Describing the Occasion and Asking for Recommendations
A customer explains the event or recipient for the flowers (e.g., birthday, anniversary, sympathy) and asks the florist for suitable flower recommendations based on the occasion, budget, and recipient's preferences.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
bouquet
A bunch of flowers arranged together, often for a gift or special occasion. Use it when talking about buying or giving flowers.
milestone
An important event or achievement in life, like a birthday. It's useful for describing significant moments.
preferences
Things someone likes or dislikes. Ask about preferences to personalize recommendations, like in shopping.
classic
Traditional or timeless, not trendy. Use it to describe simple, familiar styles, such as classic flowers like roses.
exotic
Unusual or from foreign places, often rare. Contrast it with common items when stating dislikes.
long-lasting
Something that stays fresh or good for a long time. Important for gifts like flowers that need to endure.
foliage
Leaves or green parts of plants used in arrangements. It's practical for describing how to enhance a bouquet.
budget
The amount of money planned to spend. Always mention budget when shopping to get suitable options.
blooms
Flowers that are fully open. Use it when talking about the freshness of flowers in a shop.
longevity
How long something lasts. Relates to care for items like flowers to keep them fresh longer.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
I'm looking to buy a bouquet today. It's for my grandmother's 80th birthday party this weekend.
This introduces the purpose of the visit and describes the occasion. Useful for starting a shopping conversation; it uses 'looking to' for expressing intent and specifies details like event and timing.
Do you have any particular preferences for your grandmother, perhaps her favorite colors or types of flowers?
A polite question to gather details about likes. 'Particular preferences' means specific likes; 'perhaps' softens suggestions. Use it when recommending items to personalize advice.
She loves bright colors, especially pinks and yellows. And she's not a fan of anything too exotic; she prefers classic flowers.
Describes likes and dislikes clearly. 'Not a fan of' is a casual way to say dislike; contrast with 'prefers' for comparison. Helpful for giving personal details in requests.
For classic, bright, and long-lasting, I'd recommend a mix of roses, lilies, and some cheerful gerbera daisies.
Gives a recommendation based on needs. 'I'd recommend' expresses suggestion; lists items with 'a mix of' and adjectives like 'cheerful'. Use in service roles to propose options.
We can arrange them with some suitable foliage to make them pop. What's your budget like?
Explains arrangement and asks about money. 'Make them pop' means make them stand out; 'What's your budget like?' is a natural way to inquire about spending range. Practical for sales discussions.
I'm looking to spend around $50 to $70. That sounds lovely, by the way.
States budget and gives positive feedback. 'Around' means approximately; 'by the way' adds a side comment politely. Use when confirming details in negotiations.
We can definitely create a beautiful bouquet within that range with those flowers.
Confirms possibility within limits. 'Definitely' shows certainty; 'within that range' refers to budget. Useful for reassuring customers in service scenarios.
Perfect! That sounds exactly like what I'm looking for. Thank you so much for your help!
Expresses satisfaction and thanks. 'Exactly like' emphasizes match; 'thank you so much' is emphatic gratitude. End conversations positively when agreeing to a plan.