For 10 years I worked for a very famous long established Florist in West London.
I became an all rounder, administration is really important, but it also gave me access to business information that I just accepted was the cost of doing business.
That was until I decided to set up my own business !
We had our own London based website, but the vast majority of orders came from a very well known third party order company.
Their annual costs and commission cost were quite frankly eye watering.
After being layed off during Covid, I decided to open my own Florist shop near my parents home in Telford, Shropshire.
There is a lot to consider setting up a new small business, the physicality’s were exhausting.
And further down the list of things to do, I became perplexed about the cost of an internet presence without using a third party ordering company.
Weighing up the advantages I had almost made the decision to sign up.
It seems to me that a website is too big for a fancy phone these days.
I was swayed by so many “truths” out there.
For example “fewer than 1% of Google searchers get as far as the 2nd page” and “25% of people click on the first result “
But it was my Dad who made a basic suggestion over his birthday Sunday lunch.
I had ordered a birthday card from an APP called Thortful the day before, it all began to click into place.
Dad said “it seems to me that a website is too big for a fancy phone these days “
My lightbulb moment had arrived, what if I bought an APP ?
And just when I thought I had embarked on a journey I could afford, all was smashed when the first 3 quotes came in from random APP development companies.
But there was a video I came across on you tube that changed everything.
It explained that I didn’t need to use the Apple store, there is a new type of APP, cheap to produce and host.
Perfect for small business.
It appeared as a website on a PC and an APP on a smartphone !
I wanted to use local social media effectively and go contactless as much as possible.
I also wanted to offer personal touches using QR codes on the bouquet such as music, personal messages, promotions.
Its endless and I feel confident customers who do business with me on their smartphone will spread the word.
Just like Thortful, I can now use SMS promotions, send out notifications, set up subscriptions, take payments, all the stuff I wanted to achieve but didn’t know how.
A Medium Daily Digest article published on newswire 19 07 2021
