Starting any new business is a risk, but starting a flower truck business is an especially bold move. However, we believe that following a few key steps and principles can help maximize your chances of success. While the flower industry is competitive, a well-executed mobile flower shop has the potential to carve out a loyal customer base.
Choosing the Right Type of Vehicle
The first and perhaps most important decision is choosing your mobile floral vehicle. While an old van or pickup truck may seem like a cheap option at first, they lack features important for keeping flowers fresh and displaying inventory attractively. Instead, we recommend investing in a refrigerated box truck, often called Flower Truck.
These trucks are temperature-controlled, helping flowers last longer during transport and display. Their spacious interiors also allow for creative merchandising of different floral varieties and arrangements. Plus, the sleek, branded appearance of a flower truck helps establish your business as a premium floral provider from day one. Though more expensive up front than a used van, a quality refrigerated truck will help your flower business succeed for years to come.
Picking Profitable Locations and Routes
With your mobile flower shop secured, next comes deciding where to sell. While parking at busy intersections during rush hour may bring eyeballs, these spots lack amenities for customers. Instead, focus on high-traffic areas people linger in, like parks, office complexes, and farmers markets. These locations give customers time to browse arrangements without feeling rushed.
Develop a set route that services these productive areas on a repeating schedule, like weekly park visits and bi-weekly office/market stops. Advertise your route schedule prominently on your truck and website to build strong word of mouth. Provide regular, reliable service to develop loyal customers who come to expect and look forward to your mobile shop’s visits. Consistency and reliability are key.
Stand Out with Unique, High-Quality Products
While traditional pre-arranged bouquets and single stems sell well, differentiating your inventory helps attract new customers and keeps existing ones coming back. For instance, create unique arrangements incorporating unusual floral varieties or non-traditional materials like succulents, air plants, or dried flowers.
Source top-quality flowers from local farms whenever possible to highlight your commitment to fresh, seasonal products. And offer made-to-order arrangements allowing customers to select their own blooms and containers. By giving customers options beyond standard flower shop fare, you build excitement for each visit and encourage impulse purchases of something truly special. Quality, variety, and customization will drive sales.
Market Effectively through Multiple Channels
Don’t rely solely on walk-up traffic to spread word of your mobile shop. In addition to branded signage on your truck, develop a strong online presence. A polished website not only provides schedule/location information but allows customers to order arrangements for delivery, pick-up, or shipment. Leveraging social media is crucial for sharing photos of your inventory, builds, and customer appreciation—helping virtual visitors fall in love before even finding you in person.
Partner with local venues, offices, and community groups to provide floral centerpieces or on-site mini workshops further promoting your services. And offer incentives like loyalty punch cards encouraging return visits. A multimedia marketing strategy helps cast the widest possible net to attract new customers while also nurturing your existing customer base.
Choosing a Mobile Point-of-Sale System
In addition to selecting your vehicle and defining your route, another crucial piece of technology for running a successful flower truck business is a mobile point-of-sale (POS) system. While an old cash register may seem like a simple option, a dedicated mobile POS offers significant advantages that help streamline operations and boost sales.
Process Credit and Debit Cards on the Go
Many flower truck customers prefer paying with cards rather than cash. A mobile POS allows the processing of credit, debit, and digital wallets like Apple Pay wherever your truck is parked. No need to direct customers to an ATM or hold payments until returning to a fixed shop later. Customers appreciate the convenience of on-the-spot purchases.
Track Inventory and Sales in Real-Time
A mobile POS synced to your back-office system provides up-to-the-minute visibility into what items are selling, and where. View sales reports during routes to know when restocking is needed to avoid inventory gaps. This helps maximize profits and reduces waste from over-ordering. Flower varieties and arrangements not selling can also be identified and removed quickly.
Customize and Pre-load Specials
Offer promos and deals that entice customers at each stop. Load special bundles or percentage-off areas into the POS before departing and staff can easily ring them up onsite. This drums up impulse shopping and repeat visits as deals change regularly. Loading pre-made arrangements also expedites checkout for those short on time.
Issue Receipts and Gather Customer Data
Receipts and loyalty programs require contact information that paper and pen can’t efficiently capture and store. A POS prompts efficiently gathering emails for marketing and loyalty program signups. Process loyalty rewards and send automated receipts after each purchase. This fuels return visits through targeted communications.
Manage Multiple Staff with Login Security
Flower trucks may employ part-time help to maximize hours on popular days or locations. A POS allows multiple users who only see transactions for routes/times they work. Sensitive backend data remains secure, guarding against accidental mistakes or misuse of privileges by temporary staff.
Investing in a quality mobile POS designed for the flower industry transforms a flower truck into a slick, modern shopping experience. It strengthens operations by streamlining ordering, inventory, sales tracking, and loyalty programs – helping to grow the business through promotional offers, tailored outreach, and delighting customers with a modern, cashless purchasing experience.
As a dedicated floral retail system, Hana Florist POS provides robust features like barcode scanning, inventory management, and loyalty programs optimized for florists. Its cloud-based platform ensures real-time visibility and synchronization across any device. Sign up FREE today!
