With valentines day upcoming, I figured it would make sense that I do a review of a flower delivery company that I have used in the past, and plan to use again. I have actually used many different flower delivery services in Calgary and elsewhere, and most were good, but I would say my favorite was easily Flora 2000. You can go straight to the site in that link, or you can go through orderflora.com to get the latest coupons etc. Flora 2000 is not actually based in Calgary, Alberta, but they provide flower delivery services to pretty much everywhere in the world. I live in Calgary and had flowers sent to my mother in Edmonton, Alberta for mother's day, as well as a hospital in Edmonton for my sister when she had a baby. The online shopping was simple, and the order was shipped quickly, and there were no issues at all. Flora 2000 also has various gifts and chocolates etc. I noticed they have a huge selection of interesting gift baskets, but I have never purchased one so I can't really speak much about that. They also provide an online help person right on the website that you can chat with instantly if you have any wuestions or need advice. I guess the only thing I can think of that might be a negative, would be the fact that it will not satisfy those of you who need to see, feel, and smell the flowers up close. In that case, you might be better off using a local flower shop in your google search. I have used Panda flowers in the past, and they are pretty good as well. In conclusion, I would say, if you are looking for flower delivery in Calgary, or anywhere for that matter it is much simpler to go online to Flora 2000 and and browse and see what they have for you.
I hope this review of flower delivery services helps you out.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Calgary Flyer Distribution (2 Parts): Calgary Flyer Distribution, Canada Post, ADCO Advertising Ltd, ADvark Flyer Distribution,The Flyer Force Calgary
This review is about Calgary Flyer Distribution. There is a company in Calgary that has the name "Calgary Flyer Distribution", however, this review is not about this one flyer company. I have a strong background in this industry in the city of Calgary, along with many contacts, so if there is one subject I am well informed to speak about, it is this one.
There are many companies in Calgary that provide the service of door to door distribution of flyers, leaflets, pamphlets, brochures, magnets, community books, newsletters, and so on. I am not aware of every single one of them, but I can let you in on some inside knowledge and tips when looking for a company to distribute flyers and other marketing material for your company in Calgary.
(These reviews are based on current information on the date of this post):
Calgary Flyer Distribution:
Over a year ago, we had personal contact with the owner of this business. Fantastic attitude, great people to deal with. Last time I checked they were focused on NE Calgary and expanding, perhaps they cover more than this now. The general rate for basic materials is 6 cents per flyer per home, or $60 per thousand. I don't know anyone who has used their service, but of all of the choices, I would try these guys first.
http://www.calgaryflyerdistribution.com
105,3825-34 Street NE,Calgary,Alberta T1Y 6Z8
(403)998-5619
ADCO Advertising
I really hate to bash anyone, but after all I am here to be honest and give you my true opinion, so here it goes. In my opinion, I would not even bother contacting ADCO flyer distribution at all(Officially named ADCO Advertising). I believe their current prices are in the 5-6 cents range, similar to Calgary Flyer Distribution, but based on many many contacts that I know personally who have used this company, the prices seem to vary depending on "back room deals" so to speak. They are locally famous for materials such as flyers and door hangers to be found dumped in garbage dumpsters and in sewer drains. Usually these are discovered by landlords of apartment buildings, or city workers who work within the drainage system, as well as home owners who find stacks of them hidden under planters in their yard, or sometimes upwards of 10 or 20 of the same flyers delivered to one mailbox. Their slogan is "supervised adult carriers" which sounds appealing and trustworthy, but the truth is, you get what you pay for. Sure, the carriers are adults, but (and there is no nicer way to put this unfortunately) it is "cheap" labor that sometimes do not care about the job....this includes the supervisors. Granted, to be fair, I do know for a fact, that not all of their labour force is bad, they have been known to have some really good workers, but how much do you want to chance it? The service at times can be absolutely terrible, as the concept of "customer is always right" definitely does not exist there. If you do not wish to take my word for it.....and maybe I am being a bit too harsh on this one...feel free to contact them.
Visit ADCO Flyer Distribution here:
Contact info for ADCO Advertising LTD.
Canada Post
Not exactly a flyer distribution company so to speak, but they do offer the service as admail. I have actually used Canada Post personally to distribute flyers so I can speak of this very accurately. My main beef with this service is the typical government red tape, bureaucracy. Maybe it was just me being stupid, but I used them 3 times and each time was a pain in the rear. Their website is a confusing mess, and they put you through the ringer of complex steps and expect you to speak their "postal language" that nobody understands except the people who work there. However, that being said, once you finally get through it all and your flyers are shipped out, I found that the results were pretty good, but of course this may depend on your ad and your product etc. They had my flyers distributed within a few days, and it was a rather large order each time so it was quite impressive. Also, I was distributing my flyers to business mailboxes which other flyer distribution companies do not have access to. The price was a lot more than the private distribution companies, but again...you get what you pay for. In fact, I personally think that the average rate for a well run private flyer distribution service should actually be upwards of 6 cents per flyer, perhaps even a minimum of 7 cents. Now as soon as you are done picking your jaw up from the floor after reading that statement, you should consider that many flyer distribution companies in Calgary have come and gone over the years, as it is increasingly difficult to run a proper service. If you want to know that your marketing materials are in the hands of someone who is well payed and you can trust, you need to be willing to pay, simple as that. Another thing to keep in mind with Canada Post (and it is minor) is that they have a thing called "residue", which are basically any extra flyers left over after the delivery, and these are simply thrown away and not returned to you. Most private distributors, such as ADCO Flyer distribution, or Calgary Flyer Distribution will allow you to add your leftovers to the next run, or get a credit and have them returned etc. I am not sure about Flyer Force though.
In conclusion........if you don't mind the logistical hassle, Canada Post is actually a pretty safe bet to get your message out to the masses fairly quickly.
This is part 2 of my review of companies that provide flyer delivery in Calgary, Alberta. I did a review of ADCO Advertising LTD, Canada Post, and Calgary Flyer Distribution. Now I will be covering ADvark Flyer Distribution, The Flyer Force, and a brief overview of Calgary flyer delivery through the local newspapers, such as The Calgary Herald, and The Calgary Sun.
ADvark Flyer Distribution:
This company is actually no longer in business. They were in business for about 3 years and were mainly centered in the NW. Also known as ADvark Flyers, ADvark Distribution, or just ADvarks for short. I know about this company in depth including the ownership. From what I understand, there is a possibility of these people starting up again under a new business name. I will keep you updated on that situation. The only issues with this company were tied to a lack of labor especially in winter months. As far as trust and pricing are concerned, these guys, in my opinion are legitimate. The only serious complaints that I am aware of, in speaking directly to their clients, was the inconvenience that was created when they shut down the business. The shut down was somewhat sudden, again, due to lack of staff, and this caused some logistical problems for the clients that needed their flyers returned to them, and from there, they needed to quickly find another company that provided flyer distribution. But in the event that this husband and wife team decide to get going again, I don't think I would have a problem recommending them.
The Flyer Force Calgary
I don't know anyone who uses The Flyer Force in Calgary, other than larger chains such as Co-op. I do know that they have regular flyer options, but expect them to be somewhat hidden inside a big bulk of big chain store flyers. The other thing to keep in mind, is that Flyer Force flyers are distributed by both adults and kids. Hiring kids is not always an issue, but for obvious reasons...it can be in some areas. It is very common to hear about complaints that people did not receive their flyers from The Flyer Force, but of course it can easily be argued that there are responsible kids and irresponsible adults. Just be aware of the situation before you go ahead with them. From what I understand, it seems as though this is not a huge problem to them, as they distribute flyers by the millions throughout the country, so tens of thousands of non delivered flyers is a small percentage to them. The Flyer Force Calgary only distributes a couple days a week, so this could pose a problem for you if you are in need of time sensitive flyer delivery. I do not have any information on how the company is operated in other cities besides Calgary. I imagine every Flyer Force is pretty much operated with a similar schedule system.
Visit the Flyer Force Calgary here:
Website for The Flyer Force Calgary
Calgary Sun and Calgary Herald
Similar issues with The Flyer Force Calgary, in that any flyers delivered inside the newspapers will be somewhat hidden, plus they do not go to every single house. I would not even recommend this as an option, especially for smaller businesses. If you have a larger advertising budget, and you can afford to experiment with it, test and measure results, then by all means go for it, but if you are tight on cash, then I recommend continuing your research on the smaller flyer deliver companies.
Feel free to leave a comment on this post, or if you have any questions and need some advice in this area, please email me at secretshopper@live.ca
There are many companies in Calgary that provide the service of door to door distribution of flyers, leaflets, pamphlets, brochures, magnets, community books, newsletters, and so on. I am not aware of every single one of them, but I can let you in on some inside knowledge and tips when looking for a company to distribute flyers and other marketing material for your company in Calgary.
(These reviews are based on current information on the date of this post):
Calgary Flyer Distribution:
Over a year ago, we had personal contact with the owner of this business. Fantastic attitude, great people to deal with. Last time I checked they were focused on NE Calgary and expanding, perhaps they cover more than this now. The general rate for basic materials is 6 cents per flyer per home, or $60 per thousand. I don't know anyone who has used their service, but of all of the choices, I would try these guys first.
http://www.calgaryflyerdistribution.com
105,3825-34 Street NE,Calgary,Alberta T1Y 6Z8
(403)998-5619
ADCO Advertising
I really hate to bash anyone, but after all I am here to be honest and give you my true opinion, so here it goes. In my opinion, I would not even bother contacting ADCO flyer distribution at all(Officially named ADCO Advertising). I believe their current prices are in the 5-6 cents range, similar to Calgary Flyer Distribution, but based on many many contacts that I know personally who have used this company, the prices seem to vary depending on "back room deals" so to speak. They are locally famous for materials such as flyers and door hangers to be found dumped in garbage dumpsters and in sewer drains. Usually these are discovered by landlords of apartment buildings, or city workers who work within the drainage system, as well as home owners who find stacks of them hidden under planters in their yard, or sometimes upwards of 10 or 20 of the same flyers delivered to one mailbox. Their slogan is "supervised adult carriers" which sounds appealing and trustworthy, but the truth is, you get what you pay for. Sure, the carriers are adults, but (and there is no nicer way to put this unfortunately) it is "cheap" labor that sometimes do not care about the job....this includes the supervisors. Granted, to be fair, I do know for a fact, that not all of their labour force is bad, they have been known to have some really good workers, but how much do you want to chance it? The service at times can be absolutely terrible, as the concept of "customer is always right" definitely does not exist there. If you do not wish to take my word for it.....and maybe I am being a bit too harsh on this one...feel free to contact them.
Visit ADCO Flyer Distribution here:
Contact info for ADCO Advertising LTD.
Canada Post
Not exactly a flyer distribution company so to speak, but they do offer the service as admail. I have actually used Canada Post personally to distribute flyers so I can speak of this very accurately. My main beef with this service is the typical government red tape, bureaucracy. Maybe it was just me being stupid, but I used them 3 times and each time was a pain in the rear. Their website is a confusing mess, and they put you through the ringer of complex steps and expect you to speak their "postal language" that nobody understands except the people who work there. However, that being said, once you finally get through it all and your flyers are shipped out, I found that the results were pretty good, but of course this may depend on your ad and your product etc. They had my flyers distributed within a few days, and it was a rather large order each time so it was quite impressive. Also, I was distributing my flyers to business mailboxes which other flyer distribution companies do not have access to. The price was a lot more than the private distribution companies, but again...you get what you pay for. In fact, I personally think that the average rate for a well run private flyer distribution service should actually be upwards of 6 cents per flyer, perhaps even a minimum of 7 cents. Now as soon as you are done picking your jaw up from the floor after reading that statement, you should consider that many flyer distribution companies in Calgary have come and gone over the years, as it is increasingly difficult to run a proper service. If you want to know that your marketing materials are in the hands of someone who is well payed and you can trust, you need to be willing to pay, simple as that. Another thing to keep in mind with Canada Post (and it is minor) is that they have a thing called "residue", which are basically any extra flyers left over after the delivery, and these are simply thrown away and not returned to you. Most private distributors, such as ADCO Flyer distribution, or Calgary Flyer Distribution will allow you to add your leftovers to the next run, or get a credit and have them returned etc. I am not sure about Flyer Force though.
In conclusion........if you don't mind the logistical hassle, Canada Post is actually a pretty safe bet to get your message out to the masses fairly quickly.
This is part 2 of my review of companies that provide flyer delivery in Calgary, Alberta. I did a review of ADCO Advertising LTD, Canada Post, and Calgary Flyer Distribution. Now I will be covering ADvark Flyer Distribution, The Flyer Force, and a brief overview of Calgary flyer delivery through the local newspapers, such as The Calgary Herald, and The Calgary Sun.
ADvark Flyer Distribution:
This company is actually no longer in business. They were in business for about 3 years and were mainly centered in the NW. Also known as ADvark Flyers, ADvark Distribution, or just ADvarks for short. I know about this company in depth including the ownership. From what I understand, there is a possibility of these people starting up again under a new business name. I will keep you updated on that situation. The only issues with this company were tied to a lack of labor especially in winter months. As far as trust and pricing are concerned, these guys, in my opinion are legitimate. The only serious complaints that I am aware of, in speaking directly to their clients, was the inconvenience that was created when they shut down the business. The shut down was somewhat sudden, again, due to lack of staff, and this caused some logistical problems for the clients that needed their flyers returned to them, and from there, they needed to quickly find another company that provided flyer distribution. But in the event that this husband and wife team decide to get going again, I don't think I would have a problem recommending them.
The Flyer Force Calgary
I don't know anyone who uses The Flyer Force in Calgary, other than larger chains such as Co-op. I do know that they have regular flyer options, but expect them to be somewhat hidden inside a big bulk of big chain store flyers. The other thing to keep in mind, is that Flyer Force flyers are distributed by both adults and kids. Hiring kids is not always an issue, but for obvious reasons...it can be in some areas. It is very common to hear about complaints that people did not receive their flyers from The Flyer Force, but of course it can easily be argued that there are responsible kids and irresponsible adults. Just be aware of the situation before you go ahead with them. From what I understand, it seems as though this is not a huge problem to them, as they distribute flyers by the millions throughout the country, so tens of thousands of non delivered flyers is a small percentage to them. The Flyer Force Calgary only distributes a couple days a week, so this could pose a problem for you if you are in need of time sensitive flyer delivery. I do not have any information on how the company is operated in other cities besides Calgary. I imagine every Flyer Force is pretty much operated with a similar schedule system.
Visit the Flyer Force Calgary here:
Website for The Flyer Force Calgary
Calgary Sun and Calgary Herald
Similar issues with The Flyer Force Calgary, in that any flyers delivered inside the newspapers will be somewhat hidden, plus they do not go to every single house. I would not even recommend this as an option, especially for smaller businesses. If you have a larger advertising budget, and you can afford to experiment with it, test and measure results, then by all means go for it, but if you are tight on cash, then I recommend continuing your research on the smaller flyer deliver companies.
Feel free to leave a comment on this post, or if you have any questions and need some advice in this area, please email me at secretshopper@live.ca
The Secret Shopper
I am the Secret Shopper based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. To know more about me and what I do, visit "Who is the secret shopper?"
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