“ Since the pandemic , our upset has increase and is now up by 600 % " , says Wilfred de Wit , CEO atiBuyFlowers.com , a New York based on-line B2B saucy flowers chopine . At the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis , around March 12 , their employee turnover dropped significantly , but quickly after , it started to increase . " As the traditional wholesalers were not uncommitted , many florists and issue planners here in the US turned to direct order from the farms , via our platform . "
Wilfred ( also called Wil ) de Wit .
verbatim from the groweriBuyFlowers.comwas set up by De Wit in 2016 . After owning a farm in Ecuador for several year and spend more and more time in connecting cultivator , wholesalers and florist , this Dutchman saw an chance to create a chopine that link florist directly with the grower . So , he searched for investors in the Netherlands and originate a buffer project in 2016 , and officially found it in 2017 . They have grown from 20 florists , nuptials and case planners to 1000 + in the last years , and cater more than 4000 flowers and 250 types of pre - assembled bouquet from more than 40 growers from Ecuador , Colombia , Costa Rica , United States and the Netherlands .
This platform provides flower direct from the growers and enables their client to order all kinds of flower in all variety of measure online , which are then deliver ( 5 day a week , via FedEx ) directly to their doorstep , within 4 24-hour interval - which is on mediocre 6 days shorter than via a jobber .
picture explainingiBuyFlowers.com
originate in the COVID-19 crisisWhen the COVID-19 crisis dispatch the US , demand for flowers set down significantly , also foriBuyFlowers.com . " On March 12 , I think it was , turnover fell dramatically . " But what happened afterwards resulted in an increase in requirement and addition in users of their chopine . De Wit : " What we meet in Miami is that import wholesalers had to close their doors , which also resulted in a challenging situation for the trucking companies , not bed if they should or could stay unresolved . However , many florists were still open , but due to this post , they could not source their products and had to turn to direct delivery , like our platform offer . And as we rescue via FedEx , we were able-bodied to continue supplying our clients . "
In the weeks after the start of the COVID-19 crisis , they increased turnover by around 100 % per week , lead in a 600 % growth in turnover at the bit . " Even though the demand from florists for flowers in general is 40 % crushed compared to last year and the leverage price of bloom is lower as well , our turnover even doubled compared with last class . " Every day , the platform welcome 10 to 15 newfangled buyer , and last week , they had their best week ever . “ It feels a bit ambivalent , I must admit , to be growing this speedily in these time . We ’re glad we can cater a answer to our customers and growers to keep their business going . "
Industry becomes more innovativeAs not all florist shops were allow to stay open , innovational thought arose to still bring efflorescence to the consumer . " Besides online , earpiece order and contactless payment , we ’ve also assure several switch to curbside deliveries , limiting access to their store or position in seat tug - through flower station - sometimes even out of their service department . As FedEx can deliver to anyone ’s doorstep , they can also deliver to a florist ’s dwelling , for example , as they also work with contactless delivery . "
More need for pre - assembled bouquetsLinked to the growth in the innovational ideas mentioned above , De Wit also sees an gain in requirement for pre - assembled bouquets . " When florist are not at their shops , they do not have the tools and/or stave to make bouquets , so many started to order pre - made bouquets . " Also these bouquets issue forth directly from the farm . " Some of our farm offer pre - made corsage , and we now have 250 type to select from . "
For Easter , De Wit already saw an increase in these pre - assembled bouquets , but now in the run - up to Mother ’s Day ( May 10 ) , the need is very high .
Decreasing assortmentOn the other side , the agriculturalist ’s side , De Wit sees that growers are cast away the non - profitable motley . " In the past , agriculturist would still have a variety in the ground that was demand only on special occasions , but now , all these varieties are being thrown aside . " As a result , the grower ’s classification will minify .
Run - up to Mother ’s DayToday and Wednesday , the last large shipments will leave the Netherlands , and the last large cargo out of South America will leave today . Even though demand is 40 % less compared to last year , demand is still higher . However , the rill - up was a lot more challenging this yr . " With FedEx , we also have to make a foretelling of the shipments 4 - 6 hebdomad in progression . So , when we were at our downhearted point , I had to make a prediction . " But he have the gamble and order an amount he , at that metre , did not dare to dream of . " I thought : B2C sales will increase , and when the complete chain will come to a standstill , there needs to be an advantage for us somewhere . " And luckily , it seemed to be the suit , but it was not all a thing of course . " We ’ve define up a complete marketing team and invested a deal in sending out the message that we still deliver and can deliver accord to all societal distance regulations . "
One of their marketing campaign . This video was share on several societal media channels and received over 30,000 views .
need after Mother ’s DayMother ’s Day is the final large flower vacation before the summertime time of year , which is often characterized as the humbled time of year . What will happen after ? De Wit : " In the week after , we usually see a drop in demand , and I also require it this year . However , afterwards , I require it to pluck up again as the hebdomadal parliamentary law will follow in . And if the COVID-19 rule keep on as they are now , I expect that we will grow rapidly . In general , due to the high unemployment in the country , the requirement for flowers , a sumptuousness item , will decrease . And as many large jobber are already having trouble - one large middleman just filed for bankruptcy - more flower will be sourced directly . "
Will flower store also source unmediated from the farm , avoiding a platform like iBuyFlowers ? " We see more and more growers cater direct , but as a agriculturist , it is difficult to append a all-encompassing miscellany . A florist want all form of flowers and often in small amounts , and that is more difficult for a grower who develop several items . And on top of that , also growers are facing challenging clock time . So , commit in merchandising campaigns will not always be that financially practicable .
Growing in the coming 6 monthsAs said earlier , De Wit expectsiBuyFlowers.comto rise in the coming months . " We are plan to fourfold our turnover in the come 6 months . " Is n’t that a scrap ambitious with weddings and prom events being cancelled ? " Many weddings are currently postponed , so after the COVID-19 crisis , we expect to have addition in demand for nuptials flowers again . "
For more information : iBuyFlowers.comWilfred de WitEmail:[email protected]www.iBuyFlowers.com
© FloralDaily.com/Elita Vellekoop
