Reaching the Students at the School

The single best way to increase your prom sales and profits is to sell to the girls. But how do you reach them? Go where they are! Where are they? They are at the mall, they are at prom fashion shows, and they are at school! If you can reach the prom goers at school – you get the boy and the girl together. There are two ways to get into the schools. There is the “front door approach” and there is the “back door approach.” 

The front door approach is directly asking the schools if you can come take orders for prom flowers. Click Here for a sample letter that you can use and customize for your schools.   Letter? Yes, letter.  In our super high tech society, “important” things still come in the mail. So send letters. You will want to follow up with phone call and email. But start with letters. And don’t just send one letter. Send one to the principal, one to the secretary, one to the chairman of the prom committee, etc. The more you send, the better chance you have for a good response.

If the front door approach doesn’t work, the back door is always open. That is via fundraiser. Pick a group, or two or three, Offer to HELP THEM raise the money they need for their group. This way you are not “going to the school to sell” – you are INVITED to support their organization. Last Saturday it was a cold rainy Saturday in Cleveland, and in my town there were dozens of high schoolers walking around with giant signs selling mattresses. If these teens will stand out in the cold rain for their organization, they will sell prom flowers for you. And the best part is…. Not only will the teens be salesmen for you, so will their MOMS! Click here for a sample fundraising letter you can use to introduce yourself to the organization. Again, do your homework and planning– ask anyone you know in the school, whether it is your kids, your neighbor’s kids, etc. who you need to contact. And then again, don’t just send one letter – send 20!  You will likely have to make a presentation to the organization leaders… that’s ok. These are usually leaders in the town and school. They are great people for you to connect with – your prom experience could lead to other great floral opportunities. Make the most of your time in the schools by following the below tips:

• Work with the school's media department. Get mentioned in the school paper, on the morning announcements, on Channel 1, etc. If the media program has reporters, arrange to be interviewed. 
• Buy an ad in the school newspaper - is usually not very expensive - and be sure to show pictures of students wearing the corsages! Ads with people in them attract a lot more attention - especially if they are students of that school.
• Have a great display full of COLORFUL flowers as well as corsage jewelry options. Consider this - flowers are very important to a florist. Jewelry is very important to a teenage girl! Attract the girl's attention with things they are already interested in.
• MAKE corsages and bouts while you are there. Remember AAA - Action Attracts Attention.
• Never only go for one day - go for at least two days.
• "Plant" flowers around the school. Bring flowers for the most mobile faculty members of the school to wear so that the most students possible see your designs.
• Work with the limo company that you partner with - and arrive at the school in a limo. No better way for either of you to attract attention.
• If you were working as part of a fundraiser, don't just mail a check - schedule a time to PRESENT the check - and arrange for the school media department to be present.