02/24/2026
Ok I am going to say it out loud. We messed up...on a funeral delivery...supposed to be there before 10 and didn't get the flowers there until 10:45. Not like a missed birthday or get well arrangement was late, it was a Celebration of Life...there is no getting that back. So now what? We have never had this happen! But that doesn't matter it DID happen. And we added stress to a family that was grieving. Each and every one of us that touched that order feels horrible. We've shed some tears, we've lost some sleep and we've imagined what we would feel if that were our parents Celebration of Life. It is a horrible feeling in the gut for sure. We didn't hide it, we didn't shrug it off and say oh well, we OWNED it, there was no finger pointing, no asking why didn't the designer get the ticket to complete area? Why didn't the front end double check time for delivery? Why didn't the delivery driver check his time to come in? We could accuse all day long if we wanted, but how would that help? We reviewed our procedures, put a couple new ones in place for double/triple checks and gave a 100% refund. No one was fired for their part in the mistake, what on earth would that have accomplished? As sad and as horrible as we feel, I know we are human and mistakes happen. We take such a deep interest in making the arrangement show the love these people have for their family member or dear friend. Personally, I think people see that and that is why we do so many funeral pieces. Some would say don't need to let everyone know you messed up, keep the error to yourself don't need to give their money back, they still got the flowers...Sure we could do that, but I could not look my employees in the eye and expect them to treat others with honesty if I wasn't willing to do the same. We have to do the right thing. It is not about money, it is about integrity and treating others the way you want to be treated! So yes we messed up...forgiveness, compassion and grace...much better in this situation than finger pointing, berating and hiding.
