Shopping Blog

The internet may have streamlined the process but the art of delivering flowers around the world goes back long before anyone even imagined a world wide web. A century ago, florists discovered it made more sense to work together to fill orders than try to send arrangements through the mail or by train. Cooperation was the key to making sure that a fresh bouquet could be delivered anywhere in the world. A florist in California would contact a shop in New York to handle delivery of flowers for a local customer who wanted to brighten the day of someone 2500 miles away.

FTD was the first company to establish a network of floral shops to deliver flowers nationwide. They used the telegraph to transmit the orders when the network began operation in 1910. Today, there are more than 16,000 FTD florists in the United States and a total of 45,000 florists which are part of the network world wide. As the company grew and expanded its ability to deliver flowers it changed its name from “Florists Telegraph Delivery” to “Florists Transworld Delivery.”

The key to the success of the floral networks is the ability to fill an order and deliver it on the same day. By having a local florist fill an out of town order, the company can make sure that the recipient is going to get fresh flowers that will last for at least a week. If the flowers would have to be mailed or shipped by Federal Express the life of the flowers would be cut short by the shipping time. There is also a convenience problem for the person receiving the gift of flowers when they are shipped through a package delivery service. The flowers come in a box and have to be cut and arranged by the person receiving the gift.

When you choose to go with an FTD florist or Teleflora member like Brant Florist in Burlington, Ontario; you are guaranteed that your flowers will be arranged and delivered by hand. In most cases, the flowers can be delivered on the same day that the order is placed.

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There is no need to spend a fortune just to send flowers. The following are some suggestions on how you can send flowers cheap.

Find a Florist

Use the Web to find a florist in the place where you are going to send the flowers. When you find a florist, call the shop to make sure the info you got is accurate.

When you talk to the florist, specify the budget and what the occasion is. You should also be willing to pay an amount for the arrangement and the delivery.

Think of the times when you are calling. The slower times are around the summer and just after the holidays. You will have more bargaining power during these times.

If it is near Mother’s Day or Valentine’s, it will be harder to negotiate for a lower cost. If the cost is prohibitive, look for another florist.

Other Ways to Cut Costs

Request for an ordinary glass vase. They are cheaper than the others. If you want, ask that the vase be excluded altogether. Do not allow the florist to convince you to buy the more expensive flowers.

The cheaper ones are daisies and carnations. The most costly are lilies and roses. Take down the name of the company so you can order from it again if service is satisfactory.

It is also a good idea to select the flowers that are in season. They will come in cheaper as the growers attempt to sell as many pieces as possible. As an example, the tulip is more costly in the winter but very affordable during the spring.

Examine the Site Closely

With so many sites competing, you now have more choices where to order cheap bouquets. If you choose the option to exclude the vase, the flowers will come in a box. This should not be a cause for concern as these boxes are attractively designed.

Check their customer support features too. There has to be a number you can call in case there are problems with the delivery.

Benefits of Ordering Online

Most of the time, it is cheaper to order from the Web. The reason is that they need fewer staff members and fewer expenses. Even then, you should have a look around. The glut of competing services means discounts and special deals are offered regularly.

Visit the Local Farmer’s Market

If you live in a warm place, consider visiting the farmer’s market. It is very likely you will find some beautiful flowers there at very competitive prices. The flowers at the northern climates are cheaper during the winter than the summer.

If you buy during this period, you can obtain bouquets cheaply. As when buying anything else, you should learn how to bargain. You have nothing to lose and a few dollars to save. Make sure to check out different growers so you can compare the prices.

The Internet has made it that much simpler to send flowers cheap. By shopping around a bit, you can order flowers without coughing up too much money.