Introducing our Newest Product Line – Weddings

Tapping into the creativity of your staff can prove to be very profitable.

We’ve all heard the saying that some of the best ideas come from where you’d least expect it. How many of us allow our staff to run a little wild with some of their ideas, regardless of how crazy they may seem?

Recently one of my sales people, Linda, asked if she could book a wedding in our store among the flowers. She had a young couple that were interested in holding a small wedding right in the store. This was a very unusual request and my first thought was that it would interrupt normal sales too much. In short, I wasn’t crazy about the idea.

We came around (myself and our managing partner) when she agreed that it would be held in the back end of the store, it wouldn’t cost much in time or materials and the couple was willing to pay for the space.

Long story short, Linda booked the wedding, kept it contained and didn’t interrupt sales in the store much at all. The event created all kinds of excitement in the store and even gave us some free publicity. However the most surprising thing out of the experience is that she has since booked three other small weddings to take place throughout the summer and is charging for each event. All it cost us was a little coordination, the space at the back end of the store and flower plants (inventory to us) to be placed around the area.

I say – Nice job! Through her crazy idea, she has created something truly unique that is selling at a profit margin of almost 100%.

So what crazy ideas can you or your staff run with?

Andy

Here are some great ideas and examples of how others are doing things differently:

1. Toronto florist enlists neighbours in blooming business

2. A slideshow of 50 Innovations in Retail

3. Fresh Ideas for Innovative Marketing

4. Can Happiness Help You in Business? A Visit to Zappos