SENDING FLOWERS AS GIFTS
Giving a Floral Gift? Here Are Your Options
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Using Your Local Florist
If you need flowers and are sending them locally, your local florist is still your best bet. Simply go to your nearby florist, look at his catalog of arrangements, make your selection and let him know where they need to be delivered. This usually allows you to see your arrangement first hand, and many of us still want to see what we are getting for our money. You will have the option of having your flowers delivered, or you can take them with you and deliver them yourself. You can also call your local florist, give him your price range and tell him what occasion you want your flowers to cover, and give your credit card information over the phone. The drawback here of coure, is that you don't see what you're sending. Also, most florists now have their own web page where you can see a photo of the arrangement and order it online.
Even if your flowers need to be delivered to another city, your local florist can still help, especially if he is a member of a floral network like FTD or TelaFlorists. Once your order has been finalized, your local florist will call or fax your order to another member florist in the city where you want your flowers delivered. Your flowers can be ready later that day if you order early enough, or by the following day. And you didn't have to do more than go to your local florist to begin this process.
Online Florists
One thing the Internet has done for our society is to allow us to order goods and services online, without ever leaving the comfort of our own homes. This includes flowers. While you won't get the satisfaction of possibly seeing your arrangement before choosing, you should still be able to see a photo of it online. This will give you an idea of what you are sending. Here are some good online sources for floral gifts.
FTD.com
In pre-Internet days, if you ordered flowers to be sent from your local florist to another city, chances are your florist was affiliated with FTD. This allowed your florist to pick up the phone to order from an FTD florist in another location. Now you can order online, by phone, or locally through an FTD-affiliated florist and get the same great delivery you are familiar with. Order before 2 p.m. in your delivery city's time zone, and they will get your order delivered that same day.
Teleflora.com
Another nation-wide system which was in place before the Internet, you can order your flowers through them, anywhere there are affiliated florists. Your chosen arrangement will be made up by a local florist in the area of your delivery and sent to your recipient. They often include a discount coupon too!
ProFlowers.com
Order online or through their toll-free telephone number and your recipient can enjoy a beautiful bouquet of flowers from you, by the following day. ProFlowers.com offers an attractive display of floral arrangements for you to choose from, for any occasion and in most any price range. They also offer gift baskets, too.
1-800Flowers.com
Order by phone or online, they have arrangements for any occasion, as well as plants, gift baskets, gift cards, monthly club offers, and stuffed animals. Many of their arrangements are available for same-day delivery.
800Florals.com
You can order by phone or online and your order is shipped anywhere in the US, Canada, and many International locations. They offer same-day delivery in the US and Canada if your order is placed before 1 p.m. in the time zone of intended delivery Monday-Friday, and before noon on Saturday. Exceptions would be during their busy seasons, such as Valentines Day, Mothers Day, Christmas, etc. Allow one-three days for delivery during those times.
Sending flowers as gifts was never easier. Next time you need to order flowers or send an arrangement as a gift, give one of these options a try. You'll be glad you did.