How do I send flowers to my friend or family who lives in another city or state?
1. Skip the floral wire services
Floral wire services are national companies that route orders to local florists in exchange for a fee. Examples of floral wire services include FTD, Teleflora, 1-800-FLOWERS, and Avas Flowers. When you search for “florist in [city]” the first results are usually ads from floral wire services designed to look like local businesses with the city name in their ad title. Scroll past these ads to find the actual business listings of local shops and designers. Local florists will be a much better value for your money.
Say you have $100 to spend on an arrangement. A floral wire service charges local florists a fee for each order, often ranging from 20-30%. Now what was supposed to be $100 worth of flowers is really only $75. There may also be additional delivery or service fees.
Another reason to skip the floral wire service is if there are any issues, you can’t contact the actual florist directly. You need to contact the wire service company that receives hundreds of orders each day and may not respond to your inquiry in a timely fashion.
2. Find a local florist in the same city as your friend or family
Shopping local helps support smaller business while also giving you more value for your money. It also offers a more unique experience, as the florist is free to design in their own personal style rather than following a pre-determined recipe from a wire service.
When choosing a local florist, you can consider reviews, prices, and delivery options. See what others have to say about this florist and if they liked their arrangements. Check to see if the prices listed on their website are in your range and what you would get for your money. Some florists offer free delivery if you hit a minimum order amount, while others charge a delivery fee.
Another component is a florist’s individual style and brand. Do they mainly do classic rose arrangements? Or is it a more modern, wildflower look? From where do they source their flowers? Choosing a florist who uses locally grown product means your flowers are fresher. There may also be more unique flowers that you wouldn’t normally see in a traditional arrangement.
3. Order online or contact the florist with any questions
Browse through the different options and order through the local florist’s website. You can also contact them directly if you’re looking for something custom or if you have a question about their policies.
The local florist will appreciate your business. And your friend or family will get something truly special and unique.
If you’re ordering flowers to be delivered in Oakland, Piedmont, Berkeley, Emeryville, Alameda, San Leandro, or Castro Valley, consider ordering through Wild Leaf Flowers. We grow and source local flowers to give you the freshest, most beautiful bouquets.