By admin, on April 4th, 2011
CitiFloral has developed a special expertise in sending flower orders to overseas destinations and filing orders coming from foreign countries for delivery in New York. From our beginnings 25 years ago, we realized that international business was a very important field for florists and their customers. It was an area largely ignored or misunderstood by florists.
Early on, we attracted many customers who sent flowers overseas. At one time, American Express Platinum Card concierge was one of our biggest provider of orders. We learned how to send their orders overseas and fill then in New York or elsewhere in the US. Other companies such as Saatchi & Saatchi and the Trump Group have us to send orders or them throughout the world.
We became one of the biggest senders of international orders through FTD. Most of those were delivered through Interflora, the European counterpart of FTD and now a division of FTD. When FTD moved its headquarters, we helped educate the new international staff and its director about the process of sending, receiving and handling international orders.
Our service and quality became so well known that we were soon asked to deliver all FTD international orders in New York City. Now, we still receive and deliver a large portion of these overseas orders. And, because of our expertise, we are often asked to handle large orders and deliveries to dignitaries and other famous people. Recently, we delivered many large, spectacukar floral arrangement to the King of Saudi Arabia while he was in New York City. When FTD International needs an exquisite arrangement or has special demands from a foreign customer, they call on us.
As a member of FTD, the oldest US floral wire service, we are also an affiliate of Interflora. Together, they provides floral services in most of the world.
We are also a top member of Teleflora, the other large US floral service. We receive many international orders through Teleflora and send some overseas orders through them.
We try our very best to accomodate foreign customers. We are almost alone in accepting the JCB credit card, which is the Japanese equivalent of American Express. We cooperated with the JCB New York office in fulfilling the floral and gift basket needs of their Japanese customers living in Japan or the US. Ask us what JCB is, we know–and value the business of our Japanese fower customers.
You can visit us through our website, citifloral.com, anytime, day or night. to place an international order, click on International Deliveries. And, for those of you who are more fluent in languages other than English, you can view our website and order in French or Spanish. e speak your language.
People who know call on CitiFloral!
By admin, on March 19th, 2011
By admin, on March 16th, 2011
Are you mystified by the floral wire service structure? Well, florists are too. A little history…
FTD was the first wire service. It was a cooperative of florists across the country which gave them the opportunity to send orders from one city to another with a central clearinghouse. This way, orders could be sent by telegraph, and they could be paid for through the clearinghouse rather than making payment arrangements for each order. This was revolutionary in the prehistoric electronic age–being able to have a delivery made the same day in a far-away location with the touch of a few buttons.
Originally, FTD was owned by the florists who shared common interests. Someone had the bright idea to try to cash in on the equity by selling FTD to another company. As far as we were concerned, this was a terrible move, and we protested the plans quite vocally. As it did turn out, florists were pitted against the new owner and got the raw end of the deal. Florists have been made poorer at the expense of the greedy new owner. FTD takes more money from florists, leaving the florists to work hard for FTD for very little money.
Alongside FTD grew a privately-owned company, Teleflora–which in our view provides superior service to florists. Teleflora has continued to grow–while FTD has shrunk–making it the largest floral wire service in the US. Teleflora provides a wide variety of customer-oriented products (FTD has some less creative branded products) which have attained a bigger national profile through intensive marketing programs.
Many other wire services have come and gone. BloomNet, a creation of 800-FLOWERS, is the only competitor remaining. Interflora, the counterpart of FTD, continues to operate in other parts of the world including Europe.
The biggest change in the floral business is the growth in order-gatherers, who take orders–now primarily through the internet–and send them to other florists to be filled. The three wire services have become major order-gatherers, competing with their local florist members and glomming up the majority of customer orders.
Florists are getting weary of being the low man on the totem pole. Many are dropping one or more of the wire services because they can do better with only one service or none. Hard economic times have made florists think intensely about survival. They judge the economic consequences–and they are now often coming to the conclusion that wire services don’t work for them.
We are on the cusp of a brave new world for florists and the wire services.
We invite other fkorists to post their comments to this blog. It is time to tackle these issues before retail florists are swept out of business. We are interested in knowing of your thoughts.
By admin, on February 23rd, 2011
One of the most important aspects of our business–although probably the least well known–is our provision of flowers to offices and residential buildings in Manhattan on a weekly basis. From the very beginning of our existence in 1986, we have provided flowers once a week to many customers in New York City. The businesses include important law, venture capital, entertainment, social media and other professional firms, such as Jones Day, Waller Capital, Mind Share and N.S. Bienstock. The residential buildings we serve are administered by several well-known real estate management organizations, such as Glenwood Management.
We are proud of our relationships with our long-term customers, who find CitiFloral’s arrangements to be tantilizing to the eye, fresh and long-lasting as could be, and cost-effective for ever-dwindling budgets. We know our customers well–what they like and don’t like and what is appropriate for their environment.
We are small enough to know and care for each of our customers personally. Our staff has great experience and understanding that melds the benefits of a history of serving our customers well and an appreciation for all that’s traditional as well as modern or unusual.
We offer a full range of floral-related services, including arrangements, bouquets, plants, fruit and gourmet baskets, stuffed animals and balloons. Our business and personal devotees take advantage of our service seven days a week. And, they love us because we can normally do what they want us to do–like nobody else can.
When we first started CitiFloral, weekly flowers to personal customers’ homes and apartments were all the rage. Now, customers like to order when they need us, as life is more varied and immediate than it once was. We cater to those who want to pre-order and those who decide what and when they want on the spur of the moment.
If you like what we do, please consider making us a weekly habit–or telling others what you think about us. While you’re at it, there’s nothing better for business as good online reviews.
By admin, on February 22nd, 2011
Tulips are the epidome of spring flowers. This time of year, everything’s coming up tulips. We offer a great selection of tulips, with arrangements geared to different tastes and budgets.
Look at citifloral.net. All our tulip products are available online–in vase arrangements or wrapped bouquets, in one color or mixed. We have some unique products, such as a modern design, tulips tied together in glass.
For something special, try our beautiful French tulips. Unike Holland tulips, they have longer stems and bigger heads. They are the Cadillac of bulb plants. French tulips make an elegant, tasteful statement. Before calla lilies came more into vogue, our customers always asked for French tulips in the spring. Try them–your special someone will be impressed!
Everybody seems to love tulips. Why not send some to your favorite person today? In a time of year that we can’t wait for spring, with tulips you can say, Spring Has Sprung!
We invite you to visit our new Tulips category and select a special gift perfect for any occasion. You gift is guaranteed to make a hit every time.
By Jeffrey, on February 20th, 2011
We take Valentine’s Day very seriously at CitiFloral, Inc. It is our most important day to shine for our customers. Whether they are seen as stars has a major impact on their marriage or relationship. This is the day when people express their love and have only one chance to get it perfect.
We recognize the important role we play in our customers’ lives. In most cases, red roses are recognized as the flower that represents true love. Our history shows that customers and recipients are awed by perfect red roses that are beautiful, fresh and long-lasting. But, let a customer down and they feel that you have ruined their one day to show their best. The roses have to convey the emotion that the sender is “forever yours.”
I was not here last year at Valentine’s Day for reasons beyond my control. I do not know whether the roses that were delivered met our standard of perfection, but a lot of the roses we received for that holiday were returned to our suppliers due to quality reasons.
This year, I was in contol, and we made every effort to find a red rose that would fit the bill. We found the Forever Young variety to be ideal at a reasonable price. We ordered lots of Forever Young roses from the best growers, having no idea of the actual demand this Valentine’s Day. We received them all in time.
In the end, this Valentine’s Day turned out to be a moderate success. We kept focused on our mission during the turmoil and mayhem that characterize the day for florists. We recognized the drag that the economic situation is having on all of us. We did not take on more than we could bite off. Although we had to turn away a lot of business, at the end of the day we were able to rest in peace–in large part due to Forever Young!
Forever yours,
Jeff Gaster, Chairman
By admin, on February 6th, 2011
The roses you choose to send you love on Valentine’s Day can make all the difference between a passionate gesture and a disaster.
A rose is not just a rose. You can get cheaper roses than ours, but there’s usually a reason. We buy only top quality, long-stem red roses, present them elegantly, and hand deliver them expertly. You only have one shot at making a smashing impression. It is our mission to help you do just that.
Please don’t get alarmed by the Valentine’s cost of roses. It’s just a matter of market supply and demand. Like the Dutch tulips of centuries ago, it seems that the prices go through the roof once a year. But, we and our customers are used to this. They cannot wait for a post-holiday sale of roses.
We would say come early and often–well, at least early. Don’t be disappointed when Feb. 14 rolls around. Please call us or order online before it’s too late,
By admin, on December 29th, 2010
Life has become different in the U.S. and the world in the past couple of years. The economic stagnation has stymied the limited economic growth we experienced. While the quality of life may have improved in some ways, the average person has to make do with less. The gap between the rich and middle class has become larger, and inequities in the treatment of the less fortunate and those stigmatized as the least desirable by the new (Republican) powers-that-are-to-be have resulted in a loss of the American dream for many people through no fault of their own.
We are being led down the path of possible financial and social ruin. This did not and does not have to happen. The reallocation of benefits to the rich and denigration of people who don’t fit the stereotypes of who belongs in this country and what people are expected to do with their lives stand to break apart the well-being and productivity of our society.
Dividing American society has negative consequences for those most affected, but taking away from the earning, saving and spending capacity of many people ruins an economy that thrives on economic activity for all. Will we ever have a robust economy and equal treatment like we had under the Clinton adminitration?
Or, are we condemned to suffer by “no-nothing” politicians who speak out of both sides of their mouths, acting only in the interest of their kind, with little regard to the short-term and long-term consequences of their actions.
As bad as the aggregate economic statistics are, we in small business and the middle class are feeling the brunt of stagnation and likely decline. Is there any hope for this country in 2011?
We will only succeed individually by holding to our values and pursuing life to the fullest we know how. We cannot expect much wealth, so we will have to take satisfaction in the other elements in life. No matter how bad things seem to become, we must make the best of what we have. If the American economy is on the verge of failing, we must at least preserve the society. This may depend on preventing the implementation of the Tea Party “policies.”
Courage, right-thinking people! Time to stand up and be counted! May the future be bright!
By admin, on December 24th, 2010
As we start 2011, the florist business is in a tizzy. Will this be the end of the retail florist business as we know it? The retail florist has made it through times thick and thin. Will we hold out long enough to survive the shakeout and take advantage of the resurgence of the economy if it ever occurs?
Besides the effect of the economic doldrums, there are infrastructural changes that have made it more likely for us to survive while at the same time making it more difficult.
The internet holds a two-edged sword. It makes it possible for us to be in touch with and find customers at an unprecedented rate. But, it also makes us compete with every business offering floral services of varying types. The business pie may have grown larger, but our share of it may not be. We look at this as a golden opportunity to differentiate ourselves. But, the sad truth is that–as in politics–the big money has a tremendous advantage in this game.
The other problem that individual florists are experiencing is loss of control of their customers to the mega wire services, Teleflora and FTD. Teleflora has gained most of the market, as florists have been turned off by FTD. They have both developed schemes to increase their share and reduce the florists’. For the time being, florists seem content working for the benefit of the wire services. But, the growing disaffection of florists–embodied in the decline in membership–could reduce the wire services’ stanglehold on the business.
We have seen the strongest survive in tough times….and this is certainly one of them. Come take a trip through the maze that awaits us and see if we make it out of the bramble bush before us.
By admin, on December 13th, 2010
Roses have a very special feeling to people, expressing love and compassion of all kinds. Red roses are special–and we have found that not all red roses are alike. The best red roses look wonderful and last long. They also cost a bit more, but they are worth it. We are experimenting with different varieties, and we are happiest with new roses we’ve found. We like them better…and our customers do too.
Of course, there are many other colors of roses–white, pink, yellow, peach, cream–each of which appeal to different people. We apply the same standards to these colors as to red roses.
Our customers expect the best from us in their very special moments. When Valentine’s Day rolls around, we need to deliver the best roses available. Our customers may have to pay a pretty penny, but their loved ones are worth it.
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