Online flower delivery
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Online flower delivery services are websites that allow consumers to order flowers and related items by browsing an online catalogue. They are often delivered to a third party, the recipient of the gift.
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[edit] Types of service
Services are broadly divided into three categories: Local Florist, Order Broker and Courier.
[edit] Local florist
Local florist websites offer arrangements and bouquets for direct delivery in the geographic area physically serviced by their companies' own vans and personnel. This service is also known as 'hand delivered' and has the advantage of presenting shoppers with the precise items available for delivery on a same-day basis. Local delivery charges are generally displayed as separate fee from the price of each product.
[edit] Order broker
Order brokers are third-party agents that display arrangement and bouquet product images and then transfer orders to affiliated local florists for fulfillment and hand delivery. Order broker customers pay additional service fees as well as local delivery charges, which are generally included in the price displayed with each product. The advantage of this service is the consolidation of purchases for delivery to multiple locations through a single website.
Most local florists also offer order brokering services for national and international delivery
[edit] Courier delivery
Courier delivered flowers (also sometimes called Grower Direct or Flowers By Post) are assembled into bunches at the farm or in the warehouse of an importer or distributor; they are then placed in cardboard boxes and shipped direct to the recipient via overnight couriers. The advantage of such a service is that because the flowers are shipped from the farm/importer they can be fresher although temperature fluctuations en-route and shipping conditions may negate the benefit. Recipients are responsible to unpack, clean, condition and arrange courier delivered flowers.
[edit] Peak periods
Christmas, 25th Dec; Valentines Day, 14th Feb; and Mother's Day, 2nd Sunday of May are when demand of services is the highest.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- Staby, George and Reid, Michael. "Improving the Cold Chain for Cut Flowers and Potted Plants" California Cut Flower Commission, December 2005.
- Westbrook, Mary. "Up The Supply Chain" Floral Management - Society of American Florists, September 2005, p 18.
