FAQ
1.WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED? HOW DO I GET THERE? 1538 ASHLEY RIVER ROAD, CHARLESTON, SC 29407…………… FOR A MAP CLICK ON "DIRECTIONS" AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE!
IF YOU ARE COMING FROM THE NORTH CHARLESTON/SUMMERVILLE AREA –TAKE I-26 TO I-526 WEST TOWARDS SAVANNAH, TAKE THE 2ND ASHLEY RIVER ROAD EXIT, EXIT 11A, ONTO PAUL CANTRELL BLVD ( WHICH IS ALSO HIGHWAY 61 EXTENSION AND BECOMES ASHLEY RIVER ROAD), WE ARE 1.8 MILES DOWN THE STREET ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. THERE ARE USED CAR LOTS ON BOTH SIDES OF OUR BUILDING WITH FLAGS OUT IN FRONT OF THEM, SO WHEN YOU SEE THOSES FLAGS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, WE ARE BETWEEN THEM.
IF YOU ARE COMING FROM THE DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON AREA-TAKE HIWAY 17 SOUTH TOWARDS SAVANNAH, EXIT TO THE RIGHT, AFTER CROSSING THE ASHLEY RIVER BRIDGE AND PASSING THE “ROUND” OR RIVERVIEW HOLIDAY INN, ONTO HIWAY 61.STAY ON 61 EVENTUALLY THERE WILL BE A SPLIT IN THE ROAD WITH A “RITE AID” PHARMANCY IN THE SPLIT. TAKE THE LEFT SPLIT, STAYING ON 61. WE ARE 0.8 MILES DOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. THERE ARE USED CAR LOTS ON BOTH SIDES OF OUR BUILDING WITH FLAGS OUT IN FRONT OF THEM, SO WHEN YOU SEE THOSES FLAGS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, WE ARE BETWEEN THEM.
2.WHAT ARE YOUR NORMAL HOURS OF OPERATION?
MONDAY 8AM-3PM, TUESDAY-FRIDAY 8AM-4PM, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WE ARE CLOSED. THESE HOURS WILL VARY DURING HOLIDAYS.
3.WHAT ALL DO YOU SELL?
WE SELL FRESH CUT FLOWERS AND FLORIST’S SUPPLIES SUCH AS RIBBON, FLORAL FOAM, VASES, CANDLES, AND MANY OTHER FLORAL PRODUCTS.
4.CAN I GET A FLOWER PRICE LIST?
OUR WEBSITE WILL GIVE YOU THE CURRENT FLOWER PRICES, BUT IF YOU LIKE, YES, WE ARE HAPPY TO EMAIL YOU A GENERAL FLOWER PRICELIST, NOTE HOWERVER, FLOWER PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO MARKET CONDITIONS AND MAY CHANGE ACCORDINGLY.
5.HOW MANY STEMS ARE IN A BUNCH OF FLOWERS?
DIFFERENT FLOWER ARE PACKAGED DIFFERENTLY, SEE OUR WEBSITE OR WE CAN EMAIL YOU OUR BASIC PRICE LIST FOR SPECIFIC STEM COUNT/BUNCH.
6.CAN I EMAIL, PHONE, OR COME IN PERSON TO PLACE ORDERS?
WE WILL TAKE YOUR ORDER ANY WAY YOU PREFER, HOWEVER, WE PREFER ONLINE PURCHASING. BUT YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL TO orders@horstflowers.com, CALL (843) 556-5151, OR COME IN TO OUR STORE IN PERSON.
7.HOW MUCH TIME IN ADVANCE IS NEEDED FOR PLACING SPECIAL ORDERS?
FOR SPECIAL ORDERS LIKE WEDDING ORDERS, WE LIKE 2 WEEKS OR MORE, LESS TIME IS POSSIBLE, BUT NOT ENCOURAGED BECAUSE OF THE DECREASED SUCCESS RATE AND INCREASED STRESS. FOR MANY FLEXIBLE OR SMALL ORDERS YOU CAN COME IN OR ORDER IN ANY WAY YOU PLEASE, JUST BE AWARE OF POSSIBLE LIMITED PRODUCT COLOR AND AVAILABILITY ON SHORT NOTICE.
8.WHEN SHOULD I PICK UP THE FLOWERS SO THEY WILL BE GOOD FOR MY EVENT?
MOST PEOPLE PICK UP THEIR FLOWERS 2-3 DAYS AHEAD OF THEIR EVENTS. SOME PREFER A LESSER TIME FRAME. THE LONGER THEY CAN STAY IN OUR COOLER, THE BETTER FOR THE FLOWERS.
9.DO I NEED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
WE DO LIKE TO GIVE APPOINTMENT TIMES FOR ORDER PICKUPS TO BETTER SERVE YOU BY AVOIDING A LOT OF CONFUSION AND LIMITING CUSTOMER WAIT TIME. HOWEVER, TO JUST COME IN OUR STORE TO BUY OR SEE THE FRESH FLOWERS OR USE OUR REFERENCE ROOM YOU DO NOT NEED AN APPONTMENT.
10.SHOULD I TAKE THE FLOWERS IN BUCKETS, BOXES, OR WRAPPED UP?
IT REALLY IS INDIVIDUAL HOW YOU WANT TO TAKE THE FLOWERS. SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN PROCESSED AND CONDITIONED IN WATER WITH FLORALIFE FLOWER FOOD IN THE WATER, THE BEST WAY IS TO TAKE THEM IN BUCKETS. YOU CAN BRING YOUR OWN OR YOU CAN USE OURS. WE HAVE A $6.00 DEPOSIT ON EACH BUCKET WHICH IS TOTALLY REFUNDABLE WHEN THE BUCKETS ARE RETURNED WITHIN 30 DAYS WITH A RECEIPT.
11.IF I PLACE A SPECIAL ORDER DO I HAVE TO TAKE ALL OF THE FLOWERS I ORDERED?
YES, YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO TAKE THE FLOWERS YOU ORDER. WE ORDER THEM FOR YOU, NOT FOR US.
12.HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF THE FLOWERS AFTER I GET THEM?
IF YOU TAKE THEM IN BUCKETS OF WATER ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE COMFORTABLE, IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE, THEY WILL BE, TOO. KEEP THEM AWAY FROM EXTREMES OF TEMPERATURE AND AWAY FROM AIR VENTS. IF YOU TAKE THEN WRAPPED IN PAPER OR BOXED, WE RECOMMEND TO RECUT THEIR STEMS SO THEY CAN ABSORB WATER AND PUT SOME FLOWER FOOD IN THEIR WATER. SOME PEOPLE SWEAR BY A PRODUCT CALLED “QUICK DIP” WHICH YOU DIP THE FRESH CUT STEMS IN FOR 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE PUTTING THEM IN THE WATER IT’S PURPOSE IS TO PREVENT “STEM LOCK” WHERE THE FLOWER STEM GETS BLOCKED AND WATER CANNOT GO UP TO THE FLOWER, MAKING IT PRONE TO WILTING. FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE "FLOWER CARE TIPS".
13.WHAT DO I DO IF SOME OF MY HYDANGEAS START TO WILT?
HYDRANGEAS THAT HAVE STARTED TO WILT CAN BE REVIVED BY SUBMERGING THE FLOWER HEADS UNDER WATER FOR 2-3 HOURS, THEN RECUT THE STEMS AND PLACE THEM HEADS UP IN NEW WATER, PREFERABLY WITH SOME FLORAL PRESERVATIVES IN IT.
14.DO I HAVE TO PUT THE FLOWERS IN A REFRIGERATOR?
WE DO NOT RECOMMEND PUTTING YOUR FLOWERS IN A REGULAR REFRIGERATOR BECAUSE OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT THERE ARE COLD SPOTS IN MANY REFRIGERATORS THAT FREEZE THE FLOWERS AND ONCE THEY ARE FROZEN THEY DIE AND CANNOT BE REVIVED. SO, IT IS SAFEST TO JUST KEEP THEM COOL AND IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE, THEY SHOULD BE FINE. AVOID ALL EXTREMES OF TEMPERATURE AND KEEP THEM AWAY FROM ANY AIR VENTS OR FANS.
15.DO YOU TAKE CHECKS, CREDIT CARDS, MONEY ORDERS?
WE ACCEPT CASH, VISA, MASTERCARD AND AMERICAN EXPRESS. WE DO NOT TAKE CHECKS, MONEY ORDERS OR DISCOVER CARD.
16.HOW LONG DO THE FLOWERS LAST?
EACH FLOWER HAS ITS OWN LIFE SPAN, IN GENERAL, ALL THE FLOWERS YOU GET SHOULD LAST AT LEAST 3 DAYS, MOST LAST AT LEAST 1 WEEK, SOME LAST UP TO 3 WEEKS. ALOT DEPENDS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND CARE TAKEN BY THE CUSTOMER TO ASSURE THE FLOWERS PROLONGED FRESHNESS.
17.HOW DO I FIND OUT WHEN CERTAIN FLOWERS ARE AVAILABLE?
WE HAVE MONTHLY AVAILABILITY LISTS ON OUR WEBSITE , OTHER WEBSITES AND REFERENCE MATERIALS THAT CAN BE OF SERVICE IN THIS AREA.
18.CAN YOU GIVE ME FLOWER REFERENCE SOURCES AND COLORS?
YES, WE CAN GIVE YOU A LIST OF WEB SITES THAT HAVE FLOWERS AND COLORS. PLEASE REALIZE THAT EVERY FLOWER LISTED ON EVERY WEB SITE IS NOT NECESSARILY AVAILABLE. YOU NEED TO REALIZE WE WILL TRY TO GET A SPECIFIC FLOWER BY NAME, BUT WE MAY HAVE TO GET A CLOSE SUBSTITUTE, THE NAME GIVES US AN IDEA OF WHAT TO TRY TO MATCH, IF IT NOT AVAILABLE. SO IT IS BETTER TO EXPECT A FLOWER AND A COLOR AND NOT NECESSARILY A SPECIFICLY NAMED FLOWER. ALSO, PICTURES ARE NOT ALWAYS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A FLOWER. NATURE, SOIL, CLIMATE, AND OTHER FACTORS CAN PLAY A ROLE IN THE EXACT SHADE AND OTHER VARIATIONS WHICH A FLOWER MAY HAVE. IT IS BEST TO BE PREPARED TO ACCEPT THAT THE COLORS ARE TO BE BLENDED AND COMPLIMENT YOUR DESIRED COLORS AND YOU WILL BE MUCH HAPPIER.
19.WILL MY FLOWERS BE THE EXACT COLOR AS THE IMAGES ON THE WEBSITE?
OUR PICTURE DISPLAYS ARE AS TRUE TO COLOR AS POSSIBLE, A 100% MATCHING IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GUARANTEE. TO BEGIN WITH, YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN'S SETTINGS MAY CAUSE THE IMAGE TO APPEAR SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. SECONDLY, FLOWER COLORS ARE SUBJECT TO WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT COULD AFFECT THE EXACT TONE AS REPRESENTED AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATIONS SUCH AS DIFFERENT FARMS WITH DIFFERENT SOIL OR ALTITUDES MAY CAUSE SLIGHT VARIATIONS IN COLOR TONE. WE LIKE TO ASSURE THE CUSTOMER THAT THEY WILL BE HAPPIEST IF THEY ARE NOT RIGIDLY SET ON A SPECIFIC TONE OR SHADE OF A COLOR, BUT THAT THEY NEED TO CONSIDER THAT THE COLOR SHADES AND TONES WILL BE BLENDED AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS JUST THE WAY MOTHER NATURE MADE THE FLOWER WORLD./
20.DO YOU HAVE TEACHING DEVICES ON FLOWER ARRANGEING?
WE HAVE SOME LINKS ON OUR WEBSITE, A REFERENCE ROOM WITH BOOKS, PICTURES AND OTHER PRINTED MATERIALS AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO LOOK AT AND WE SELL SOME FLORAL DESIGN BOOKS AND CDS.
21.DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FLOWER SHOP TO BUY?
NO, YOU DO NOT.
22.DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A TAX RESALE LICENSE TO BUY FROM YOU?
NO YOU DO NOT.
23.DO I HAVE TO PAY SALES TAX IF I HAVE A RESALE LICENSE FROM ANOTHER STATE?
YES, ACCORDING TO OUR ACCOUNTANT YOU DO HAVE TO PAY LOCAL SALES TAX.
24.WHAT IS THE SALES TAX RATE IN CHARLESTON, SC?
RIGHT NOW IT IS 8.5%
25.DO YOU DELIVER AND WHAT IS THE CHARGE?
WE DELIVER ONLY TO FLORIST’S SHOPS IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON, SC.
26.CAN YOU GIVE ME NAMES OF FLORAL DESIGNERS?
YES WE CAN.
27.DO YOU SHIP ORDERS?
YES, WE SHIP BY FEDEX AND RECOMMEND PRIORTY SHIPPING FOR FRESH FLOWERS.
28.WHAT IS YOUR RETURN/CREDIT POLICY ON FLOWERS?.....ON OTHER MERCHANDISE?
ON FRESH FLOWERS WE HAVE A 24 HOUR CREDIT POLICY. ON HARD GOODS (NON FLOWER)MERCHANDISE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN OPENED, DAMAGED OR USED, WE HAVE A 30 DAY RETURN POLICY.
29.DO YOU MAKE WEDDING BOUQUETS, CORSAGES, ETC…?
NO, BUT WE CAN REFER YOU TO SOMEONE THAT DOES.
30.DO YOU RENT VASES, PILLARS, ETC…?
NO WE DO NOT RENT THEM BUT WE CAN SELL THEM.
31.CAN I RENT COOLER SPACE FROM YOU?
NO, SORRY, YOU CANNOT, IT IS AGAINST COMPANY POLICY.
32.CAN I RENT WORK SPACE FROM YOU, OR DO ARRANGEMENTS THERE?
NO, SORRY, YOU CANNOT, IT IS AGAINST COMPANY POLICY .
33.WHEN I PLACE AN ORDER, ARE THE PRICES I AM QUOTED SUBJECT TO CHANGE?
YES, PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO THE MARKET CONDITIONS. IT IS VERY RARE THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM FINDING PRODUCT THAT WILL NOT BE PRICED AS QUOTED, BUT IT CAN HAPPEN. IT IS OUR POLICY TO CONTACT THE CUSTOMER WHEN SUCH A THING HAPPENS AS SOON AS SUCH A CONDITION OCCURS JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW BEFORE THEY GET THEIR ORDER.
34.WHAT FLOWERS ARE “ORDER AT YOUR OWN RISK” AND WHY?
THE LIST INCLUDES PEONIES, RANUCULUS, ANEMONES, AMARYLLIS, LILY OF THE VALLEY, AND DAHLIAS. IT IS OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THESES FLOWERS THAT THEY ARE USUALLY VERY BEAUTIFUL WHEN THEY COME IN, BUT, THEY ALSO HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO COME IN TOO TIGHT OR TOO OPEN AND CAN BE SUBJECT TO DAMAGE DURING SHIPPING. WE USUALLY DO NOT HAVE TIME TO REORDER THESE SPECIALTY FLOWERS, SO WE ARE UP FRONT ABOUT THEM. IF THEY ARE ORDERED YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT WE WILL GET THEM FOR YOU, BUT YOU MUST UNDERSTAND WE HAVE WARNED YOU THAT THERE IS A RISK AND IT IS YOURS.
35.WHAT COLORS DO FLOWERS COME IN?
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AND THE WEB SITES AND/OR OUR REFERENCE ROOM WE HAVE PROVIDED FOR YOU FLOWER HOMEWORK.
36.HOW MANY FLOWERS DO I NEED?
A. TO FIND OUT HOW MANY STEMS OF FLOWERS YOU NEED, JUST FIND A PICTURE OF WHAT YOU WANT AND COUNT THE NUMBER OF STEMS OF EACH FLOWER IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND MULTIPLY THAT BY THE QUANTITY OF THE ARRANGEMENTS NEEDED.
B. IF YOU ARE EXPERIMETING WITH A NEW FLORAL PRODUCT, PRACTICE WITH A TEST ORDER. SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES THE BUDS TO OPEN, HOW LONG THEY LAST, AND HOW EASY THEY ARE TO USE IN DESIGNING. WITH PRACTICE, YOU CAN ENSURE THAT YOUR DESIGNS WILL COME TOGETHER SMOOTHLY, MAKING YOUR SPECIAL DAY LESS HECTIC AND AVOIDING ANY SURPRISES.
C. WHEN YOU ORDER, ORDER IN ADVANCE.
D. ORDER BY COLOR: IF ONE PINK FLOWER IS NOT AVAILABLE, ANOTHER PINK FLOWER CAN BE SUBSTITUTED.
E. ORDER BY FORM AND SHAPE OF THE FLOWER: IF A "LINE" FLOWER OR A "FOCAL" FLOWER IS NOT AVAILABLE, BE PREPARED TO USE A DIFFERENT ONE INSTEAD.
F. DETERMINING THE FLORAL CONTENTS OR SPECIFIC FLOWER STEM COUNTS CAN VARY DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. THOUGH OUR POLICIES DO NOT ALLOW US TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH TO BUY, WE HAVE REFERENCE MATERIALS AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO LOOK AT THAT CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME GUIDELINES AND GENERAL PICTURES THAT CAN BE USED TO HELP YOU IN YOUR DECISIONS.