The Floral CEO

 Hello flower friends on this week's mini sode. I wanna talk about sales and I got asked a really interesting question. I went to a local networking event and one of my photographer or video photographer slash videographer friends, , asked me, uh, a question. He is like. Talking to a couple other photographers, and he was like, Jenny is really, really good at sales every time I've asked her, you know, some sales advice, like it's just, it's worked out.

And, uh, one of the photographers is really struggling with bookings and I think that this is like universal. And so that's why I wanted to do an episode on this. And she, the, the question was, is like if I needed to book eight weddings, like ASAP. What would I do? And that is a really interesting questions because it, to me, it has many layers.

Like if you're at a point where you need to like figure eight flipping weddings out, um. You better pull up your bootstraps a little bit because that is something that you know, normally takes time. But if you need to do this, like ASAP, I want to talk about things that I would do to help facilitate those bookings.

And I say this from a standpoint of. Like today we're driving home from the animal auction, um, with a trailer full of Highlands. And um, I will be posting it on Instagram 'cause they are adorable. A little mini sheep, a baby lamb, and two peacocks. And I booked two weddings. You guys like. This is something that is, you know, if I can book two weddings in a day, I've actually, the most weddings I've ever booked in one day, and this is, you know, just like people with me following back up and doing all the things.

Um, the most they booked in one day is four. So if you need to do them ASAP and you have your a game on, like, I've had four in one day. So it is possible. So here's some things that I would do if I needed to book like eight weddings. ASAP. So the first thing is, is that I would follow up with every single person that I've spoke with because those people are already warm leads.

They're already people who are in your funnel and you. Might be surprised that they got busy. They might have, um, lost focus because, you know, some of these younger couples these days have the attention span of a. Springer Spaniel. Just saying. And so circling back with them, oh yeah, I totally was going to email you.

Oh my God, thanks for reaching out. I have had that happen so much when I've just been following up, and so that's why I create a cadence of following up the three day, the seven day, the, you know, if you wanna say 12 day, and then you know, you're following up at like 21 days. Whatever you create. Um, I stick with like a three seven and then usually like a 10, um, especially if you've put a expiration date for your proposal, but I think it is.

One thing that we often overlook, we think that we need to get in front of new people. When we've met with people, we've invested time in people and they might just need a kick in the ass. And you can also send interesting emails that say, you know what? I actually, um, saw some Instagram posts about your venue and, uh.

I came up with this really great idea. I didn't know if you were still looking for a florist, but I think it's a way that we could really create impact and not, um, you know, maybe even reduce your budget. If you think that budget is the reason why they're not booking, or maybe they are just looking for an out of box idea, you know, you kind of should have a vibe after meeting with them.

Maybe what's important and I, I mean, I've straight up had people, like I asked the very. I mean, very transparent question. Is your budget or your vision more important? And often like that will help you steer what your follow-up is going to, uh, be. Because if people really care about their vision, they care about developing concepts, designing like something be aesthetically beautiful, but if somebody just cares about their budget, if you reach out to them, maybe you were a little over budget and you came up with an idea.

Like they might have had no other florist tell them that they were even close, and especially aren't thinking of ideas for their shitty budget. So circling back with anybody that you've been talking to. Alright. The second thing is, if I aggressively wanted to book weddings, I would check in with every wedding planner I know.

And I would send them an email. I would send them a dm. I would do something to say hello. Do you remember me? It's been all those years and I'd really truly like to meet. So if you circle back with them and just say, Hey, you know what? It's been forever. I've been following you on Instagram, seeing all the cool things that you're doing.

I got some really cool new inventory pieces that I wanted to tell you about. Like I got these new fluted, uh, ribbed. Optical glass chimneys and they're amazing and I think would totally be a vibe for your clients. And you're, you know, just circling back and getting your name in front of 'em. People are like, so a DH, D these days that sometimes you just need to be like, Hey, squirrel, look at me to get their attention again.

So super simple, reach out to every single planner that you know. Uh, and if that's 30, like reach out to 30 planners. If you know, like 10 planners, reach out to them. But then I'm going to, the next layer of that is I want you to try to find like five new planners, five new planners that you've admired. If you've listened to my, uh, you know, how to network with planners episode.

I go in and I talk about how I save. Anytime I see a new planner doing some shit that I just am absolutely in love with, I screenshot it with their name tagged, or I go and I follow them, and then I screenshot their thing, their profile page, and then I put it in my planner, um, kind of, uh, photo album that whenever I'm.

Interested in going and networking. I have this little like arsenal of planners that I want to connect with. I would recommend starting to have a planner strategy in your business because I know that it can be seriously impactful. You guys, I had tried for years to get in with this planner and like it's a planner team and I just kept like showing up and you know, like.

Saying Hi and whatever. And I mean, for years I was thinking it was like the Titanic had had completely sunk on it, and all of a sudden one of their lead planners reached out to me and. Then they loved what I did. I made sure that I really did a impeccable job. Not that I never not do that, but I made sure that I put my Sunday best on with that wedding.

And now I have booked seven with them. And this all started in last like June or July. And they also are partnered with a, um. Rental company and every I've, I've gone to meetings 'cause they'll do their rental meeting and then they'll do their floral meeting and their centerpieces like that they put together are just like, kind of made my heart hurt.

So as a thank you, I actually made some beautiful silk arrangements and those arrangements are used on the majority of their linen planning calls now because. The other flowers suck so bad and these are so beautiful and make their rentals look even more fresh. So you never know when the page will turn with the planner, just because you might feel a little defeated.

Like I'm not in their club, like they've never reached out to me. They need to just keep showing up and showing them that you are the next best choice. That is one of the hardest things is realizing that. You might not be the best choice now, but you might be the next best choice. And you just gotta keep on keeping on to, to really prevail in those situations.

Because if we give up and act like we don't care, like the planner is not going to remember you because there's another florist with their shiny, you know, new portfolio batting their eyelashes at them. Alright. Next thing to consider, I want you to go start posting on social and actually talking about that you have availability.

And I know this seems silly and common sense that everybody should know you have availability, but it's mental kind of arsenal of loading. The narrative that you want people to be thinking about your business because you might have a planner that's scrolling and they might have thought that you are really busy and that you don't have availability.

Therefore, they have not set clients to you. You could potentially have a venue, you could have an arsenal of people that are wondering, you know. About flowers or potentially have clients that are wondering about flowers and here you are showing up and saying you're available. So just going on and even doing like a talking head video, which is you just having the screen in your face and hitting record and then going and really.

Talking about, you know, like your business and that you still have some ability availability for 2026 and that you love whatever type of thing, and you're so excited about maybe some new rentals that you got, or maybe it's a new design technique that you've learned, like maybe it's like pin frogs or maybe you've learned a new elevated, um.

You know, centerpiece style that you're just absolutely in love with. Or maybe you're in love with wiring bouquets and being channeling your inner passion flower suit, whatever it is. Like just do a video. Do it a carousel. Do an Instagram post that talks about your availability. Alright, then the last thing, 'cause this is a mini episode that I know how impactful this can be.

Go on your personal social media and talk about being a florist. Talk about your business, and here's how. A couple ways to do it in a non, like a, Hey, look at me like you're p peacocking. I literally bought peacocks today. So you're peacocking a little bit on your social media in front of all your friends and family, and here is why.

There are people who I went to high school with, and I've been out of high school for a while, you guys, but since I regular post my business or like me being a florist, they remember me and have referred, I mean. They've reached out to me and I've had their, you know, family, like, Hey, my sister's getting married.

Um, I'm getting to the point where like, a, a kid is getting married. You need to remind people, I don't remember what. A million different people do because people don't show up and talk about it. If friends of mine who are plumbers or electricians or handymans or whatever else that they specialize in, posted about it more often people would have a referral network that operate at a completely different level, but because everybody feels shame and guilt and whatever other feelings about.

Peacocking about their business, on their personal Facebook or Instagram. Get over it. Get over it because you are not serving for one, you in hitting your financial and all your other goals and two. You are helping, how would one of your friends not love to work with you instead of some random stranger who they had to find on Zola or had to find in some Minnesota wedding Floris group or Minnesota Weddings group or whatever that they're posting in?

I am. I'm serious, you guys like do a post just saying, um, I just did this wedding and it was one of the most beautiful weddings that I've ever done and I just wanted to share it with you guys. 'cause I was so proud of this. It's so beautiful and I'm just like so excited about my business and everything I've been doing.

I have also done a recap of the year, so around the end of the year when people are getting engaged, I do like a 20, you know, 20, 25, whatever recap. Like here are some of the coolest things that I made this year. I had like so many people comment on that, oh my God, Jenny, you're so talented. I absolutely love this.

I always knew you were gonna be successful. Like just, I mean, kind of almost cheesily weird. But when you show up to people who already know, like, and trust and love you, even those people are going to show up to be booked with you. Way sooner than some random stranger. So please show up in front of your friends.

Um, I actually have one more bonus thing. So we're gonna do six total. If you have a bride Facebook group, so we have Minnesota Brides or Weddings of Minnesota, which is a Facebook group that allows vendors in to answer things, but it's basically like a, a jumping ground for. Couples in your market, um, to find vendors, to ask questions, to sell crap, to, you know, look for recommendations and things like that.

So I have booked several weddings from this type of situation. They have been like my a la carte, so they haven't been like, I'm not booking a $10,000 wedding doing this. But we're just talking about getting eight weddings or whatever it is, and I didn't specify that they were full service. You know, a all la carte wedding is still an all la carte wedding and is still revenue and it's easy.

Hey, go and look at my website and here's all this crap on there that's already done for you. So easy. So if this is something that you are really looking to get your bookings going. 2026 is not a wash at this point. Go in, follow these little tips and tricks and get your butt moving. And if you are looking for extra support, you guys, the floral CEO Mastermind is the accountability that you have been looking for.

It has an arsenal of courses that like literally are, if you're wondering how to sell stuff, if you're wondering how to network with planners, if you're wondering like. How to plan out your business financially. All the things are jam packed in this group, plus an amazing group of women that are joining together, all in pursuit of kicking ass and taking names in their business, and they are so delightful and so fun to be around that if you want a tribe.

You need to be in the Floral CEO Mastermind, so head to floral ceo.com/mastermind. I hope these tips were helpful, and thank you so much for listening, flower Friend, and you have an amazing flower filled day.

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