Dare to Compare Pricing for Preservation

As I cruised the web today, as I do on a regular basis, I was able to do some recent price comparison with nationally advertised floral preservation companies.

I still stand firmly with the statement on our pricing page: http://www.evergreen-dreams.com/floralpreservation/pricing.html.  We are still 8-15% lower than their prices.  In fact, on some items we are 30% lower! Yet our QUALITY is just as good, if not better!  If you are AWESOME and read all the way to the bottom, you can actually see some of our pricing!  So now, why can we set lower prices?

• Shipping your flowers to them is part of their pricing structure.  Stay local. Don't worry about the shipping!  We may even be able to pick up your flowers...at no extra charge.  We do this because we value customer service!  And we know that fresher flowers lead to more beautiful preservation.
• Our overhead is lower.  We work out of a home rather than a storefront...that saves a bundle. 
• Our utility costs are less.  We use the Suspended In Time (r) method to preserve our flowers.  Our machinery uses 300 times LESS electricity than freeze drying machines. 
• Our suppliers shop the best deals for shadowboxes, wall domes, and table domes.  Those lower costs are passed on to you.
• Our pricing is all inclusive.  We don't charge extra for "bouquet resemblance" (why wouldn't you want your bouquet to look like it did?), "tussie mussie" design (this is hand-held, folks. We do this all the time!), non floral items (we'll add whatever you want...no charge!), nameplates (we call them engravings...also included!).

Are we trying to hide our pricing?  NOPE.  Here's how it works.  You come in, or call, and let us know what style, size, and frame type you want.  We'll look it up on our chart, and quote you a price.  Nothing more.  No double price structure like some companies (they charge you to dry and then charge you for the encasement, then add on charges for all the extras that make it unique).

Why not print it on our website? We have 14 sizes of wall frames at three different pricing structures, depending on the frame style and type of finish.  We have 17 sizes of shadow boxes in a multitude of frame styles, depths, and finishes.  You can order from 14 different sizes of table domes, 5 jewelry boxes, 33 different acrylic or glass boxes with varying bases.  We want you to come in, see, touch, tell us your dreams, and help us design.  We want it to be perfect for you!

So I promised you some pricing.  Here are some price ranges.  You'll still have to contact us for specifics.

Shadowboxes: $260-$700.  If you want one large enough to hold an invitation and photo as well, plan on the $350-$450 range.
Domed Wall Frames: $136-$445  The $445 is for our 16 x 20. That's almost $200 less than some of our competitors.
Table Domes: $40-$415 Our most popular sizes run $200-$300
Jewelry Boxes: $180-$330
Glass or Acrylic Boxes $65-$425 (small cube to large hexagon or rectangle)

Be savvy.  Shop around.  Look at their photos.  Look at our photos.  Check their testimonials.  Check our testimonials.  See a huge difference?  The only real difference is YOUR bottom line! Happy Shopping!  And, by the way, if you want to do the comparison yourself, google "floral preservation" and click on the companies that are paying for top billing on the web page...another overhead item!

A Lesson Learned from Cooper the Dog

I was sitting on the couch last night, after a long, busy day.  Suddenly my dog, Cooper, jumped up on the couch.  He started a couple of feet away, then slowly inched closer.  I figured he wanted his back scratched.  But he kept moving over until his face was literally in mine. And he wouldn't move it! When he knew he had my full attention, he stuck his tongue out. 

That's Cooper talk for "feed me".

I suddenly realized that I had fed him very little for breakfast, nothing the rest of the day, and now it was bedtime.  I asked him if he was hungry, and he happily jumped out of my face, off the couch, and planted himself next to his food and water bowls.  Both of which were empty!

So what does this have to do with floral or gown preservation?

Sometimes all of us have the best intentions, but procrastination kicks in.  Other items start prioritizing themselves to the top of the list, and the the day's "to do" list remains "undone".

It's not unusual for me to get a phone call from someone whose gown is still hanging in the closet, two years after the wedding, repleat with stains on the bodice and road grime stuck to the hem.  And I once had a bride who had kept her flowers in the refrigerator for a full month before finally deciding she couldn't part with them and called for preservation (we ended up replacing most of the flowers and replicating the bouquet).

Unlike Cooper, inanimate objects can't jump in your face and remind you they need to be done!

Kindly remember to add bouquet preservation and gown preservation to your wedding checklist.  Thank you!

Planning Ahead For Floral Preservation

Have you ever had one of those days where the phone keeps ringing and your plans keep changing?  It can be very frustrating, that's for sure.  Needless to say, in order for priorities to get taken care of, some "future planning" is essential.  For instance:

• Items that need completion by a deadline date
• Appointments (obviously!)
• Bookings...the best contractors are busy...call soon!
• Travel

The list could go on and on.   Many companies, websites, and vendors offer wedding planning checklists.  Unfortunately, most of these don't included planning for your floral preservation!

Although we are so happy to receive last-minute, after-the-fact bouquets to preserve, it's much easier on the bride and on us if your floral preservation is planned in advance.  The advantages?

• We can discuss the flowers that preserve the best, saving us time and you money!
• We can coordinate best practices with your florist.
• You can see our wide variety of framing and encasement choices in person.
• You have time to change your mind on the color or style if needed!
• We can special order that perfect item for you, and it will be ready when we receive your flowers.
• It may be possible that we can pick your flowers up from your reception (the fresher the flowers, the better they preserve!)
• You can work on referring other people so your costs are lowered by referral bonuses.
• You can spread payments out to fit your budget

Add a consultation for floral preservation to your "to do" list.  There is no obligation involved with a free inititial visit.  You may be totally surprised at the wide variety of affordable options we provide.

Do it...do it....do it....

Thank You, Aubrianne!

Aubrianne's Floral Preservation

Today I picked up a wedding gown for preservation from our good friend, Aubrianne Schneiderman.  Aubrianne is a floral preservation customer who spreads the word about us wherever she goes.  She's moving soon to Virginia, and we will miss her!  When we dried Aubrianne's flowers, we hadn't yet started the gown preservation end of Evergreen Dreams.

Aubrianne's flower encasement was unique, as she asked that her flowers be free-formed rather than in a traditional bouquet shape.  As her new last name would begin with an "S", we formed the flowers in an "S" shape, and added other items literally over, under, around, and through! 

Her domed wall frame has a proud place  in her present home, and today we talked about the best way for her to make sure it stays beautiful during her move.

Thank you so much, Aubrianne!  We surely value your friendship, and wish you the best with your upcoming adventures!

It's been a busy week!

It's been a busy week at Evergreen Dreams!

 Business is picking up thanks to the wedding season being in full swing. 
We are seeing new customers, drying flowers, arranging encasements, and getting referrals from those who have used our floral preservation services in the past.  We've also sent in a couple of wedding gowns for gown preservation. 

We've also been doing some networking and connecting through Facebook and social media.  We've joined up with Kathy DalPra and The Online Close attending their two week long telesummit to learn how to more effectively market our services across the internet.  We want customers who want to preserve their bouquet or wedding gown to more easily find us!

And...happy news...we were able to finally obtain the www.evergreendreams.com domain name and merge it with our existing www.evergreen-dreams.com domain.  Either one will now get you to our website...even if you forget the dash!

We've also got updated business cards ordered through www.overnightprints.com.  They should be here soon!

I'd much rather be working on a bouquet preservation than sitting at the computer tweeking my search words over and over.  Hopefully I'll get it honed soon.

We've been running a special this week...$30 off a preserved bouquet and encasement or $30 off gown preservation.  But this special only lasts until Saturday July 16th.  So if you know someone...even if if the wedding gown was worn 50 years ago...let's get it preserved this week!  Visit our specials page, and let's get you booked!

Revamped Website and blog.

We've been working hard all weekend to give our website and blog a new look and feel.  We're proud of the results, and hope that our past, present, and future customers, as well as our friends a family will love it as much as we do!

Check it out!  www.evergreen-dreams.com