How to Become an Online Distributor of Flowers
- 1). Find reliable suppliers. Floral Supply Syndicate, Bunches Direct and Flower Web supply florists with fresh flowers as well as hard goods, such as containers, vases and floral tools. Contact suppliers and request a wholesale catalog. Create a list for each one documenting the shipping terms, what they carry and what their minimum order amount is.
- 2). Join the Society of American Florists. SAF has 15,000 members across the floral industry: growers, retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, importers and educators. SAF provides known profitable marketing tactics for your distributorship. Their "Floral Management" magazine features industry statistics and trends and trade information from floral experts.
- 3). Carry essential supplies. Fresh flowers are critical for retail florists, but so are floral tools, vases, containers, floral tape, preservative, floral wire and ribbon. Don't overlook supplies retail florists use regularly.
- 4). Acquire an agricultural license. Most states require businesses to obtain a business license. Florists must also acquire an agricultural license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA has specific guidelines that distributors of fresh flowers must follow to ensure products are free of insects and disease. Contact the USDA office in your area and request an application.
- 5). Calculate your wholesale and retail markup. As an online distributor, you can supply both retail florists and individuals. Offer wholesale pricing to florists ordering in bulk. A wholesale markup on each product runs 15 to 25 percent, according to Dea Smith, manager of Greenleaf Wholesale. A retail markup of 30 to 40 percent is typical for flowers, states Carolyn Mellon, co-owner of Nesbitt's Flowers & Gifts.
- 6). Design an easy-to-use website. Retail florists are busy and need a quick way to order supplies. Keep that in mind when designing your website. Standing orders, or orders florists get every week or biweekly, are popular with floral retailers. If they need something special, they can simply add it to the standing order. Create a site that makes ordering simple.
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