How to Buy Wholesale Wedding Flowers
Are you looking to buy wholesale wedding flowers online? Tread carefully, because there are a lot of sites claiming to sell wholesale that will be disappointing. I've been a florist in the wedding business for over fifteen years. Granted, the internet wasn't used widely when I first began, but it is sure widespread now! Every ad for wholesale wedding flowers claim to send you beautiful bulk flowers at rock bottom prices. How do you decide between the ones that are legit and the ones that will make you cry on your wedding day?
What Should You Look for When Buying Wholesale Wedding Flowers?In the United States, before you can buy wholesale wedding flowers you must hold a retailer's license. Buying wholesale means you are telling the U.S. government that you are not buying for private use - but rather to resell for profit. That's why when you arrive at a true wholesale florist supply site, you are usually asked to submit your tax I.D. number. They have to track your purchases and answer to the government. Retailers also have to submit documentation each month to prove they are selling for profit. It's a little misleading to say - here you are! We're "wholesalers" and we're gonna sell it to you the same price as a flower shop gets it - but you don't really have to be in the business! (wink, wink);) Your "wholesale wedding flowers" may cost you more than you bargain for.
If It Sounds too Good to Be True . . . It Probably Is!I worked for a shop owner who was always on the prowl for a good bargain. If a slick seller on the phone mentioned really good buys she would grab at the bait every time! (She did admit it was better to turn the calls over to me - because I was better at saying NO!) One time she handed me a call from a "wholesaler" in Florida who was claiming to be able to promise our shop whatever we wanted at rock bottom prices. (He did call me "Honey" which kind of set me against him from the start.) With claims of gorgeous wholesale wedding flowers straight from the farms, I agreed to let him send me a sample pack of his best flowers. I've got to admit . . . they were beautiful. With some reluctance, I placed an order for an upcoming wedding with him. The flowers arrived. They were very nice. They were also the wrong color. I placed a frantic call and asked him why my flowers weren't what I ordered. He gave a profuse apology and kept asking - "But aren't they beautiful??" He just didn't "get it" that my bride was not going to be very understanding when her vision of pink and white roses turned out to be peach and ivory. Not one bunch in the whole order was the correct color or variety. I placed a quick call to my regular wholesaler who pulled me out at the last minute with the right color of flowers. Lesson learned. The hard way. Deal only with reputable dealers. The story didn't end there. The guy called me back every week badgering me to order more. I refused because he NEVER CREDITED OUR ACCOUNT BACK!! Don't deal with ANYONE until you know their return policy. (Remember - once you accept the package and open it from Federal Express or UPS - it's between you and your seller to come to an agreement over refunds.)
Who Should You Buy Wholesale Wedding Flowers From?There are 15 states in the U.S. that have flower crops. The top five states ranked in order of production value in 2006 are: California, Florida, Michigan, Texas and New York, accounting for two-thirds ($2.67 billion) of the total 15-state value. Quoted from SAF August 1, 2007 newsletter.. Although you may find a professional grower in the U.S. that will sell to you directly . . . I doubt it. They would be posing competition to the very industry that supports them. I suggest you find a reputable wholesale flower farm that is not governed by the U.S. wholesale/retail laws. South America is one of the largest producers of flower crops shipped into the United States. I wanted to see for myself if a bride could have a good experience buying directly from a grower. I surfed the internet, reading the policies and quality standards from various farms. I then settled on
RoseSource.com
. They were beautiful. Out of the entire order, one bunch of flowers were a little "iffy" as to whether I would have sold them to a customer. Overall, I was very pleased and used the flowers to make up some of the bouquets you see on this site. Their promise of free shipping by FedEx (one of the industries best delivery systems!) impressed me. Because of this, RoseSource.com is the only internet wholesaler that I will carry their banner on my site. I prefer to recommend companies I know. I have to admit. Their "wholesale wedding flower" prices were just as good as the prices I pay from my wholesaler. That is saying something - their claims to wholesale is true. I am not involved in the order taking or delivery. You will talk with the farm representative about your order. You should direct any questions about flower orders to that company . . . not to me. Since I will not have any of your information, I will not be able to help you.
Prepare for Possible Problems or Substitutions . . . Flowers are a CropUnderstand that wholesale wedding flowers are a CROP. They are subject to wind, hail, drought, hurricanes, late planes, delivery trucks that can't make it. The flower farm in Ecuador. is NOT the company that delivers the flowers. They take it to the airport, load it on a plane, which (usually) arrives in an airport in Florida. It is then picked up by a delivery service (usually FedEx or UPS, etc.) and then delivered to your door. It is an elaborate process that is based on timing and other unforeseen factors. How can I Help Make Sure my Wholesale Wedding Flowers are Beautiful on my Wedding Day?Stay in contact with your wholesale flower farm. Talk to a representative and contact him/her a week before the wedding. Nail down the specifics again on delivery time, whether there are any complications expected and what the weather is like. Call again the day before delivery and make sure everything is running smoothly. Be there. If a delivery is promised by your wholesale wedding flowers supplier to be there on a Thursday morning - be there to accept it! Don't have them leave it on a porch on a sunshiny day. Flowers will DIE!! Process them immediately as instructed by the wholesaler. Do it correctly and use the right products. Processing your wedding flowers is not the time to try out Aunt Myrtle's advice that 7-Up is just as good as professional flower food. You want the best wholesale wedding flowers. Treat them like a professional florist would! If there is a discrepancy, contact Realize if you want wholesale prices, you may have to buy in quantities like a florist does. No farm is going to sell you one dozen of this color, five stems of another color, etc. They pack in bulk and sell in bulk. If you want the savings . . . you'll have to buy like the professionals do. The wholesaler can give good advice on recommended shipping days and how long to open. There is a professional solution available called "Quick Dip" which promotes faster opening times.
Bargain with Your Local Flower Shop for "Wholesale Wedding Flower" Prices.Your local flower shop may sell to you a little cheaper if you buy in full bunches and offer to do the cutting and conditioning yourself. It never hurts to ask. O.k. They may not actually sell you "wholesale wedding flowers" - but you may come up with a bargain that saves you dollars in the end.
Investigate Open Flower Markets Near YouIf your lucky enough to live in an area where open flower markets are easily available, choose your wedding flowers from their selections. Just know without pre-ordering you are not guaranteed specific flowers will be available on your wedding day.
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