Flowers by wire may be a mysterious term to some, but it's the most popular way to send flowers across the country or around the world, with same day delivery possible to more than 99% of people living and working in the United States and Canada, as well as service to more than 120 other countries. The name "flowers by wire" is admittedly old-fashioned. Still, the quality and convenience are cutting edge. Interestingly enough, like most great ideas, it all started in a very low-tech, high-touch way.
Flowers by wire delivery dates back more than a 100 years. When someone wanted to send flowers to a loved one in another city, a hometown florist would help by contacting a trusted florist in the distant town. Many flower shops like Walter Knoll Florist were handed down from generation to generation, and florist families had their own florist friends they had come to know through the years. The distant florist could deliver the flowers to the recipient quite easily. Unfortunately, this network of fellow florists was informal, and communication was cumbersome. In the early days telegraph messages had to be used to relay an order from one florist to another.
One such organization was (FTD Florist Telegraph Delivery), founded by fifteen florists in 1910 (Walter Knoll Florist has been a member since 1926) . The organization grew rapidly, but its name, and the telegraph, soon became obsolete. As technology evolved, florists migrated to the telephone as a much more efficient way of exchanging orders. The association was renamed FTD, and several other flowers by wire groups took shape. Today, the best known are Teleflora, FTD and Interflora. Walter Knoll Florist is members of of all of these and more. Each includes more than 20,000 florist members, who meet strict quality standards and adhere to professional guidelines. It's these florists that make flowers by wire possible.
Of course, flowers by wire technology has continued to improve, too. Today, the vast majority of flowers by wire orders are transferred between florists on proprietary data networks to ensure the speed, (For example an order placed on this web site is processed in just 3 or 4 seconds) with accuracy, and security of transmission. Ties among the larger and better florists have only strengthened, because they regularly fill floral orders for each other, monitor results, and maintain close professional relationships. So, the fundamental concept remains -- fresh flower arrangements individually designed and locally delivered by independent florists all working together to help their customers.