New online ordering system offers appealing benefits to Tiger Garden customers
by Sarah Woodhurst, posted March 18, 2010
Although Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day are behind us, Tiger Garden remains a busy place on campus. This on-campus floral shop, located at 2-34 Agriculture Building, is unusual as it is managed and run by MU students.
According to Kelsy Maddox, student manager of Tiger Garden, this year’s Valentine’s Day sales were above what was expected.
“We had a great turnout and came close to matching sales from last year,” Maddox said. “Roses were our best-seller, but you really get the best bang for your buck with mixed arrangements.”
Aside from roses, other popular options include lilies, carnations and gerbera daisies. Mixed arrangements include a combination of several flowers.
Tiger Garden employee and freshman agricultural education major, Lesleighan Kraft helps prepare and deliver the plants.
“You can order online year-round, but most students come in the store,” Kraft said. “Students like the bright plants like gerbs because they’re colorful.”
The majority of Tiger Garden’s daily customers are MU students and parents of students.
“When parents do call in to place an order, many of them will tell us they passed by our shop at summer welcome and took down our number,” Maddox said. “Faculty and staff members are also frequent visitors in our shop. Although, they tend to come when we are having special promotions such as poinsettias or spring bedding plants.”
A new option for customers is ordering online. Tiger Garden is now a Teleflora member, so customers have the option of viewing photos, descriptions and prices listed on the Tiger Garden Teleflora site. Customers also have the option to have flowers delivered directly to the person receiving the flowers with a simple click.
Tiger Garden uses its large window display to promote upcoming holidays and remind students passing by to get their orders in quickly. During the recent St. Patrick's Day holiday the window featured shamrock plants and other green decorations.
Other specials this semester will include blooming plants, bedding plants and Mother’s Day specials.
“Customers should look for information in the coming months about these special promotions,” Maddox said. “We advertise in the MU Info, on our Web site and also send out e-mails to customers on our e-mail list.”
You can join that list by going to Tiger Garden’s website, tigergarden.missouri.edu.
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