[Hua11.com Original] The first two articles in the "Marketing First Step Series" describe the initial stages of online marketing, including operational methods and relevant marketing theory.

This article focuses on sharing an offline practical project: Fresh Lily Special Delivery.

The project was planned by Hua11.com and verified by Hua11.com students to be successful, achieving excellent results. By following the steps outlined here (including the copy), you can gain practical experience and attract customers, leading to stable initial income. This project aims to address the most challenging aspect of customer development during the initial stages.

Below is the detailed content:

I. Feasibility Analysis of the "Fresh Lily Special Delivery" Project

1. Market Analysis

"Lily" is a common flower category in the market. It boasts diverse colors, easy maintenance, beautiful and elegant blooms, fragrant aroma, and a moderate price point. Consequently, it is the preferred choice for many commercial users.

Given its popularity, the market demand for lilies is substantial and stable. Our observations indicate that, on average, approximately 20 merchants in each large shopping mall use lilies. Additionally, street-level shops across various industries—such as clothing stores, jewelry shops, hair salons, and beauty spas—also incorporate lilies. With such robust demand, capturing a portion of these customers and providing excellent service can lead to consistent cash flow.

It's important to note that lilies have a strong fragrance and limited household usage (typically one or two stems). Delivery can be challenging, especially when coordinating evening deliveries after regular work hours. As a result, the primary target audience for this project is commercial customers.

2. Supply Source Analysis

The wholesale market offers a wide variety of lilies. Common choices among commercial customers include perfume lilies (pink), Huang Tianba (all-yellow lily), Wooden Door (yellow and white gradient), and Robin (higher quality). Keep in mind that names may vary by location.

Each type of lily comes in single-headed, double-headed, triple-headed, and multi-headed variants, each priced differently.

When purchasing, consider your target customers' preferences. Professionally guide them toward adopting specific varieties. For instance, uniformly recommend the 3-headed Wooden Door.

Why? Because wholesale purchases typically come in bunches of 10. If a customer only needs 6 stems of a particular variety, the remaining 4 would go to waste. Buying a little extra helps prevent such losses.

Simultaneously, control costs. If the retail price is 10 yuan, aim for a purchase price within 6 yuan. A profit margin of 40% - 50% is reasonable. Remember, business isn't charity. If a potential customer insists on a low price without valuing quality or service, it's best to move on.

Lastly, exceptional service remains the cornerstone of customer loyalty.

3. Delivery and Labor Cost Analysis

Since lilies can last approximately one week, we can optimize our approach. By delivering only once a week (specifically on Mondays), our weekly work schedule narrows down to just two days: Sunday (for wholesale market visits to procure goods) and Monday (for delivery).

Here are the clear advantages of unified purchasing and delivery:

- Large Purchase Volume: Wholesale market vendors prioritize supplying high-quality goods when you buy in bulk.

- Cost and Time Efficiency: Unified delivery significantly reduces both delivery costs and service time.

Remember that lily flower heads are delicate, so handle them with care to prevent unnecessary breakage.

After completing these tasks, you'll have the remaining five days of the week free! 😊

4. Transaction Mode Analysis

Consider the following transaction modes for this project:

- Single Settlement

- Monthly Subscription Settlement

- Quarterly Subscription Settlement

- Other methods as needed.

Two key operational points:

- Collect Advance Payment: Aim for around 60% upfront, and ideally, secure full payment in advance.

- Monthly Subscription Model: Opt for monthly subscriptions. This not only improves cash flow and customer retention but also provides flexibility. If you decide to shift business direction, you won't be overly tied to this project. For instance, if you discover a more profitable source channel, you can transition smoothly.

5. Project Advantages

For students without extensive marketing backgrounds, this project offers clear advantages:

- Low Craftsmanship Requirements: The process involves straightforward tasks—purchasing flower materials, arranging them, selling, and delivering. No specialized skills are necessary; any student can handle it.

- No Physical Store Required: This project falls under active marketing (see [Hua11.com · Marketing First Step Series 2] 3 must-learn practical marketing tips for affordable flower sales) and doesn't require a brick-and-mortar flower shop. Students can operate from their own residences, leveraging Hua11.com's offline entities for trust endorsement.

- Prepayment System: No need to maintain inventory or face capital pressure. The project is nearly risk-free with minimal investment.

- Steady Cash Flow: As long as your service quality remains satisfactory, customers will continue ordering lilies. Over time, this turns a one-time transaction into a recurring revenue stream as your customer base grows.

II. Accounting

Based on the above analysis, the "Fresh Lily Special Delivery" project appears to be a promising transitional venture. Let's delve into the financials:

Suppose each merchant orders an average of 5 lilies per week, with a charge of 10 yuan per stem. This means each merchant pays 10 × 5 = 50 yuan weekly. Over a month, that amounts to 50 × 4 = 200 yuan.

If you can secure 50 stable merchants, your monthly income could reach 200 × 50 = 10,000 yuan. After deducting the lily purchase cost (calculated at 5 yuan per stem) and factoring in freight and transportation expenses, you'd still earn approximately 5,000 yuan in gross profit.

And the best part? Your investment is limited to upfront promotion time and work on Sundays and Mondays.

Not bad, right? 😊

III. How to Start

Now, where should you kick off your ground promotion for this project? Consider these three strategies:

1. Start Locally

If you don't have a physical store, begin where you live. Since delivery is involved, proximity matters. Opt for areas nearby—fast delivery ensures the freshness of flower materials (especially during hot summers; remember to replenish water).

2. Target Commercial Centers

Commercial hubs attract numerous merchants. If transportation is convenient, focus on customers in these bustling areas.

3. Industry-Specific Approach

Lilies find frequent use in certain industries:

- Hair Salons

- Clothing Stores

- Buddhist Halls (for worship)

- Jewelry Stores

Start by approaching these places—the success rate tends to be higher. Also, cultivate relationships with chain stores; their internal recommendations can open doors. If one store is satisfied, others may follow suit.

During promotions, use our project introduction: "Fresh Lily · Matching Design · Periodic Delivery Service." Feel free to modify it slightly. We've already gained many customers during testing, so this copy should resonate well.

With your sincere approach, connect with existing lily users. Changing suppliers won't be difficult for them.

IV. Project Expansion

The "Fresh Lily Delivery" project marks just the beginning of your market entry. As you gradually accumulate customers and experience, consider expanding in the following directions (assuming your craftsmanship has improved):

1. Service Improvement

- Upgrade from single-item lilies to "Lily + Different Matching Grasses" (similar to what's mentioned in the previous section).

- Rotate single items weekly, such as "Lily," "Balloon Flower," and "Sunflower." This variety keeps customers engaged and reduces aesthetic fatigue.

- Be cautious: Some commercial customers have specific flower usage requirements. For instance, certain matching grasses may be off-limits (e.g., small chrysanthemums), while others prefer only yellow lilies or specific color combinations. Maintain accurate records to avoid mistakes.

2. Monthly Subscription Flowers

- Once you have a decent customer base, consider launching a monthly subscription flower project.

- Monthly subscriptions require less craftsmanship and serve as valuable practice.

- Since you're already familiar with flower matching and purchase channels, explore mixed monthly subscription options.

- Aim to secure at least 4 or 5 interested customers before starting. Wholesale markets sell by bunches, so having too few customers could lead to losses.

(Refer to: [Hua11.com · Product Analysis Series 1] Ultra-detailed guidence: can flower shops compete with e-commerce's 99 yuan monthly packages?)

3. Commercial Flowers

- Commercial flowers include flower baskets for openings or store celebrations, table flowers, and customer bouquets.

- Quality matters: Commercial clients seek high-quality arrangements at reasonable prices.

- Your advantage lies in flexibility—without additional expenditure pressure, you can price competitively.

- Remember: Low price shouldn't compromise quality. Maintain excellent service standards.

In summary, this advice is tailored for Hua11.com students new to offline promotion. Don't overthink—take action! Modify the available copy and implement it vigorously. Many students have successfully executed similar projects, and you can too.

Combine this with insights from [Hua11.com · Marketing First Step Series 8] Why prioritize ground promotion for flower shops and studios? Isn't online marketing easier? to deepen your understanding.

Best of luck on your floral journey!

Copyright Statement:

This article is an original creation by Hua11.com and is included in the “How to Run a Flower Shop and Floral Studio” Ebook. The content of this article may be periodically updated and is initially published on the Hua11.com official website blog. You can find the article at this link: https://hua11.com/blog/3062.html.

Reproduction of this article is permitted, provided that it is reprinted in full and all copyright information is retained. Any form of plagiarism, whether partial or complete, is strictly prohibited. Legal action will be taken against violators.

The work titled “How to Run a Flower Shop and Floral Studio” is copyrighted by Hua11.com. Additionally, the “Practical Floral Training” model and the concept of “Light Decoration” are original creations by Hua11.com. The trademark “花艺意” is registered and protected by relevant national laws.