,At a recent Seminar for Salespeople, I sat next to a middleaged guy.  Asked who he worked for and he answered, "The YellowBook".  He then proceeded to tell me all about how they have embraced the web, and how there were a number of business categories that still needed and depended on the Yellow Pages (oops, the Yellow Book).  I listened politely but in the back of my mind, I was perplexed.  Perplexed and grateful that he was him and I was me.

Then, it occured to me that the World is a’changing and fast.  Today it is print media, tomorrow who knows?  At this year’s Calscape we all discussed how to diverisfy our interiorscape businesses.  Problem is that the ideas thrown out were just more of the same old, same old.  Exterior, Floral, Short Term Rentals etc.  All have potential depending on your interest, talents, market area, and pocketbook, but there has to be better stuff out there. 

May I suggest you buy one of those nifty eelskin empty books that they sell at Barnes and Noble, turn off the TV, and start listing all the ideas you’ve had.  Don’t worry if they seem preposterous, let your imagination run wild.  No one is forcing you to actually start the business, just get ideas.

Put the Book away for a week and then review.  Any idea jump out at you?  Hmmm.  Here is your next research project.  Then, if it still seems to have potential, call me or another ’scaper friend and discuss the pros and cons.  Who knows?  You just might have hit on the next Big Thing.

Onward and Upward.

Stuck in a doctor’s waiting room last week, the only thing to read was a Wedding Magazine.  Paging through the issue (sells for 10 bucks!), I came across advice on how to save on the florals for cost conscious brides.  Well, we are always trying to be frugal while still giving clients the best and often we have to provide knockout arrangements, so….

1. Use More Greenery than Flowers
2. Swap Out Costly Flowers for less Expensive Blooms.  Did you know that peonies cost five times as much as roses?
3. Include Non Floral Product.  Grasses, Curly Willow, Fruit, moss covered branches etc.
4. Buy Flowers that are in Season.
5. Stick to just one or two kinds of Flowers.  Simplicity is Key.

Now, there are lots of other tips, but let’s just concentrate on these 5 as a start.  Also, most of us have photo capability on our cell phones.  Use them as you visit your hotels, other cities etc.  Keep these photos for inspiration.  Now, go out there and get ‘em, Tiger Lilies.

OK.  So someone calls and asks if you can provide some plants for their wedding.  No big deal, just a few plants.  Why not? 

Well, here is the scoop.  IF you have a holding space and usually keep extra plants on hand, may be.  And, IF you have people willing to do weekend and night work, may be.  And, IF, you price it right, may be.  And, IF you are in the right market and or have the right contacts, may be. 

Short term rentals whether convention center, events such as weddings and social functions, or meetings, usually take place on weekends or at night.  Your contact s may be the Convention Center Meeting Planners, wedding planners, designers, catering folks, hotel meeting/banquet staff etc.  Some of these nice people will want to take your pricing, increase it and make their cut by billing it to the client thru them.  Others have union rules in place and if you are not a union player, no go.  Other situations have you dealing with MOB (Mother of the Bride) or even worse, the Bridezilla herself.  You haven’t lived until you’ve dealt with someone determined to have tons of palms and ferns and thinking they can get them at Home Depot costs or less.  Also consider the weather demands and the difficulty of having to pick up plants in a snowstorm on a Sunday so the ballroom can be turned over to another event.

Have I scared you yet?  No?  Well, then lets look at the bright side.  You get to "make it pretty" and get all the oohs and ahhs.  The plants after their moment of glory, can go back to the facility and be used the next week for a regular plant job.  You may  be the go to guy for one or more of your hotels and by working with them closely, yiou will get a system in place and just "take orders".  Some of these jobs may lead to regular plant jobs.

Pricing is a consideration as well as are the types of material and containers.  I suggest sturdy plants that withstand travel  and plastic containers in a standard color/finish.  Think white, black and one of the metallics.  Expect them to get pretty beat up so charge a lot for the rental of same.  OK.  So I can just hear you saying, "Barb, yeah, yeah, yeah, but how much do I charge?"  I would charge the cost of the plant landed to your door, PLUS $$ for the delivery, placement, removal and travel back.  Some companies charge, say, $10/plant.  OK if it is small but not OK for a 7′ Palm.  The larger the plant, the longer the time it takes to stage, load etc.  Geography plays a part as well.  Five miles from you?  No bigee.  Twenty miles away?  More time more gas etc. 

Bottom Line, talk to a few of your hotel and meeting planner contacts.  Do they need you?  Want you?   I’d even see if they will tell you what others are charging for what product and see if it istill enticing.  Try a few events and see if it still works.  Don’t start printing Rental Brochures just yet.  BTW  You will need some sort of Menu with prices to give to MOB’s etc.  Print these on your computer, don’t write it in stone…just yet.

Now if I haven’t scared you too much, check out short term rentals and see if it is a fit.  Then, go get ‘em Tiger Lily.