For thousands of years, flowers have held huge importance to millions of people. They were used for numerous purposes throughout history and have had a variety of meanings and representations as well. From cultural and spiritual significance to sending secret messages of love and admiration, they were always used to express something important and meaningful.
Today, they are still one of the most popular gifts people buy for the ones they care about and these beautiful, bright, and colorful blooms are still used for conveying hidden feelings or openly showing love, affection, respect, and much more. They are always present at all celebratory occasions and are especially popular on holidays such as Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day.
However, with the advent of the internet, the florist industry has seen immense changes as well. And although today, it is easier to order and send flowers than ever before, things were not always as such. So here are some things to know about floral delivery and how technology has altered it throughout the years.
What is Floristry?
Floristry involves the production, selling, and buying of flowers and also includes their handling, care, arrangement and design, marketing, promotion, display, and delivery. Professionals in the trade buy blooms in bulks from wholesale florists which also provide them with any related supplies. Consumers get fresh blooms and products from retail florists.
The History
Although the first flower shop started operating in 1875, it was not until 1910 that the first form of delivery service was founded. The Florist’s Telegraph Delivery Service was the first floral wire service and as the name suggests, it used telegraph messages to exchange orders between florists. The service’s primary goal was to ease the order exchange and fulfillment between industry professionals. Today, they such services between local florists and third party agents, essentially operating as affiliate marketing sources.
As telegraphs became obsolete and telephones became more and more widespread, the method of ordering naturally switched as well, from the former to the latter. Of course, with the arrival of the World Wide Web in 1983, the delivery methods changed once again and started using systems that were similar to sending a fax.
By the late 1990s, dial-up internet was used for transmitting orders which later changed to using broadband connections in the early 2000s.
As with many other industries, technology has greatly improved these services in forms of speed, convenience, and cost-efficiency for both companies and consumers.
The Changes
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Convenience
Today, there is no need to visit post offices to send telegraphs or talk with agents over the phone to place an order. You also do not need to go to a physical floral store to buy a bouquet. Now, with just a few clicks, one can choose a product, pay for it, and have it delivered straight into the recipient’s hands.
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More Options
Ordering online allows people to not only select their florist, but they can browse through different websites and compare prices as well. They will also have more options when it comes to flower types and floral arrangements and one can choose to either create their own bouquet or order from a wide range of pre-made ones. All of this can make the purchase a whole lot easier, convenient, and more budget-friendly. You can visit Floraqueen.com to check out some amazing bouquet options.
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Delivery Times
Individuals can now choose the time and date of delivery and the product will arrive at its destination on time. Besides that, many online stores offer same-day, next-day, and weekend deliveries, meaning that one can get their flowers as soon as they want or need them.
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Cost-Efficiency
Most online shops do not have physical stores, so people can place their orders at any time during the day. Because the internet reduces overhead costs, businesses can save money, but also offer more competitive pricing and different floral arrangements to fit anyone’s budget.
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Product Quality
Since many internet retailers work with local florists, consumers can rest assured that their orders will be handled by professionals and that they will receive a fresh bouquet or arrangement that is in perfect condition. Sending love to your special someone has never been easier than it is today.
Why You Should Gift Flowers?
Tradition – Whether it is a special holiday such as Valentine’s Day or a momentous celebration of someone’s achievement or milestones, sending flowers as a gift on such occasions has been a worldwide tradition for decades.
Expressing Your Emotions – There is no better way of showing someone how you feel about them than by sending or personally gifting them a beautiful bouquet. Since each flower has its meaning, you can perfectly express your feelings no matter if the recipient is your partner, family member, or a very dear friend.
For Encouragement – They can immensely boost one’s morale or send encouraging messages to people going through a hard time. They resemble love and care, so you can use them to wish someone good luck, a fast recovery, or to simply make them smile after a rough day. Floral arrangements are also a great way of saying you are sorry.
For Their Beauty – Flowers not only have the power to embellish or breathe life into a room, but they can also inspire people and bring them happiness and joy. They can greatly affect one’s creativity and productivity and can help people who need some motivation.
For Yourself – Instead of waiting for someone else to buy you your favorite blooms, why not bring some happiness into your life on your own? There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, so go ahead and purchase whatever your heart desires and not only make yourself happy, but also bring some color and wonderful scents into your home.
Conclusion
The industry has greatly transformed thanks to the convenience of the internet. Online florists have access to a wider market, however, they still rely on local ones to provide customers with breathtaking and amazing floral pieces.
Hopefully, this has given you a better understanding of how flower delivery has changed throughout the years, so all that is left for you to do is to go online and surprise your loved one with a beautiful arrangement that will surely put a wide smile on their face.