your season, while dried fall flowers can help you keep your customers coming back. It’s possible you’ll have to buy the greens in bulk, but it’s worth it if you can extend the period your firm can make money.
For the next three selections, you’ll need to find out if you need a license to sell these products in your location.
13. Saving Seeds and Selling Them
Make a profit by selling the seeds of your cut flowers to home gardeners. As a result, you will need to determine whether or not you wish to grow open-pollinated varieties and whether or not you need a license or permit to save and sell seeds in your area.
Cleansing the seeds for sale (remove all the little dried parts of flowers to get to the seeds) may be more effort than you bargained for if you do it all by hand.
14. Resell Bulbs and Tubers
Want to buy a large number of bulbs or tubers, although you don’t have the capacity to store them? To gain money, you can resell them to gardeners at a discount. Verify with your supplier that you have permission to resale their products, and let your clients know exactly when and how they can anticipate their orders to arrive.
15. Seedling Sale
Finally, if you have a surplus of seedlings, you may either give them away or arrange to sell them as part of a larger sale. Consider whether or not there are local rules or licenses that you must obtain before getting started.
Don’t Try and Do it All
Xem thêm : How To Take Care Of An Azalea Plant? 5 Important Tips to Remember
Burnout and disdain for your garden will ensue if you try to implement all 15 of these ideas in a single year (especially if it is your first). Even if you had a backyard garden, you wouldn’t have enough flowers to even think about it.
Make a list of three or four activities that fit your schedule, talents, and comfort level. It’s preferable to have a smaller supply and a higher demand than to have a larger supply and a lower demand.
Who is your ideal customer?
Until your first sale, your company isn’t considered a business. Be sure to think about who your ideal customer is, as well as the best approach for them to find out about your business. The needs of a local florist are different from those of a customer who buys a little arrangement from you every week or two.
Creating a social media account to showcase your flower growing story today can help you create a consumer base in the future. In order to keep your consumers up to date on offers, fresh flowers for sale, or upcoming events, you’ll need to collect email addresses after you’ve started selling.
Take Notes!
Be sure to keep track of every detail, including when and where you plant, how many flowers blossom, who buys them, and the most popular hues, flowers, shapes, and costs. You can use this information to make further enhancements to your company.
There is no one else who will keep your records for you, and no two flower growing enterprises are same.
With the Ultimate Cut Flower Bundle, you won’t have to fumble around looking for out what to plant and how to grow it. It includes four cut flower ebooks that teach you how to cultivate the flowers, produce bouquets that sell, store seeds to save money, and extend your growing season. Also included is a Pretty and Practical Garden Planner, so you can keep track of everything you’re doing in the garden. Because it’s a download, you don’t have to buy anything else to use it year after year.
Tips on Selling Cut Flowers
Flowers are always in demand, and they can be fairly expensive, especially during holidays like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. Here are a few pointers to help you sell your cut flowers at the market and earn some serious cash:
Tip #1. Sell specific flowers
Don’t start your business without first doing some investigation. To find out what flowers are in short supply or whether a certain variety is hard to come by, visit local florists and inquire about their needs. Try to focus on certain kinds of flowers and become the most sought-after supplier.
Tip #2. Set competitive and reasonable prices
When putting together a price list for your flowers, don’t forget to include the cost of the fertilizers, pots, soil, bulbs, and water you used during the growth process. In an ideal world, you’d charge a price that nets you twice as much money as your costs.
To see how your pricing stack up against those of your competitors, consult the USDA Cut Flower Wholesale Price Report. You can use their pricing suggestions to determine your own prices. This is one strategy for pricing products fairly.
Tip #3. Try your luck on the farmer’s market
The farmer’s market is one of the greatest ways to sell your cut flowers, as this usually results in a better profit margin than selling directly to florists or flower wholesalers. Event planners, for example, are more likely to become repeat clients if you set up shop at a farmer’s market.
Tip #4. Make your farmer’s market booth eye-catching
Make your booth as eye-catching as possible in order to draw the attention of passersby or potential consumers. A good place to start is by creating a sign that prominently displays the name of your business (preferably with a logo). Adding to your booth’s style is as simple as grouping flowers of similar hues or painting a beautiful mural on the wall behind it.
To avoid answering the same questions from your customers over and over again, don’t forget to put up signs that displays the prices of your flowers. In addition, some customers base their flower selection on price, and price signage makes it simpler for them to do so.
Tip #5. Keep your flowers fresh
If you don’t have a place to store your flowers, one approach to ensure that they remain fresh when sold is to harvest them as near as possible to the market time (like a cooler). To extend the life of your flowers after harvesting, place them in a bowl of water. The more attractive your flowers appear when they are being sold, the more customers you will attract.
Reasons Why You Need a Semi Pro Greenhouse
One of the most significant aspects of selling flowers on the market is quality. Customers will steer clear of your store if the flowers there are weak, withered, or otherwise unappealing. It is essential to have a semi-professional greenhouse if you plan on opening a flower store or selling flowers to wholesalers and markets.
Reasons for this include:
You can extend your plants’ flowering season
Having a semi-professional greenhouse allows you to extend the growing season of your plants. This is especially significant for flower farmers who make a living by selling their wares. You may control the climate in a greenhouse to meet the specific demands of your plants, allowing them to continue flowering even when the growth season is over.
Keep pests and diseases away
Pests can kill plants as well as ruin their flowers. Pest control is a given when you own a greenhouse. The semi-professional greenhouse’s plastic films and glass will protect the plants from pests and plant diseases.
Protection from rough weather
In addition to protecting crops from pests, greenhouses can also withstand high winds and severe rainfall. Providing your semi-professional greenhouse is well-built and securely attached to the ground, you may expect it to withstand any kind of adverse weather.
Final Thoughts on How to Sell Cut Flowers Successfully
The beauty of flowers can be added to a garden, farm, or greenhouse by planting them. However, if you have a concept of how to sell cut flowers on the market, it can be a tremendous source of revenue. These pointers can help you get started if you haven’t already.
Nguồn: https://iatsabbioneta.org
Danh mục: Garden
