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By MoonFlower, August 22, 2010 3:43 pm

The Office of the Attorney General of New York State has obtained a $640,000 settlement from FTD Inc. over their involvement with companies that tricked consumers into signing up for discount clubs with hidden fees. When completing an online purchase at FTD, consumers would be presented with a discount offer, but that they would be agreeing to transfer their credit or debit card information and to pay monthly fees was buried in fine print and cluttered text.

Under the terms of the settlement, FTD must also permanently end the practice of providing consumers’ billing information to companies that market discount clubs online. FTD’s $640,000 will go into a fund that will pay for consumer education, refunds, and the costs of the investigation.

FTD (a.k.a. “Florists’ Transworld Delivery”), headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, is one of the biggest players in the floral wire service business in North America. Two other big florist “order gatherer” companies, 1-800-Flowers and Pro Flowers, as well as many other well-known retailers, are also involved in what has been referred to as a “billion dollar web scam”.

According to the Attorney General, the scheme “tricked hundreds of thousands of New York consumers”. But New York is just one state – there are another 49 to go. The precedent may accelerate settlements in other jurisdictions.

The official press release is here. See our January 2010 blog post on FTD and 1-800-Flowers in Scam Probe for more background.

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By MoonFlower, August 1, 2010 10:18 am

The birthday flower for August is the gladiola, which signifies strength and moral integrity. Its name comes from “gladius”, the Latin word for sword, just to make a point. Although its sword-shaped stems may imply Roman gladiators, gladiolas are also romantic flowers capable of piercing a heart with their beauty. Infatuation is another one of its meanings.

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By MoonFlower, May 17, 2010 4:06 pm

MoonFlower Florist is having a sale on all remaining high quality silk plants and flowers – 25% off! These are unique, one-of-a-kind silk arrangements created to showcase our design skills. But now it’s time for them to move on, and so you can get a deal!

Silk flowers and plants make great permanent decor items. They are almost zero maintenance and can last for years. Display them in your home to create a welcoming ambiance and that touch of nature. Silks are also ideal for the office, to brighten up a reception area or to spruce up a boardroom. And you don’t have to water them, ever.

Our silk flowers and plants also make a great gift. They are distinctive works of floral art that will be appreciated for a long time.

See them all here at MoonFlower Silks. But hurry, there’s only one of each, once they’re gone, they’re gone!

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By MoonFlower, April 30, 2010 10:05 pm

Mother’s Day will soon be here, on Sunday, May 9. Don’t forget your Mom on Mother’s Day!

It’s probably the busiest day of the year for florists, and there’s only so much delivery capacity available. If you’re going to get her flowers, it’s a really good idea to get your order in early to avoid disappointment. Now would be a good time to have a look at MoonFlower Florist’s selection of Mother’s Day flowers.

And if you’re a Dad, don’t forget the mother of your children! You may want to choose something from our flowers for love and romance collection.

By the way, MoonFlower Florist will be open on Mother’s Day Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm,  but only for phone order pick-up and personal shopping.

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By MoonFlower, February 8, 2010 5:55 pm

MoonFlower Florist is normally closed on Sundays, but there are two exceptions. One is Mother’s Day and the other is Valentine’s Day if it happens to fall on a Sunday. And this year, it does!

We’ll be open on Valentine’s Day, Sunday February 14, from 10 am to 4 pm. This will be for personal shopping and pre-order pick-up only.

We expect that our delivery schedule will be full on Valentine’s Day. If you do need delivery, please order by phone to confirm delivery availability. A good option is to order ahead and then just come in and quickly pick-up your flowers at the shop.

Valentine’s Day is one of our very busiest times. Be sure to order early to avoid disappointment!

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By MoonFlower, January 19, 2010 9:46 pm

Scam. Fraud. Ripoff. These are the words being used by thousands of people who found “surprise” charges on their credit card or bank statements after making an online purchase. Consumers say they were unwittingly duped into third-party “e-loyalty” or “rewards club” programs, often costing $14.95 per month or more. Most people were unaware of it until they checked their bills.

FTD and 1-800-Flowers were summoned before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee to explain their involvement with these so-called “post-transaction marketing” schemes. Many consumer complaints have also been lodged against another major flower seller, Pro Flowers, over the same issue. These companies sold out their customers to various loyalty marketing firms, including Affinion, Ezsaver, Webloyalty, and Vertrue.

It’s not just limited to the flower business. Other companies cited as making money from the scheme include Buy.com, Priceline, Travelocity, Avon, eHarmony, Hertz, Pizza Hut, Victoria’s Secret, and others.

Here are links to more information, which in turn have further references.

• Online Florists: Whither the ethics?, Real Florist Blog at flowerchat.com
• Feds: Top e-tailers profit from billion-dollar Web scam, by Greg Sandoval, cnet.com
• Lawmakers Slam Deceptive Web Marketers, by Thomas Claburn, Information Week

Note that MoonFlower Florist is a member of the Teleflora network, which is not involved in these nefarious goings-on. In any event, since we have our own website, MoonFlower.ca, we have complete control over our own database. We absolutely do not sell or pass on any website visitor or customer information to anyone. At MoonFlower Florist, we truly value and appreciate your business.

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By MoonFlower, December 16, 2009 5:31 pm

Hello everyone! This is just a reminder to order early for Christmas this year, particularly if you need a specific delivery date. There will be no deliveries from the 25th on, but our flower shop will be open until 5 pm on Christmas Eve, so do drop in. Then we’re taking a break between Christmas and New Year’s, and getting back to business on Monday, January 4th.

Merry Christmas!

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By MoonFlower, December 6, 2009 11:21 pm

Come one, come all! It’s MoonFlower Florist’s annual Christmas Open House! There will be savings, cider, coupons, cookies, new designs … oh, my! It’s on Thursday, December 10. Get the details here: MoonFlower Open House.

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By MoonFlower, October 9, 2009 10:30 am

MoonFlower has just posted Guys’ Guide to Flowers for Her. Yes, it’s a man-ual! It’s full of easy, practical advice and tips on how to give flowers to the woman in your life. And that in turn can move your love life up a few notches. So if you’re a guy, this bud’s for you. Here’s a quick tour.

• First there is a “Compressed Version for the Impatient“.

• Let’s get to the bottom-line: Flowers = Romance. There’s more to it of course, but first you have to know why flowers work.

• By the way, if you don’t have a clue about flowers, guess what? It’s no problem!

• Make sure you avoid the biggest mistake many men make, and that you understand why quality is critical.

• Never forget the big 5 occasions, but also take advantage of the power of the surprise.

• Oh no, not red roses again – they’re nice, but show some imagination. Also, a relationship goes through many stages, so be sure to keep it appropriate.

• Flowers say a lot by themselves, but if you include the right message, you can tone things up or down. Speaking of messages, what about an apology? Flowers can really help you get out of the doghouse.

• Some finer points — learn how to conquer the corsage and master the boutonniere. And don’t forget the other ladies in your life.

• And last but not least, a couple of notes for the women out there.

Get the full story at MoonFlower Florist’s Guys Guide to Flowers for Her.

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By MoonFlower, May 22, 2009 3:38 pm

We gave you some tips for DIY wedding flowers and now we have advice for those leaving their floral needs to the professionals.

We may be biased, but going to a florist for your wedding flowers is the absolute best way to ensure beautiful results.

What a florist can do for you

Florists know what they are doing, plain and simple. They have had training in floral design courses and know all the ins and outs of creating everything

These bouquets are a perfect example of the gorgeous work only a florist can create.

from a decadent cascading bouquet for the bride to intricate corsages for the Moms. A florist knows flower care like the back of their hand; how to properly condition flowers, what temperature to store them at and what’s seasonal when. They can also cover the logistics of delivery and set-up. But best of all, they’re creative and can design unique arrangements to suit your needs exactly, from the avant garde to the traditional. Plus they do it all for you, giving you one less thing to worry about.

Before the consultation

The biggest frustration for a florist is having a wedding consultation with a bride who just doesn’t know what she wants. We can suggest ideas until we’re blue in the face, but until you give us cues as to colour, style, flowers and budget, we’re not going to be able to find something you really want. Before your consultation, do some research. Look around in wedding magazines, online wedding forums, florist’s website (such as our wedding gallery and wedding packages) for ideas. Print off some pictures and bring them to the consultation.

Know the answers to these questions before you go in:

A unique bouquet with seashells we made for a bride getting married on a boat.

• What style do you want? Contemporary, traditional, linear, round, cascading? Consider your venue and the style of your dresses as well as your own personality. Also consider your body type. If you’re petite, a huge cascading bouquet will hide you and if you’re more full-figured, a small tight bouquet will pale next to your curvaceous self. It’s all about proportions!
• What flowers do you want? Have some top choices and some alternatives as well in case in turns out that what you like is out of season or out of your price range.
• What is your colour scheme? Complimentary colours or monochromatic? Bring in fabric swatches! There are thousands of shades of pink, we can’t guess which one you’re using.
• What is your budget? Some brides withhold this from the florist to see if they can get a better price, but then end up disappointed when they hear the cost of the arrangements they picked out during the consultation. Be up front so the florist can guide you to what fits with your budget.

Your answers to these questions may evolve during the consultation, but giving the florist a jumping off point will make the session run smoothly and let the florist design what you actually want right off the bat.

Also remember to book your consultation ahead of time. When we do our consultations we can spend up to a few hours making sure every detail is perfect, showing you how the arrangements will look and letting you see the flowers you want to use. We need to schedule the consultation so we can set that time aside and gather the right materials and flowers to show you.

At the consultation

The absolute best advice we can give you for an enjoyable wedding consultation is to come alone or with just one other person like your maid of honour or your Mom. Leave the rest of the wedding party at home. Too many people at a consultation means too many ideas, too many clashing opinions and too much time wasted on a round table discussion about the pros and cons of baby’s breath. It’s your day and only your opinion matters when it comes to the flowers, so let it be your decision.

Also remember to keep an open mind. The image in your head of your wedding flowers may not be what’s realistic for your budget and the season. Listen to your florist, they will give you alternatives that will still keep your wedding fabulous.

Choosing a florist

Here are some things to consider when deciding whether or not to use a florist:

• Did the florist respect your budget, style and ideas?
• Did I get along with the florist? Did the consultation “feel right”? No reason you shouldn’t like the person you are hiring.
• Did you like the designs? If you’re paying a florist to make you professional quality arrangements, they should look it. If you felt the designs were too amateurish or just plain not what you asked for, don’t book them.

Having gorgeous wedding flowers need not be a difficult task. Start with a good florist and a foundation of ideas of everything should flow naturally from there. And don’t stress too much about having all the flowers be perfect, leave it to us, we can do that for you too!

If you have any questions about shopping for wedding flowers, leave us a comment or tweet us at our Twitter feed.