How do I find out how much a flower shop’s wedding bookings depend on one designer?
Look at who each wedding booking was actually made with and who designed it. Ask for the past bookings, the designer on each, and how clients found the shop. If most couples asked for one person by name, the business is tied to that person, and you need a plan to keep them or share the skill.
Wedding work is personal. Couples often choose a florist because they liked one designer’s style, and they may follow that person if they leave. Ask the seller for a list of recent weddings, with the designer who led each one, the amount booked and where the couple heard about the shop.
Then look for names. In the photos, reviews and social posts, who is credited? If one name appears again and again, the shop’s reputation sits with that person. Ask whether they are an owner, an employee or a contractor, and whether anything binds them to stay. A conversation with them, with the seller’s consent, is worth having before you decide.
Next, check how the style could be shared. Can other designers match the look? Are there design notes, mood boards or recipes for common arrangements? What does the shop do to keep future bookings after a change of owner? Future wedding deposits already taken also matter, so ask what has been promised to couples and who is responsible for fulfilling it. Compare your findings with the shop’s sales figures for weddings. If the seller can show bookings continued during a period when the lead designer was away, that is a good sign. If bookings dropped, ask whether the season or the designer’s absence explains it.
Key takeaways
- List recent weddings by designer and by how couples found the shop.
- Check photos and reviews for which name carries the reputation.
- Talk to the designer and find out what keeps them there.
Related reading
15 pages on the same subject, grouped by topic.
Buying
- Expert answerHow do I find out if a grooming shop depends on one groomer’s skills?
- Expert answerWhat happens to wedding bookings when a florist is sold?
- Expert answerHow do I find out if a muffler shop depends on walk-in traffic from its location?
- Expert answerHow can I tell if a machine shop depends on one aerospace customer?
- Expert answerHow can I find out which hobby shop product lines are really driving traffic?
- Expert answerHow do I find out how much a mattress store depends on one manufacturer?
- Expert answerHow do I find out if a shoe store depends on one anchor brand?
- Expert answerHow do I find out which bakery items sell out first and which get thrown away?
- Expert answerHow do I find out whether a body shop’s painters will stay after a sale?
Due diligence
- Expert answerHow do I find out whether a marine repair shop relies on one marina for referrals?
- Expert answerWhat should I know about a florist’s reliance on a lead designer?
- Expert answerHow do I find out whether a craft store’s online shop is worth keeping?
- Expert answerHow do I find out how a DJ company wins wedding bookings?
- Expert answerHow do I find out if a grocery store depends on one main wholesaler?
- Expert answerHow do I check a millwork shop’s relationships with general contractors and designers?
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
Deavo is an advertising and listings platform, not a brokerage, law firm or valuation firm. This page is general information, not legal, tax, accounting or valuation advice, and rules differ by province. Confirm anything you rely on with a qualified professional before you act on it.