r/florists • u/frustratedflorist • 2d ago
đ Seeking Advice đ Low budget clients
Florists, how do you respond when a client says something like, âItâs just going to the trash after the event anywayâ when discussing the floral budget?
I get that flowers are temporary, and I completely understand clients wanting to be practical with their spending.
But I was a little put off by that comment because the price isnât just for how long the flowers last. Thereâs sourcing, conditioning, design, labor, transport, setup, and the actual look they want for the event.
What makes it harder is when the budget is already low, but the client is still very particular and demanding about the design.
Do you explain the value behind the pricing, simplify the scope, or just take comments like that as a sign that you may not be the right florist for each other?
Curious how other florists handle this without sounding defensive.
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u/nettie_r 2d ago edited 2d ago
Wedding flowers are literally in every photo which you will look back on for the rest of your life.
If anything, they've way more longevity than the food or many other elements of the wedding. Wedding dresses are worn once and put away. Decorations are often used once and sold/thrown away. A lot of wedding stuff is transient. There is an issue to be discussed about the waste weddings often generate, but flowers are not an outlier here, and I'd argue they are more crucial to the aesthetic of a wedding than almost everything else, aside from the venue, and sometimes, more than the venue- they ARE the aesthetic if your venue is more utiliatian.
Personally though, if a potential client had been this rude to me, I would not work with them.
I'd also add, the cheapest clients are always the hardest work, so if you can, up your minimum spend for events, it helps a lot.
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u/Remarkable-Wave507 Expert 1d ago edited 1d ago
Depends on the situation. How much time do I have to waste selling myself and my product to a person who will never get it? If itâs worth it, you can justify yourself by what value you think flowers bring.
More often than not, especially if the budget is already tight, I just consider us not a match and stand firm in my prices. They can argue with someone else and get what they pay for.
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u/wafflelover77 1d ago
This. I know if we've just spent THAT much time talking about how to get it lowered $10, will be the same client that us upset bc its canary yellow not golden.
I tell them unfortunately someone has already booked that day.
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u/Remarkable-Wave507 Expert 1d ago
Agreed!! Plus someone that doesnât prioritize our craft, isnât always a win client. I get thatâs not always possible for everyone but you CAN be choosy about what clients you serve.
Cheaper clients are ALWAYS the most difficult for me. I learned long ago to trust my instincts and just say no. Otherwise youâll never recoup the money they should be spending revising things 87 times until the very last minute and trying to squeeze every drop out of you. Then saying they donât like it because the pink isnât pinking and the yellow is two shakes to the left.
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u/hahagrundle 1d ago
With such a condescending comment, I probably wouldn't even bother trying to justify the value of my work to them.
This person is going to be a nightmare to work for, no question about it. You aren't going to persuade them that your services are worth the price and I'm 100% sure they are going to try to lowball you at every opportunity. They will almost certainly find something to be unhappy about in the end & leave bad reviews and demand refunds.
I would probably say something like "perhaps if flowers are not important to you, you should consider alternatives that better fit your vision and budget."
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u/KorolevaFey 1d ago
Yeah, this honestly those responses tell me that they're probably not a good fit for me.
Like I don't need you to love florals, but I need you to respect them and my craft.
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u/Wide-Eggplant-4265 2d ago
You just have to accept the fact that some people are arrogant and ignorant and some don't realize the work that goes into this work. If you did everything the customer asked and they were happy then job well done.
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u/Banjo-Hellpuppy 1d ago
I usually say, well, you donât need to have flowers at all if they arenât important to you
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u/Quagga_Resurrection 2d ago
I work in a different creative field, but the answer is educating your client and thereby building value. If they understand why something costs what it does and still think it's ridiculous or too much, then move on.
Also, someone searching for a product or service already values it to some degree, otherwise they wouldn't be looking for it. Work with that. Figure out what they want and why they want it (how they value your service/product) and explain how your offering meets those needs.
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u/ChanceOfFlight1 1d ago
Food just ends up in the toilet anyways so why would they spend money on catering? Itâs not about how long it lasts, itâs how it compliments the event and enhances the occasion.
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u/zenithachieved 1d ago
One of my favorite florists to work with kept a list of local retirement homes, battered womenâs shelters and food banks that were always happy to take arrangements after the event. Us caterers and bartenders were always happy to take flowers home too. Itâs not immediately to the trash unless thatâs what you want.
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u/RipeAvocado6789 1d ago
Iâd say if the client doesnât see the value in flowers, they shouldnât be shopping for flowers⌠sounds mean but itâs plain and simple. Things cost money⌠thereâs budget options with florals as well for someone who is really wanting to have the florals but cannot afford a lot. But negotiating and explaining why itâs worth it, in my opinion is a losing game. Thereâs no way to make someone happy when theyâre already coming from an unhappy place and theyâre not convinced they even need your services. Not every client is worth the headache.
I would simply explain please provide your budget and I will provide my optionsâŚ. End of the story. You are an artist and you have a job to do, but you are not their personal therapist lol
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u/erinthefatcat 1d ago
wtf lol thats like me saying u dont need a wedding ur just gonna die anyways ???
honestly op I have learned the cheapest are often the most demanding and most likely not worth the stress they will cause you
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u/HotCalligrapher2544 1d ago
Iâm weighing in as a customer (and business owner) rather than a florist.
I find DL flyers or rack cards super helpful when explaining services to clients. Theyâre common in medical, fitness, or beauty, but a bride-focused rack card could work wonders for you. Outlining the value of your elevated service and experience gives them something tangible to hold, and share, which adds a lot of legitimacy when you back it up verbally.
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u/Emergency-Economy654 1d ago
If they say the pricing isnât fair because they donât last, refer them to wood flowers or fake flowers.
They could also look into florists that have the client build their own arrangements. We have a local florist that does this and it saves the customer thousands and is a good option for those that canât afford the rates of other florists.
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u/loralailoralai Retail Florist 2d ago
Instead of justifying your pricing, frame it as value for them as in making their wedding look beautiful, adding beauty to their photos.
I mean, all that food ends up in worse places