Mother's Day orders are proving to be incredibly strong with florist orders up 80% to last year! The holiday florist assortment has been reduced by 40% to help you focus your production this week and all items retail at $50 or higher to help you maximize profitability. Going into this week, the average order value is more than $70. The top selling items are tracking closely to the projected top 12 and include Sunny Sentiments (B05), Simply Gorgeous (S8), Best Day (B07), Cherry Blossom (S3) and Full of Joy (S2). There have been many tactics executed to pull orders forward for delivery to earlier in the week and it is working! Orders for delivery Monday through Thursday are 32% compared to 18% last year. Flexible delivery is also available for florists to deliver on Saturday or Sunday.

If you need to update your incoming order capacity, please let us know, or you can manage it yourself using the Capacity Tool. This tool is available every holiday and it is even more critical this Mother's Day to ensure that we know you're open, taking orders and how many you can fulfill and deliver for FTD. By updating this information, it can prevent you from suspending your system as the capacity tool will monitor your incoming orders allowing you to also receive future orders. Learn how to update your order capacity.

When a consumer selects a bouquet for purchase, many times it is the flower varieties and color harmony that guide the decision-making process. If you need to substitute, it is important that color harmony and value are top of mind. When purchasing on FTD.com or ProFlowers.com, consumers are being notified that substitution may occur. If you're not confident that you can design an arrangement of similar look and value, then please reject the order. View the substitution guidance tools here.

Expedited shipping is available now to get you the product you need as quickly as possible. The last chance to order for Mother's Day is Thursday, May 7, by 2 pm CDT. Reach out to your Marketplace rep today or www.FTDMarketplace.com.

Hiring and training delivery drivers may be a challenge this Mother's Day. In partnership with DoorDash, FTD Delivery Service will make your deliveries for only $7.50 per order through June 30. This service is available for you to use to support your delivery operations within a seven-mile radius of your shop. DoorDash is also offering the option for a driver to pick-up five arrangements at one time making it more seamless for you.

Finer Flora in San Francisco, CA used FTD Delivery Service at Valentine's Day and said, "We sometimes struggle to deliver on time. This makes everything possible. Best decision ever!" Try out the service before Mother's Day.

Flowers are a safe, contactless way to send a personal gift, and we want to remind you that no contact delivery is required. FTD is not requiring a signature for proof of delivery and in its place ask that your drivers leave the bouquet at the front door and take a photo instead. These revised delivery processes will provide confidence and trust by consumers during this health crisis.

For conversations about ways to prep for Mother's Day, follow us @mercurynetwork on Facebook. You can watch videos, access recorded webinars and more!