We want to share every tip and trick so you can save time and money & gain complete confidence in every aspect of your buying and ordering, along with managing your account.
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BECOME THE COMPLETE BUYING PRO
BUYING VS ORDERING
First things first, it’s really helpful to get complete clarity around the difference between buying and ordering.
BUYING =
Buying from stock that is physically available whether that’s with us, on it’s way to us, with our buying partners in Holland, or on it’s way to our buying partners in Holland.
It’s an item that is available and that you will be committing to buy, once it’s purchased – it’s yours!
ORDERING =
Is simply you telling us what you want us to buy for you, so we can arrange it to arrive fresh when you request.
This ordering could be done through the online Pre order list, or with us in person (or via email, phone, WhatsApp, etc.)
Think of it just like your own customers placing an advanced order with you.
You can add, change, even remove the order entirely (until the flowers have been bought for you).
How to start
Shopping Online
Here’s the step-by-step guide to help you navigate our webshop seamlessly. Each step has images to guide you in the right direction. Buying like a pro. along with our recommendations are all excellent helpful sections to check out after this too.
Login
Login to the webshop
First steps
Start shopping
3. Click on the top icon to display the full menu
4. Select a product category to purchase from: Flowers, Plants, or Sundries
5. Select a location to purchase from: London, Holland, etc. (each category has different options)
6. Select the date for delivery or collection
Next steps
Start buying
You are all set to start buying. You can click on the product to display a larger image (and often more details).
7. Use the purple plus button for quick buying across any device (on the smaller or larger product view).
8. To purchase press ‘confirm’. Please note once you’ve pressed the confirm button, the item is bought, charged to your account and cannot be cancelled.
! Please note – adding a quantity here will result in items being purchased without the need for confirmation.
Final step
Confirm your Trolley
9. Once you have completed your purchase click on the Trolley button
10. Review your shopping cart
11. Click ‘Done shopping’
12. Complete your order by hitting ‘OK’ button. This will process and complete your order.
Good to know: You can view your cart and continue shopping at any time. Likewise you can use the left menu to switch between different product categories and/or locations to shop the best way for you. Continue reading to discover and learn the more.
Our Recommendations
Our simple recommendations will give you a clear way to buy.
With so much choice and different ways you can shop you may wonder which way is best?
Here we explain the simple fail-safe process we recommend.
Starting with Flowers – simply click on the most relevant tab below to see the best way to buy in that instance.
Flowers
- Everyday Buying
- Something a bit unusual
- Wedding and Specialist Event Ordering
- The Beauty of Pre-Ordering
Everyday Buying
- Best Option
Flowers London Stock
For your everyday buying we recommend buying from our London Stock here’s why…
We carry a wide selection of flowers, foliages, and plant materials. For everyday buying we highly recommend you get online as close to 2pm (when the webshop opens) and buy the products you need from there.
Pros
Available next day (or same day if ordering after midnight).
Order from 2pm until 2am and your flowers will be with you the very next morning (or later that same day if you order after midnight).
Order from 2pm until 2am and your flowers will be with you the very next morning (or later that same day if you order after midnight).
Great selection – We always have a very good selection of the vast majority of products that would be needed on a day-to-day basis (and more).
Bought by Experts – Whilst we truly want to empower you to become expert buyers across all sections of our webshop, our own buyers at Westflor have been honing their skills over decades. They select the very best items from the best growers at the best times, this often results in superior products.
Direct Imports – As we import flowers & foliage directly from around the world we have have a selection of materials that will not be available from the ‘Flowers Holland’ section of the webshop.
Extra Items Available – Due to our connection with our buying partners we have access to a greater selection of Dutch flowers that will be available through our ‘London Flower’ stock, but will not be seen in the ‘Holland Flowers’ section.
Cons
A wider selection is available from Holland – We always have a very good selection of the vast majority of products that would be needed on a day-to-day basis (and more). However, the ‘Flowers Holland’ buying list will show more.
Some examples:
- We would stock 60cm white veronica, Holland have 60 and 70cm and different varieties to choose from.
- We stock 50cm, 60cm, & 70cm Red Naomi Roses. However, if you wanted 40cm or 80cm Red Naomi Roses you would need to buy them from Holland stock.
Unusual or out of season items unavailable – Whilst we have a great selection in London, we may not stock items that are nearing the end of their season, or are completely out of season. Also, lesser demanded items may not be held in stock.
We don’t hold these items in London as we always aim to offer you the best value and quality, and you’ll find them in ‘Flowers Holland’ section if you wish.
We don’t hold these items in London as we always aim to offer you the best value and quality, and you’ll find them in ‘Flowers Holland’ section if you wish.
Some examples:
- Peonies from South Africa in November
- Dendrobium orchids
Looking for something a bit unusual
How to ensure you can buy items you need.
Perhaps you need a specific colour of anthurium to coordinate with a companies corporate colours, maybe you have a romantic husband that wants the same calla lilies his wife had in her bridal flowers in her forthcoming anniversary bouquet. Maybe you’re ordering wedding flowers.
Whatever the reason, sometime you want to be sure you get the flowers you need. In this instances we recommend these steps.
Let’s use an example:
Imagine today is Tuesday and and you need a box of Previa Anthuriums for Thursday.
Log onto our webshop between 2pm and 8pm.
Log onto our webshop between 2pm and 8pm.
These are our recommended steps:
Step 1. Flowers London.
Check our London Stock- we might have exactly what you want coming in!
In this example you’ll have the flowers arrive on Wednesday, but that’s no concern as you know the freshness.
You can always contact us to ask us to add them to your Thursday order if you’re not having flowers on Wednesday.
If the items are not available continue to step 2. →
Step 2. Holland Stock.
Go to Flowers Holland and see if the items are available here. If they are here, buy them. These will arrive on Thursday.
If the items are not available continue to step 3. →
Step 3. Pre-Order Flowers.
If the items aren’t available in either London or Holland Flowers hop into the Pre-order Flowers List and simply place your order here.
If you do not find what you are looking for here, the item(s) are currently unavailable or hard to buy. However, don’t give up, send us a WhatsApp message or email before 2am and we’ll see if we can locate and purchase these items for you.
We're always here to help
Of course if you’d rather, you can always contact us directly. However, these steps really are very simple and it puts you entirely in control of your buying – we know many of our customers prefer this. We are only a call, email, or WhatsApp message away if you need us.
Wedding and Specialist Event Ordering
Which approach to take
The way you decide to shop for weddings and specialist events will depend on a few factors including:
- The way you prefer to work
- The items you require for your wedding design
- The availability and commonality of the flowers
- The budget you are working with
- Whether you have flexibility within your design scheme to use the easily available and seasonal flowers at the time
The fact is that all the ways you can buy are valid in different circumstances. Below we share some thoughts on which buying options might be best for you.
Like to get organised in advanced
Pre-Order as far in advance as you like with the ability to alter and confirm the week of the flowers arrival.
You'll Love Pre-Ordering You'll Love Pre-Ordering
Need special items but will order the same week
Order on Tuesday for Thursday arrival, this gives you the full range of buying options to get everything you need.
Check out this buying process Your best buying process
A relaxed buyer with good flexibility
Buy from the stock we have in London or Holland, perhaps place the order an extra day in advance so you have a few more options available
Follow steps 1 & 2 here Follow steps 1 & 2 here
Would appreciate personal help & support
Get our thoughts on a variety of rose, challenge us to get in a specific item, or give us the order, speak with us directly and seek expertise.
Get in Contact Get in Contact
We highly recommend you read though each of these sections in the tab above: Everyday Buying, Something a bit Unusual, and most definitely The Beauty of Pre-Ordering. Each will give you a greater understanding of which way you might like to buy.
Pre-Ordering only has advantages!
Let’s share the best ways to Pre-Order and bust some misconceptions!
How & When to Pre-Order
Click here for a clear explanation of the steps to Pre-Order including the time lines of Pre-Ordering
How & when to pre Order
Let's get a good understanding
Pre-Ordering allows you to order flowers, plant materials and more in advance with complete confidence. There are no disadvantages, we’ll explain more shortly, but let’s first focus on timelines.
How to Pre-Order
Pre-Ordering is really simple.
- Click on the ‘Pre-Order Flowers’ listing icon in the left hand side shopping menu (regardless of your device).
- Select the date you would like your flowers to arrive
- Start shopping & place your order
- View what you have ordered at any time by looking in your cart – click on the cart icon to view this
- Order items can be removed, altered or increased until 2 days before the order arrives. This date and time is always clearly shown at the top of the webshop pre-order page.
When to Pre-Order
How far in advance?
You can order over three weeks in advance however the guide price will only be shown within a 7 day window – but don’t let this put you off
What the least amount of time I can Pre-Order?
You can Pre-Order up to 8pm for the delivery after next. For example for arrival on Thursday, flowers need to be ordered by 8pm on Tuesday. The illustration below is designed to help you appreciate the process and understand the timeline.
Behind the scenes of the pre-ordering process – so you know what’s what!
As the illustration and points explain, there are many processes that happen with your Pre-Orders.
- You place your order
- Your order is collated and sent to the trusted growers or buyers at one of the three flower auctions
- Flowers are purchased, picked at growers and brought to the central hub
- Your order is carefully collated and packed
- Delivered from Holland to Westflor upon specialist temperature controlled transport (traveling the quickest route; through the channel tunnel)
- Your flowers arrive at Westflor (late night or early morning)
- We process your order (from around 2am we collate it with any flowers, plants, or sundries you’ve purchased from our London stock)
- Delivered (if this is your preferred option). After our transport manager has everything organised our trusted drivers leave from 5am on their delivery routes.
- Your flowers arrive with you usually by 8am almost always by 9am.
Have you considered these added
Advantages of Pre-Ordering
Perfect for Planning Ahead
Adding items to your Pre-Order list in advance can make your life easier and help the planning process, whether you use it to for your wedding, event, corporate contracts, or for everyday orders. Perhaps you’d just like to get organised when you know you’ll be busy or are going on holiday. Some customers like to use it as an everyday standing order facility. How you use it is your choice but realising and embracing it has many advantages.
Gives you the flexibility you need
Once you’ve placed your order it’s not set in stone, until the cut off time, which is always show at the top of the buying page.
You can add, remove or change the quantities you’ve ordered, without any problem. We know that even the best laid plans change, that’s why our Pre-Order list is easy to adapt and gives you the flexibility you need.
Securely placed
Whilst your Pre-Order can be changed it doesn’t have to be! You can, of course, place your order and simply forget about it.
We know it’s nice to get jobs ticked off the list when you have a quieter moment. Pre-Ordering provides you with the complete security, confidence, and peace of mind that the job is done.
Pre-Ordering Myth Busting!
There really are ONLY advantages to pre-ordering!
We thought it was about time that we address the many pre-conceptions about this way of ordering. Simply click on the question you might believe to see the answer, here goes…
Myth 1 - Pre-Order Prices are Higher
We categorically guarantee items that you Pre-Order will never be higher than the exact same items on our shop floor or in the London Flowers section of the webshop for that day.
At Westflor we’ll never take advantage of you placing your order ahead of time, nor your need for that exact flower. We will always buy the best product at the best price for you.
We see ourselves as your partners, this means a lot to us, we won’t ever betray your trust, that’s a promise.
PLEASE NOTE: The prices we show on our Pre-Order list are guide prices only. Nine times out of ten the price you pay is less than the price shown. However, at Westflor we’d much rather under promise and over deliver, than the other way around.
An advantage of using these prices for your costings is that you can be confident that you’ll make the profit margin you anticipated, perhaps even more.
Myth 2 - Cut off times can be confusing
The cut off time for each Pre-Order is always clearly shown at the top of the page. Please see the image below for an example of where you’ll always see this info.
Myth 3 - It's not easy to see what I've Pre-Ordered for which days
Within your account menu is a treasure trove of information, everything you might possible want or need (or that’s certainly our aim).
Here you’ll find ‘Order Summary’ a section which shows all the orders you have placed. As you’ll see in the image below, they are laid out showing your orders by day.
When you first place your pre-order you can always see the items in the cart too. These are all visible until the. This is another way Whilst we appreciate this isn’t as useful and the order summary, if you are placing a wedding, or peak period order across multiple days it might be helpful to know and view.
TO BE CONFIRMED…… DEPENDING ON OUTCOME FROM HOLLAND
You’ll receive an order confirmation email too. You can always view this pdf order confirmation format (and print it out again) should you wish. To view your ordered items in this format simply click on ‘Order Confirmations’ within your account menu. Here you’ll see all your orders, under the ‘Type’ column you’ll see ‘Order Confirmation’ or ‘Purchase Confirmation’ depending on how you’ve purchased your items and the age of the order.
Myth 4 - I can't change my order
Not true, you can always change your Pre-Order until the cut off time which is always displayed at the top of the page you order from. As shown in the image below.
Myth 5 - I can't see any guide prices
Guide prices are displayed for the next 7 days. If you are ordering beyond a weeks time the price remains empty, but appears when the order fall into the 7 day window.
Below we show an example of this.
Should you need some help on guide prices that aren’t showing, or perhaps many months in advance you can always contact us, our buyer will always make an educated guess for you should you need that information for your own estimate or quote.
Myth 6 - The price shown are wrong - I'm charged a different amount
Yes, the prices shown may not the be prices that you pay as they are guide prices only.
Nine times out of ten the price you pay is less that the price shown. We always try and gauge the price as accurately as we can, but we’d much rather state a price that is slightly higher than what you have to pay than quoting a cheaper price and asking you to pay more, that wouldn’t sit well with us and only happens in extremely exceptional circumstance.
As we mentioned in the Myth 1 – ‘Pre-Order Prices are Higher’ an advantage of the shown higher prices is that if you use them for your costings you can almost always be confident that you’ll make the profit margin you anticipated, perhaps even more.
We think it’s also worth reiterating, we categorically guarantee items that you Pre-Order will never be higher than the exact same items on our shop floor or in the London Flowers Section of our webshop for that day.
At Westflor we’d never take advantage of you placing your order ahead of time, nor your need for that exact flower. We will always buy the best product at the best price for you.
We see ourselves as your partners, this means a lot to us, we won’t ever betray your trust, that’s a promise.
Plants
What we recommend?
Well giving recommendations here is slightly more tricky as we don’t know exactly what you are looking for and for when. Most times viewing and buying the plants in the order presented below would be best.
However, if you’re looking for something specialist? Whether it’s a giant Monstera, specialist Orchid or the right colour succulents for those unusual planted wedding table centres, we can help. In those sorts of instances we may need to go directly to the growers, however, we’re happy to discuss your requirements and take care of this for you.
Sundries, Décor & Accessories
Are you after the everyday essentials or something truly irresistible that your customers will desire in their homes.
You’ll discover our London stock provides you with the vast majority of everything you’ll ever need. However, take time to view what’s available from Sundries Holland and certainly from DK Interior Décor. They both offer the very best items from around the world – tapping into these suppliers will give your company the edge and a distinct advantage!
Please don’t miss out on these buying opportunities available at your fingertips.
A fantastic advantage is there is no minimum spend with any one supplier. We’ll collate the items in London with your other orders, delivering them or having them ready for your collection, which ever you prefer.
Sundries London
We carry over 62,000 items across more than 4,500 different product lines.
With this fantastic selection you can trust that we’ll likely stock what you’ll be looking for, whether it’s for gift, wedding or corporate work.
As it’s in our London warehouse it’s instantly available for you!
Sundries Holland
An outstanding range of sundries and décor items available for next day from our sundry supplier partner based in Holland. A wealth of choice at your fingertips.
Purchases are simply added to your orders with us, meaning you can buy a single item should you wish.
Don't miss out on the opportunities available to you!
It’s so simple for you to tap into buying the best sundry and décor items from around the world.
Unrivalled choice at your fingertips! Make you sure make the most of it!
DK Décor Articles
Buying from DK can give you the distinct advantage of offering your clients amazing products and setting yourself apart from fellow retailers and florists.
DK stock a range of items that are stunning and at the cutting edge of trends, as well as most florist sundries.
GreenFlor Dried Selection
Dried materials are such an important addition to floristry. We and our suppliers appreciate this and have a great range available to you. You’ll likely see GreenFlor on your list of sundry suppliers, but please see the information below to gain a comprehensive understanding of the best ways to buy dried items.
Dried Flowers & Plant Materials
As dried flowers have become so popular the locations where you can buy them throughout our webshop has increased.
The main reason for this is that many fresh flower suppliers now offer the dried and preserved materials that are so on trend. This is in addition to the collections we have arranged through specialist suppliers and our own stock.
Below we aim to share the different areas you can locate these materials so you don’t miss out.
Flowers London
More info
You’ll find dried and preserved materials under
This stock frequently fluctuates.
You’ll have the opportunity to buy single bunches and smaller quantities here.
Flowers Holland
More info
You’ll find dried and preserved materials under
This stock frequently fluctuates.
Sundries London
More info
As you’d expect we have a selection of dried items in our own sundries department, however, you will find more in our ‘Flowers London’ as many supplies come from our fresh flower suppliers. We appreciate this may seem a bit odd – hence why we wanted to highlight it here.
This section is then divided up into:
Whilst not strictly ‘Dried Flowers or Plant Material’ you’ll also find interesting dried bits under ‘Wooden & Natural’ the most relevant sections would be:
If you have any queries don’t hesitate to contact us.
Sundries Holland
More info
You’ll find dried and preserved materials under
- Dried Flowers
- Dried Articles
- Dried Fruit &
- Dried & Preserved
- Wreaths (almost always interesting dried material)
This stock frequently fluctuates.
You’ll have the opportunity to buy single bunches and smaller quantities here.
DK Interior Décor & Sundries
More info
You’ll find dried and preserved materials under
This stock frequently fluctuates.
Decorflor Dried Flowers
More info
‘Greenflor Dried Flowers’ primarily supply dried and preserved materials and items, but also a range of complimenting décor pieces which you can browse as you wish. As most of their products are dried we’ll simply link to their entire range below.
These items are often sold in larger amounts and this is reflected in the prices. This buying option isn’t always available to all customers, if you would like to have this buying option available to you, please contact us and we’ll arrange this. If you have any queries don’t hesitate to contact us.
We share all the details including many tips and tricks
Become a Buying Expert
Whilst we’ve covered the step to navigate and purchase items from our webshop, we want to demonstrate all the tips and tricks.
Sharing this information may enable you to buy better, save you time and possibly money. All in all we’ll have you sharpen your skills and buying like a true pro.
These comprehensive video guides will also take you through all the information held within your account dashboard. This area holds so much information that can assist you and your business too.
We highly recommend you find the time to view this content and share it with any of your team that buy online with us.
