Relay and direct MD orders picking up

Whilst not likely to break records, currently it is looking like Mother’s Day 2020 may not be the total wash out many feared.

Whether the numbers will match last year is anyone’s guess but as of Thursday (20.03.20) afternoon all three relay companies were reporting a marked increase in business as were florists on their own websites and phone ins.

Simon Stirling from D2F said “We are amazed but pleased that we are tracking numbers from last year. Our members have been fabulous and we have made it clear to customers that all orders may be delivered from Friday onwards and with substitutions.

Paul Isaia of eFlorist told us “Despite the uncertainty we are finding that orders are currently flowing in ok and being accepted by our florists without any issues at all. Stock doesn't seem to be an issue at present but we are in constant contact with our florists on this.

Paul continued: "To support & make life easier for our florists, we are going to streamline our range considerably from Saturday, be more flexible with substitutions, give them the opportunity to deliver up to 2 days early which will make it easier for them to plan stock & pay drivers less for delivering on Sunday and when it comes to open orders customers are advised that florists may substitute."

Speaking for Interflora Nick Priest said “Orders are definitely now flowing and generally stock has arrived into the UK no problem. That said if it becomes tight then we are empowering our members to make a substitution if they need to and no, they don’t need to tell us. If necessary we will move completely to open orders but it seems OK at the moment … we will keep monitoring. On the delivery front members can amend the delivery date if they are concerned that they can’t get the order delivered on the date specified and we’ve introduced contactless deliveries."

The changes at Interflora are based on a number of priorities as Nick explained; “We’ve needed to think about the health and wellbeing of our members and recipients hence the contactless deliveries and we are – like many - concerned that some travel/movement disruptions might be introduced but desperately want to ensure that mums receive their gifts come hell or high water hence introducing freedom to bring a delivery forward. Finally we are concerned that some florists will enlist the help of their amazing army of mums, dads, aunts and uncles to help with deliveries, many of whom may be retired and classed in the ‘at risk’ category. As florists may not have the delivery capacity they planned and we don’t want to encourage this group to be put at risk spreading orders to relieve capacity on Saturday and Sunday seems important.”

For many florists there has been a big spike in orders on their own websites in the last 24 hours and the decision to pull forwarded deliveries in anticipation of a lock down being announced yesterday (Thursday) has provided a much needed gap to catch breath and make more designs.