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Starting an online florist store from scratch can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. You first need to research, get some tools and plan how you want to design your website. Here are 11 things you must do before starting your online florist store!
Related: A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Local Floral Shop
1. Get the equipment you need
Before you can start selling flowers online, you need to have the proper equipment. This includes a computer with internet access, a printer and a camera. You will also need a place to store your flowers, such as a garage or shed. Get everything set up before you start taking orders.
2. Determine your brand image
The first step to starting your online florist store is determining what brand image you want to portray. This will help you determine what kind of products you sell, how you market yourself and what type of customer service you provide. Two things to consider when choosing your brand image include:
-What feeling do you want your customers to have when they think of your store?
-What kind of personality do you want your store to have?
Related: The Basics of Branding
3. Explore your competitors
To be a successful online florist, you must first understand what your competitors are doing. Please look at their websites and social media platforms to see what arrangements they offer, their prices, and how they market themselves. This research will give you a good starting point for creating your own online florist business.
4. Review your prices
Pricing your flowers can be tricky — on the one hand, you want to make sure you’re making a profit, but on the other hand, you don’t want to price yourself out of the market. Here are a few things to keep in mind when reviewing your prices.
Know your costs. This includes the cost of the flowers, shipping and other fees associated with running your business.
Research the competition. Take a look at what other online florists are charging for similar products. Doing this will help you determine where your pricing should fall to avoid undercutting or overcharging.
Consider add-ons. Add-ons like chocolates, teddy bears and balloons might be a great way to bring in some extra revenue while giving customers more options to purchase from.
5. Design your store website
Creating a well-designed website is critical for any online business but essential for an online florist store. After all, your website is often the first impression potential customers will have of your business.
6. Build an email list
Before you launch your online store, start building an email list of potential customers. You can do this by offering a freebie in exchange for an email address, or running a contest. Then, when you’re ready to launch, you’ll have a list of people to reach out to and promote your store to.
Related: 9 Tips to Market Your Floral Shop Successfully
7. Technological advancement
To start an online florist store, you must first understand the technological advances that have made this possible. Ecommerce platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce have made it easy to set up an online store and accept payments. Social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook can be used to promote your products and drive traffic to your website. And finally, Google can be used to create targeted ads that reach potential customers who are searching for flowers online delivery.
8. Promote your business to drive traffic
To succeed as an online florist, you must promote your business and drive traffic to your website. There are several ways to do this, including SEO, social media marketing and content marketing. By taking the time to promote your business, you’ll be able to attract more customers and make more sales.
9. Know when to hire someone
Hiring someone to help you with your online store is a big decision. You must ensure that you are ready to take on the responsibility of managing another person and pay them a fair wage. If you’re not prepared for this, don’t hire anyone until you are ready. It’s much better to have someone be an employee than to become an employer too soon and get overwhelmed by the tasks involved in running an online florist business.
10. Ask for help when you need it
No one ever said starting your own business was easy. It can be downright overwhelming at times. But don’t despair! There are plenty of people who have been in your shoes and are more than happy to help.
11. Plan your budget
When starting your online florist store, it’s essential to have a budget in mind. This will help you determine how much money you need to start your business and keep it running. Keep in mind the costs of flowers, shipping and marketing. It’s also essential to have some money set aside for unexpected expenses.
We wish you all the best in starting your online florist store! Remember to keep these 11 things in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to success. We’re always happy to help fellow florists grow their businesses!