Dear Florist,
Every florist needs to buy flowers. (Obvs!!!) But by which method are you buying them? Do you go to the wholesaler? Do you use Flying Dutchman? Do you buy online? Each business model has its pluses and minuses, today we weigh up the pro's & con's.
Flying Dutch Truck.
Stock availability = Variable on stock levels. Its also dependant on your position in the trucks round. Generally speaking Flying Dutch may not offer a 52 week service.
Frequency = Once a week.
Time spent 1 hour. (52 hours per annum.)
When finished, if starting January 1st, based on a forty hour week (2017) = January the 10th
Total annual cost calculation at £12 per hour wage for the buyer = £624.
(So we are saying it takes you working 10 days of the year to complete your flower buying using this method.)
UK Static Wholesalers.
Stock availability = Variable, dependant on stock levels and location.
Frequency =5 days
Time spent (This is dependant on distance to & from the unit.)
A. 2 hours a week. (104 hours per annum)
B. 4 hours a week (208 hours per annum)
C. 8 hours per week. (416 hours per annum)
When finished if starting January the 1st based on a forty hour week.
A. = 18th January
B. = 6th February
C. = 21st March.
Total annual cost at £12 per hour wage for the buyer.
A. = £1,248
B. = £2,496
C. = £4,992
Buying on line
Stock availability = Good as with florismart.com you can buy from multiple suppliers in one go.
Frequency = 24-7
Time spent
A. 1 hour per week. (52 hours)
B. 2 hours per week (104 hours)
When finished if starting January the 1st based on a forty hour week.
A. = 10th January
B. = 18th January
Total annual cost at £12 per hour wage for the buyer.
A. = £624
B. = £1,248
Interesting Exercise. Think about the method you use to buy flowers and calculate the time spent buying flowers annually. It maybe you do a bit of each, or stick to one method religiously, either way, you can work this out.
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Kind Regards
Simon & Team
Direct2florist