As I mentioned yesterday we've been laying low at saipua headquarters taking off most of this month. It has been great for us to have deep rest both physically and creatively.
Getting back to work yesterday, it was a big let down to see another shitty yelp review for Saipua. A bride we started working with and then had to decline because we could not gaurantee that wedding bouquets picked up 2 days before her out-of-town wedding will look good on the day of the wedding. Making sure flowers look fresh is an obsession of ours since a big dahlia heat-wave mishap last summer.
Probably we can can be better about communicating faster, more directly and efficiently. I'll admit that sometimes it takes us too long to respond to tough inquiries, or inquires that come in amidst a big wedding weekend when so much is immediately pressing. Most of the time we're just doing our best, and the bottom line is that our best is not always going to be good enough for everyone. I try not to take these things personally, but it's hard not too. Especially when someone writes us up to be snobs.
Let the record show that the only thing I'm stuck up about is finding the freshest-to-death-flowers and guaranteeing that we can deliver them in perfect condition and on time to every last wedding (both big and small - because YES, to respond to another yelp reviewer we work with smaller budgets too) that we commit to. Flowers that look as good - if not better - than the images I publish here.
23 comments:
I am so gutted to hear about the haters - just yesterday I was gazing wistfully upon my own beautiful Saipua wedding bouquet and thinking, "flowers will never be this beautiful." And then - BAM! - every week the flowers are more beautiful. I'm going to Yelp you to high heaven right now to counter the critics!
perhaps this is the attitude you need right now :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFN1-uqt2WA&feature=player_embedded
Ah no they didn't. Saipua flowers are heavenly. I may not have hired you for my wedding but on a couple of occasions, I've ordered arrangements to be delivered for family birthdays and have heard nothing but outstanding remarks of how beautiful the flowers were. I'm heading over to yelp, like now. Xx
By the way, I WISH I had hired you or even had known Saipua exsisted when I was getting married. My loss
sarah, if that is the definition of a flower snob, than sign me up too because there is just no other way when you are so invested in making your clients happy. i find myself affected by the negatives too no matter how many times i tell myself "you can't please them all." try to take the lesson learned (there always is one) and keep doing what you do well. luckily you are surrounded by people who think otherwise, including me!
It's such a sad state of affairs when people expect you to compromise your standards for them, and then slap you in the face with a bad review when you decline to participate in it.
What you do is amazing and fragile artwork, and you can't be there for everyone, at every venue, on every weekend. It's just not possible (unless you change your business name to Teleflora). So let's all keep doing the highest quality work we can, and if that makes us all flower snobs, so be it. You gotta have standards.
I think the smart ones can see past a negative review. Do not fret. You have a strong following of Saipua-lovers.
you're not ftd or 1-800-flowers for goodness sake! you and your small team personally create the bouquets and take pride in your work. end of story.
Chalk it up to Bride-zilla at large, and don't give it another thought. Quality above average quality is so important these days. And, as a business owner, you make the decisions. If you didn't make decisions such as these, you would just be another average flower shop. You're not that at all. Quite the opposite. So there.
I wish there were more florists like you. Sadly I live on the west coast and what we have here is nothing but corporate places that don't care.
At least I get to see your beautiful photos and your arrangements give me ideas on what greenery to try out. Thank you.
If I lived near you, I would totally come buy a round of drinks for the whole Saipua crew. People will never understand why you can't make the impossible possible just for them. Two days before the bash? The way I see it, the folks who really matter know better. Don't worry about it. There will always be haters, no matter what the situation. BIG hugs to your madly talented crew.
bad reviews happen. sometimes (oh so rarely) we fuck up. sometimes the client is uneducated and opinionated. hopefully the believers will see through the muck and ask the right questions to get the true answers. who know flowers could be so complex and moody? but it's true! keeping it real. even if it's not what she wants to hear. (but it's MY wedding!) so hard to take no for an answer...
First: I wish I could cut that bride's ass with my Karen-Elson bangs (I got me a NASTY serrated edge now);
Second: I'm writing a fab review for you and the shop in Yelp. Shoulda done it a long time ago, lovey!
GREAT blog! it is so interesting and inspirational! if you get the chance to check out mine, I would love to see what you think of it!:)
follow me?
www.so--hi.blogspot.com
When I was planning my wedding I happened across your blog and you RUINED me for most florists. If you were in DC I probably would've hunted you down to see if you could work within my budget. As it is, I brought some pictures you did for Martha Stewart to the consultations and said "I like this style" and ended up with something beautiful and equally me. So don't worry so much because your work speaks for itself and inspires people all over this world.
Sarah, Some people just suck. No matter what you do. They ain't paying rent in your brain, so don't let them stay over. Just yelped about the fantastic job you did for my wedding. And how much I love your classes with Nicolette. No one else could have come close. xx Elizabeth
so sad....weddings r hard work....bride-zillas even harder, particularly when they do not understand the depth of thought, care & creativity that go into creating the most beautiful, lasting & memorable wedding flowers that they will cherish forever.!! u can tell just from looking at your beautiful shop & designs on the web that u r passionate about what u do...u just can't please everyone..xxx
don't feel bad about a couple of bad reviews...yelp really brings out the crazies, and when it's wedding related, people are f'ing maniacs, with a sense of entitlement that boggles the mind. anyone researching vendors on yelp will have realized that (or soon will). anyway, this inspired me to write my own, first-ever yelp review. a year later, i still can't get over how beautiful the flowers you guys made for my wedding were.
if not for snobbery, there would be no high standards. not everything needs to be least common denominator in this world. some of us still strive for perfection.
I look to you all for such inspiration-and your post today it to me- I too had a bride today that dismissed me after months of planning for her. After seeing you write the same thing I was feeling, I do feel less wretched. Its hard not to take what you love seriously. Thank you.
I "pinch hit" for several friends who are amazing artists with flowers, when they need an extra hand. It's nerve wracking! People on the outside never seem to understand the stress and speed, the timing, handling perishable product, and the fact that, the show is going go on, no matter what.
I adore flowers, but I feel grey hairs sprouting each and every time I help out.
You're flowers are lyrical. That bride is clearly not right.
And, I can see from these comments, that you are loved.
I send a little more!
is that a Confetti System garland?
heya - what is that gorgeous little pink flower in this arrangement next to the pink roses?
from a fan - www.wunderplant.com.au
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