Banana Florist Blog

One of our colleagues at Flower Chat posted a thread, saying that same-day delivery was the only differentiator that "real florists" have against the mega-middlemen like 1-800-Flowers and ProFlowers.

We couldn't disagree more.  There's no one collective differentiator that all independent florists share.  Rather, each florist has something that nobody else has -- not the big boys, and not even other real florists: the opportunity to express individual identity. 

Take a look at Flower Bar, one of our competitors in Atlanta.  (Case in point: imagine the reaction that Jacqueline at the Teleflora blog would face if she were to brag on one of TF's competitors in her blog.  That's the kind of opportunity -- freedom -- I'm talking about.)  Flower Bar offers bouquets themed on mixed drinks, like the Mojito Bouquet and White Russian Bouquet.  With a trademark on every bouquet, literally nobody else can offer what they have.  But the one thing that truly makes them unique isn't their portfolio, but the personality it represents.  And that pesonality has been justly rewarded with exposure in DailyCandy Atlanta, where we popped up last month, scads of ATL print media and Good Day Atlanta, where we hope to be for Mother's Day.

Regardless of your industry, the monolithic corporations will always seek control through the mechanics of commerce, but your imagination transcends all obstacles.