Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Costco Debate

What is the Costco Debate you ask? Well its something that i feel i might periodically need to write about in order for clients and potential clients to understand the price variance between Studio Stems and Costco. Lets start with the more obvious.

1. Selection of flowers and colors is limited at Costco
2. Costco is cheaper
3. Quality varies vastly
4. flowers are readily available at the drop of a hat at Costco (in variety limitation), at Studio Stems everything is custom ordered.

On occasion I get a bride or a mother who seem sticker shocked by my prices. There seems to be a thought pattern that all roses should be the same price as Costco and that a bouquet of them should also be that same price and if its not then well someone is getting screwed. This throws me off a bit, and i have to resist the urge to be offended that so little thought is being put into the work. So let me just make a little clearer exaclty what you are paying for when you get a price quote from studio stems.

1. custom design, design, design! This is like location in real estate!
2. quality!!!!!
3. lets not forget the headache and hassle of delivery, pickup and storage of such perishable natures.
4. the most important one, LABOR! time is everything right? time is $$$ right? knowledge and training secures effective use of time, desired effect, and appearance of designs.
5. variety in color and types of flowers!

just to name the formost basic few.

i suppose that any client who is considering using Costco should consider all of the above mentioned things. If flowers are not too important to you at your event, maybe you should go with Costco. If time is not an issue and you have that to give on the day of your event or family members event than perhaps Costco is the solution for you. If you desire very tradtional flowers and nothing too unique than Costco might be an option for you. and if you have the skills to really effectively accomplish the goal of any given design then maybe Costco is your destination wedding flower supplier.

if its not, than Studio Stems IS!

i hope this effectively helps some potential client or an exhisting one understand the market a bit more.

1 comment:

Natalie said...

I check your blog daily, and every time I do I get more and more excited that you are doing the flowers for my wedding. I actually feel really lucky to have you as my florist, and can't wait to see what you do for my wedding!