Valentine’s Day Tips Postcards – All this month, look for our Valentine’s Day Tip postcards in our boxes. The postcard contains proven tips that retailers can use to make their weekend a holiday a great one. Click here to view the card.

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EVEN MORE RETAIL TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL VALENTINE'S DAY

SELL EARLY DELIVERY

While most customers want delivery on Valentine’s Day, some will be open to your suggestions for early delivery. With Valentine’s falling on Sunday, suggest: “Since Valentine’s Day is on Sunday would you like us to deliver your flowers on Thursday or Friday so your Valentine could enjoy them at the office and at home over the weekend?” Offer a discount for early delivery.

SELL THE VALUE OF THE RIO ROSES BRAND

Customers today are very brand conscious. On every call suggest Rio Roses – “We feature Rio Roses.” The superior quality of Rio Roses provides excellent longevity and satisfaction value. Follow this introduction with specific suggestions, benefits and prices.

SELL SUGGESTIONS AND BENEFITS THEN STATE PRICE

Avoid questions like, “How much do you want to spend?” or, “What would you like to send?” Instead, make three definite suggestions, each with a specific benefit and at a definite price range. Make price a natural part of your presentation. For example, you can say, “We can create an attractive bouquet with a colorful assortment of seasonal flowers, accented with Rio Roses that will express your Valentine’s message impressively for $X Dollars. Or, a striking vase arrangement with 15 elegant Rio Roses in mixed colors that will tell your Valentine how important she is to you for $Y dollars. Or we can send a dozen red choice Rio Roses arranged in a vase with white accent blossoms that will say 'I love you. You light up my life!' for $Z Dollars.”

Follow this up with, “Would you like to send your Valentine the bouquet of seasonal flowers and roses, the vase of roses in assorted colors, or the red roses?”

This selling technique focuses the buyer’s decision on product choice not how much he will have to spend.

SELL ALTERNATIVES TO RED ROSES

Many women prefer roses in pinks, yellow and lavenders instead of red roses. If your salespeople ask the wrong questions, most men will end up with red roses because that’s all they know. In the sales suggestions, notice the sequence of ideas from mixed flowers, to all roses and then to red roses. This progression is important. If you mention red roses first, chances are the customer will buy red roses.

BUSINESS NETWORKING/PARTNERSHIPS

Contact businesses that have the same consumer interests that you do. Establish partnerships that make sense for both of you. For example:

RADIO ADVERTISING

Radio stations love to give away prizes. By giving away one special of the day, and doing spots all day about tomorrow’s prize, you will be able to get the media coverage needed for a minimal fee, sometimes even for free. Make a week of romance either beginning on the 7th and ending on the 14th, or starting on the 14th and ending on the 21st. Make daily specials (ex: day 1-daisies and a card, day 2-tulips with Rio Roses, day 3-stuffed animal with a fresh hand tie bouquet, day 4-chocolates and a single Rio Rose, etc.) Grand finale on the last day, a dozen Rio Roses arranged in a vase delivered. Or, do even more and go 14 days of romance beginning on the 1st of February!