Is It Cheaper to Buy Flowers from a Florist?

When walking past a display of flowers for sale at a local market or supermarket, a common question that might pass through your mind is: 'Is it cheaper to buy flowers from a florist?' The answer is not quite as straightforward as it seems, as it depends on what aspects you value most - be it cost, quality, experience, or the artistry involved in floral arrangements.

Here I will explore the key differences between purchasing flowers from a florist versus a supermarket. I will highlight the factors that contribute to the difference in pricing and why investing in a professional florist can provide value well beyond just the flowers themselves. We hope that understanding these factors will help you make a more informed decision for your next floral purchase!
 

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Supermarket Flowers vs. Florist Arrangements: A Price Comparison

The most apparent difference between flowers from a supermarket and those from a florist is the price. Supermarkets have the buying power to acquire flowers in bulk at significantly lower costs, allowing them to offer flowers to customers at cheaper prices. Often, supermarkets use flowers as a "loss leader", which is a product sold at a loss to attract customers to the store, with the expectation that they will purchase other, more profitable items during their visit.

Florists, particularly those who operate in the premium market, often price their arrangements higher, and for good reason. Unlike supermarkets, florists do not benefit from bulk discounts at the same scale. Instead, they source their flowers from speciality suppliers who prioritise quality over quantity. Florists also have to account for the costs associated with maintaining their shops, training skilled staff, and dedicating time to designing bespoke arrangements that reflect the artistry of floristry.

Quality: More Than Just Price

While flowers from a supermarket may indeed be cheaper, they often come at the expense of quality. One of the main concerns with supermarket flowers is freshness. Supermarkets typically source their flowers from large-scale suppliers, and these flowers often endure long transit times and extended periods in storage. By the time they reach the shelves, they may already be past their prime.

Local florists on the other hand, prioritise quality above all else. Florists take great care to source their flowers from trusted suppliers, often opting for locally grown blooms when possible. Premium florists like us at Kate Hill, go even further, using only A-grade flowers that are not only fresher but are also of superior quality, meaning they can last two to three times longer than supermarket flowers. Florists also store their flowers in optimal conditions, ensuring they remain hydrated, vibrant, and healthy for as long as possible.

Moreover, florists work often with growers to ensure that the flowers they offer are of premium quality, not just in appearance but also in durability. This means that the roses and other blooms you receive are far more likely to withstand the test of time, ensuring you get the best value for your money.

Artistry and Expertise: What Sets Florists Apart

One of the most significant advantages of buying from a florist is the level of craftsmanship and expertise that goes into each bouquet. Florists are skilled (and often trade qualified) artisans who spend years honing their craft. They know how to work with different flowers, combining colours, textures, and fragrances to create arrangements that are both beautiful and harmonious. They understand the nuances of flower care, seasonality, and the intricate art of floral design.

When you purchase flowers from a florist, you are not just buying a product, you are investing in a carefully crafted experience. Each arrangement is made with care and precision, taking into account the occasion, the recipient's preferences, and the sentiment behind the gift. Florists can create custom arrangements, allowing you to choose specific flowers or colours to match your event or personal taste.

In contrast, supermarket flowers are often pre-packaged in simple plastic sleeves, with no consideration for design or presentation. The flowers are typically bundled together with minimal thought, resulting in a bouquet that lacks the artistic touch and aesthetic appeal of a professionally designed arrangement.

Personalised Service and Customisation

Another area in which florists excel is in customisation and personalised service. If you have a specific vision for your floral arrangement, whether it is a particular colour scheme or a favourite flower, you can discuss your ideas with a florist, and they will work with you to bring your vision to life. Florists can also provide recommendations based on their extensive knowledge of flower availability, seasonality, and the symbolism of different blooms.

This level of customisation is simply not available when buying flowers from a supermarket. With supermarket bouquets, what you see is what you get, and there is no opportunity to make adjustments or add personal touches to the arrangement.

Supporting Local Businesses

When you buy from a florist, you are also supporting a local small business, not a national or international conglomerate solely focused on profits. Florists are passionate about their craft and play an essential role in their communities by providing flowers for weddings, events, and celebrations of all kinds. By choosing to buy from a florist, you are contributing to the local economy, sustaining small businesses, and keeping floral artistry alive in your community.

Supermarkets, on the other hand, generally source their flowers from large-scale suppliers who operate on a much broader scale, often with little connection to the local community. By choosing a local florist, particularly a premium Melbourne florist like Kate Hill Flowers, you are ensuring that your purchase supports local growers and the wider floral industry in your area.

Longevity and Value for Money

While the upfront cost of flowers from a florist may be higher, the value they provide often makes them more cost-effective in the long run. Because florist-sourced flowers are typically fresher and of a higher grade, they last longer than their supermarket counterparts. A bouquet from a premium florist like Kate Hill Flowers can last up to two or even three times longer, provided the flowers are cared for correctly. Florists also provide detailed care instructions to ensure you get the most out of your arrangement, along with flower food to prolong their freshness.

Supermarket flowers, on the other hand, are often already on their last legs by the time they are purchased. While they may be cheaper initially, they often wilt within a few days, offering less value for money compared to a longer-lasting, premium bouquet.

The Experience Factor

Buying flowers from a florist is about more than just the product; it is an experience in itself. Many florists create a welcoming and inspiring atmosphere in their shops, where customers can see, touch, and smell the flowers before making a selection. Florists are available to answer questions, provide advice, and make recommendations based on your specific needs.

In contrast, buying flowers from a supermarket is a more transactional experience. The flowers are often placed near the checkout, with limited options available, and there is no one to guide you through the selection process or to help you choose the best blooms for your occasion.

Occasions That Call for a Florist

While supermarket flowers may suffice for very casual circumstances, there are certain events that truly benefit from the expertise of a professional florist. Weddings, anniversaries, funerals, and other significant events call for a level of care and attention that only a florist can provide. Florists like Kate Hill Flowers work closely with clients to design bespoke bouquets, centrepieces, and floral decorations that reflect the desired style and vision. This level of detail and customisation simply cannot be achieved with supermarket flowers.

For weddings, in particular, florists play a crucial role in setting the tone and enhancing the beauty of the event. Their expertise ensures that the floral arrangements perfectly complement the venue, the attire, and the overall theme of the celebration.

Supermarket Flowers: When They can Make Sense

All that being said, there are times when supermarket flowers are a reasonable choice. If you need a quick, budget-friendly bouquet for a casual occasion, such as a very simple gesture of appreciation, supermarket flowers can be a convenient option. They are easily accessible, often available at a lower cost, and can still bring a smile to someone's face if you re-wrap them at home.

However, it is essential to manage expectations when purchasing supermarket flowers, and be cautious of how they may reflect on any intended gratitude. For example, they are unlikely to have the same level of freshness, longevity, or aesthetic appeal as a bouquet from a local Melbourne florist, so the sense of gratitude is reduced accordingly.

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice for Your Needs

Ultimately, whether it is cheaper to buy flowers from a local florist depends on what you value most. If price is your primary concern and you need a quick, convenient option, supermarket flowers may be the way to go. However, if you value quality, craftsmanship, and the overall experience, a local florist is well worth the investment.

Florists provide much more than just flowers; they offer personalised service, expert advice, and the ability to create stunning, one-of-a-kind arrangements tailored to your needs. By choosing a florist, you are investing in a beautiful product that has been crafted with care, while also supporting local businesses and the art of floral design.

Xinchengzhi supply professional and honest service.

The next time you need flowers, consider what is most important to you - cost, convenience, or quality. If you want flowers that will impress, last longer, and if you desire an arrangement that is crafted with care and artistry, a florist is the best choice. While it may cost a bit more initially, the value and experience you receive in return are far greater.

Kate x

Florist pricing is key to a profitable business. How much you markup your flowers determines your profit margin.

The cost of shipping wholesale flowers can vary greatly, so it's important to have a plan in place that covers those costs. Otherwise, you may not generate enough profit and may be out of business rather quickly.

An EveryStem member wrote to me recently with a question: 'How do florists account for shipping costs associated with flower orders?'

Florist pricing is challenging and with price fluctuations it can get complicated. Even though times are tough, you can take action!

So, I am sharing 3 practical ways to cover your wholesale flower shipping costs. Let's dig in!

Flower pricing can feel cumbersome, but it doesn't have to be that way! Flower Math allows you to simplify your floral design prices and leave room for a healthy profit margin in your business.

You have two options when it comes to covering these variable costs. You can account for the costs of wholesale flower shipping per event or per stem.

My advice is to consider a few thing about your business first and then decide.

1. Do you frequently order flowers with high shipping costs or do you have the luxury of buying local?

2. Do you want to keep your pricing simple or do you prefer a more methodical process?

3. Do you have a system that helps you price and accurately order your wholesale flowers?

Once you've answered these questions, you can determine which of the 3 options for covering shipping costs works best for your business.

Here's Florist Pricing Option #1: Use your markup to cover the costs of shipping

Include shipping costs in your retail markup for every floral design you sell.

Many florists markup their flowers 3, 4, or 5x. The markup takes the cost of the flowers and multiplies it up to the retail price. The difference between your cost and your retail price should include the cost of all your expenses, consumables like floral tape, and allow room for a healthy profit.

Florists with higher overall costs typically use higher markups to cover those costs and ensure a healthy profit.

For example. Let's say you have a flower that is $2 a stem. If you use a 4x markup that flower at retail is $8 and a 5x markup is $10 for that same flower.

The cost of shipping, processing, tape, electricity, marketing, labor, working with the client, all your expenses may add up to around $2 or $3 for each flower. Then, the remainder of that retail price is your profit. So, the $2 cost, $3 expenses, plus $3 profit totals your $8 retail price for that flower using a 4x markup.

So with this in mind, you can adjust your markup for each event in EveryStem using the Event Details button. If you are ordering lots of local flowers and don't need as much cost allocated to shipping you may want to use a 4x markup, but if you are ordering lots of flowers from multiple suppliers that will add up to high shipping costs, then a 5x markup maybe more appropriate.

This is the most common way that designers allocate for these costs, because you do not have to change the price of each flower based on the cost of shipping.

It's simple, straightforward and it works. Your client benefits by receiving an invoice with all inclusive pricing and you can easily communicate that to them in your contract and marketing collateral.

Here's Florist Pricing Option #2: Add a Line Item

Include shipping costs in a separate line item. You can do this in the EveryStem software program using the Fee Calculator.

Depending on how you invoice your clients you can add fees on top of the prices of your designs. This option works well for our EveryStem members who share only the top line price with their clients and those who share an itemized invoice. However, if you share an itemized invoice you can add a line item for this at the bottom or bundle it into a service fee line item.

In this case you may charge a 3x, 4x, or 5x markup, but then add the cost of the shipping and processing as a service fee.

Use a description in your line item called Labor Fee or Serivce Fee: Your flowers are carefully sourced and processed with love.

The underlined sentence is the piece I think that is relevant here. You can charge for shipping costs in a line item labor or service fee with a note like this. 'all of your flowers are sourced and processed the week of your event' and you can choose to use a percentage of the total retail price of the order or a flat dollar amount.

This benefits your client because it's transparent and you can communicate your floral design products and client services clearly by using line items. If you only share a top line price with your clients you can still communicate all the value, care, and costs that go into the creation of their designs, including shipping!

Here's Florist Pricing Option #3: Raise Costs

The last option is different than the first two because it accounts for shipping costs per stem rather than per design or event.

You'll average out the cost of shipping per stem and add that fee to the cost of each flower. If you are using EveryStem florist software the best time to do this step is when you create new flowers in your library.

Since most shipping costs aren't calculated until right before the delivery, I suggest going with an average of your last 5 invoices and adding the same percentage shipping cost to each flower.

This method can get complicated and requires a close eye over shipping costs per stem even when you average them out.

I personally like option 1 and 2 more because they are easier to implement and can be adjusted per event or design, rather than per flower.

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