Next Generation

Introduction

When Petals was founded in 1992, we (understandably) were not permitted to exchange international orders with the Interflora and Teleflora international systems. We therefore started our own international exchange system and, over the years, we have invited other relay services around the world in the same position to join our system and exchange orders via Petals Worldwide (PWW).

The system has run well for some 17 years now. However, your feedback has led us to decide it needs an overhaul to bring it into alignment with new technologies, new partners and changes in the world's dominant currencies.

We think these changes will considerably improve the PWW service. For some of you, there might be a bit of disruption during the changeover but we should then be on a platform that can last several years before another overhaul.

The basic changes are;

moving from USD to the Euro: Because of the many countries now using the Euro (which didn't even exist when we started PWW!) whereas only the US uses USD, we think this change will be more convenient for all parties. It also seems to be a bit more stable making long-range pricing easier.
moving from a commission basis of 20/80 on the total value (flowers + handling + delivery) of the order to 20/80 on the flower value of the order and 100% of the handling and delivery going to the supplier. As most relay services seem to work on a commission-on-flower-value basis, this change should be more convenient for most PWW partners.
fixing standardized minimum flower value and handling and delivery on a per country basis wherever possible and then fixing them for several months at a time. As we usually have several partners in each major country, it can be very confusing for different fees and minimums among the partners in a particular country. By arriving at an average of these, we hope to reduce the confusion. We also plan to allow only 1-2 price changes per year for domestic prices in a country to make it easier for each partner to advise their respective memberships.

I hope we can work together to implement these changes and thereby improve the system for all of us.

Best wishes Scott Williams CEO Petals Network

Current Timetable

The proposed timetable for changes is presented here. This may change as events progress and depending on feedback from Partners.

22 September 09: proposed changes announced
10 October 09: preferred minimum prices and handling and delivery fees returned to PWW by Partners
20 October 09: proposed country minimums and fees made available on PWW website for any comment and for Partners to begin to prepare for advising their florists of revised changes
25 October 09: prices and fees finalized so Partners can advise florists with monthly statements
1 December 09: new prices, fees and currencies come into effect

27 October

The new minimum prices in EURO are now available for download off our website (click here)

It is VERY IMPORTANT that you read and get ready for the commission rate changes above when setting the prices that you send to your florists for outbound international orders via Petals WorldWide.

These new arrangments come into force for any orders from 1st December 2009.

23 September

This is first newsletter on the proposed changes to improve the PWW system.

Its purpose is to collect minimum prices and handling and delivery fees for countries.

Only Partners already receiving orders from Petals need to complete this survey. Partners who sell into the system but do not receive orders back do not need to fill in this survey.

We would like all Partners to provide us with the following pricing information immediately. Information received after 10 October 09 may not be able to be considered for country-pricing. All prices should be in EURO and be fixed for the next 12 months. Please send your information to PWW at hq@petalsnetwork.com or fax to +61 267 712610

Control Centre

Next Generation

Contents:

Introduction

Current Timetable

27 October

23 September