As someone who has ordered flowers more times than I can count, I consider myself a bit of a floral delivery connoisseur. I’ve tried all the big names – 1-800-Flowers, FTD, ProFlowers – and let’s just say I’ve had my fair share of floral flops over the years.
Soggy roses, broken buds and deliveries that never showed – sending flowers can be filled with frustration. That’s why I was intrigued when I recently discovered Lvly, a Australian-based flower company offering farm-fresh blooms and creative gift pairings.
Could this lively upstart provide better bouquets than those tired old brands? After over a decade of flower-buying, I put Lvly to the test across nearly 10 orders this past year alone.
Here’s my first-hand take on the Lvly experience after giving them plenty of chances to wow me – from product quality to deliveries and beyond!
Overview: Lvly Flowers Cheat Sheet
Before diving into the nitty gritty details, here‘s a quick overview of Lvly Flowers if you‘re not familiar with them:
Launch Date: December 2014
Founders: Hannah Spilva & Verity Tuck
Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia
Shipping Zones: Australia-wide
Delivery Times: Same-day to 1-4 days depending on location
Product Types: Fresh flower arrangements, potted plants, wreaths, gift hampers with wine, chocolate + more
Popular Products: The Pink Ginspiration Bouquet, Gintastic Gift Hamper
Prices: $$-$$$ (bouquets starting at $50+, gifts $100+)
Standout Features: Trendy gift pairings, locally-sourced blooms, cute packaging, fast shipping
Testing Out Lvly: My Initial Impressions
Intrigued by reviews praising their unique botanical gifts, I decided to give Lvly a go for my best friend’s 30th birthday. I ordered one of their speciality combos – the Pink Ginspiration Bouquet paired with mini pink gin bottles.
The site made choosing my delivery date and customizing my gift message a breeze. I was able to place my order in under 5 minutes.
Better yet – I discovered a hidden link to save $20 off my purchase since it was my very first order!
Unboxing a Burst of Blooms + Booze
The estimated 3 day delivery window passed and I‘ll admit I feared my flowers would be a no-show. Thankfully on day 4, my gift arrived in perfect condition.
As soon as I cracked open the shipping box, I caught a whiff of light floral perfume. Delicate blooms in blushing pink and white hues were nestled inside, paired with a trendy bottle of gin at the center.
The flowers themselves were pristine, with no broken stems or wilted leaves in sight. An assortment of roses, spray roses, carnations and more came artfully arranged in Lvly’s trademark mason jar.
Four mini gin bottles brought the ultimate party favors. In terms of extras, Lvly went above and beyond – tucking in a personalized gift message on a letterpress card along with care instructions for the bouquet.
Already, Lvly exceeded my expectations in terms of quality and presentation. But the real test would be my best friend’s reaction…
Big Smiles All Around: My Friend Loved Her Lvly Delivery
“Oh my gosh, how beautiful!” my BFF exclaimed as she unpacked her box. “This is the prettiest bouquet I‘ve ever gotten!”
She raved over the assortment of blooms, noting how it looked even more vibrant than some luxury florist arrangements she’d received.
The included gin flavors also delighted her – featuring sweet flavors like strawberry and elderflower liqueur much more her speed than classic London dry types.
Suffice to say, I knew I picked the right gift combo for her 30th. But what about ordering from Lvly again in the future for myself?
Putting Lvly to the Test: 10+ Bouquets and Gifting Occasions
After knocking my first Lvly order out of the park, I decided to try them again…and again. Soon enough, I became a repeat Lvly shopper thanks to their stellar service and standout arrangements.
Over the past year alone, I‘ve placed nearly 10 orders from Lvly for everything from supportive hospital deliveries to congratulatory bundles celebrating big milestones.
Here’s the low-down on how Lvly performed across all types of gifts and deliveries from my personal experience:
| Gift Occasion | Lvly Product Ordered | Delivery Time | Flower Quality | Overall Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birthday bouquet | The Good Ol‘ G&T Bouquet | 3 days from order | Exquisite, long-lasting | Perfect gift! |
| Get well flowers | Classic Pastel Posy | 4 days from order | Beautiful mixed blooms | Sweet surprise to cheer up |
| Thank you teacher gift | White Orchid & Treats Basket | 2 days from order | Gorgeous orchids + yummy extras | Major win – her students loved it too! |
| Mother‘s Day | Mom-osa Bouquet + Bottle of Bubbly | Same-day delivery, arrived in < 2 hours! | Stunning pink roses | Huge arrangement + fast shipping wowed her |
| Corporate client gift | Botanical Centerpiece Bouquet | 2 days from order | Professional presentation | Client sent their thanks & pic |
| Valentine‘s Day | Be Mine Bouquet | Same-day, arrived in 90 mins | Ruby red roses in great shape | Fast shipping saved the holiday |
| Bereavement flowers | Sympathy Basket | 2 days from order | Peace lilies and roses delivered with care | Thoughtful, tasteful arrangement |
| Birth of new baby | New Baby Bubble Basket | 3 days from order | Adorable for its purpose | New parents loved the bubbles + blooms idea |
As this table shows, Lvly delivered on fast shipping times, high-quality blooms and excellent execution across multiple gifting situations – even when I needed same-day delivery for last-minute occasions like Mother‘s Day.
Their range of products kept every order feeling fresh too – from fragrant orchids to congratulatory champagne and self-care packages. Each combo felt carefully curated for its purpose.
Now having experienced Lvly first-hand for nearly a year across 10+ orders, here are some of my key takeaways:
Blooming With Quality
Thanks to their supply chain relationships with local flower growers, Lvly achieves an incredible consistency when it comes to flower quality and freshness.
Their blooms routinely last over 7-10+ days for me with proper care – better longevity than nearly any other cut flower brand I‘ve purchased from before. Even sensitive orchids from Lvly thrive for 4+ weeks.
From packaging to presentation, all Lvly deliveries feel elevated yet still friendly. I love gifting their products because the bona fide reactions of joy they elicit.
A League Above Old Brands
In contrast, aged floral giants like 1-800-Flowers seem to be wilting. Of my last 5 large orders from them over the years:
- 2 deliveries never arrived
- 1 had visibly damaged flowers
- 2 took over 5 days to be delivered
More disappointing occasions than not. Yet Lvly proves getting flowers right isn’t rocket science – good sourcing, smart logistics and customer-centric service still rule the day.
Can‘t Go Wrong With Their Combos
While you can never customize exact stems included, Lvly’s themed bundles give me confidence I’ll impress regardless of the recipient’s taste. Their pairings with sweet treats, wines and self-care products especially make gifting fool-proof.
I‘d rather hand-select products I know they’ll love rather than gamble creating my own custom bouquet that may miss the mark!
Stands Out From Standard FTD Florists
In terms of price, Lvly gifts generally align with what I’d expect from a luxury florist in the $50 – $250 range. Some sticker shock for sure, but worth it when you see their unboxed beauty.
What I appreciate is that unlike no-name flower shops found on delivery networks like FTD, Lvly has a consistent branding and voice across their website, packaging and products that brings everything together. I know what I‘ll get when I order from them.
While local florists can provide that personal touch, they often have limited delivery capacity – that’s where Lvly fills the gap with their nationwide reach.
Rapid Delivery That Rival‘s The Best
While tiny florists might have speed in a single neighborhood, Lvly impresses with their logistics network that efficiently covers Aussies across the massive country.
Their same-day and next-day delivery capabilities in metro areas for last-minute gifts especially stands out. No more crossing my fingers that hastily ordered flowers might maybe arrive in time for a birthday or anniversary!
Outside major cities, Lvly still makes timely deliveries in 2 to 4 days most cases – much quicker than 5+ days I‘ve experienced from competitors. This reliability gives peace of mind for important occasions.
Comparing Lvly‘s Performance to Top Players
So how exactly does Lvly compare stats-wise to some of the bigger names in flowers? I broke down key metrics in the battle of the botanicals:
| Lvly Flowers | 1-800-Flowers | FTD Flowers | Floom | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 1976 | 1910 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Australia | New York, USA | Illinois, USA | London, UK |
| Delivery Time (Average Order to Door) | 1-4 days | 3-6 days | 3-6 days | 2-4 days |
| Number of Google Reviews | 219 | 15K | 6,647 | 74 |
| Google Review Score | 4.8 / 5 | 2.1 / 5 | 2.3 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| BBB Rating | NR | A+ | B | NR |
| Same Day Delivery? | Yes, in major metros | No | No | Yes |
| Farm-Fresh Flowers? | Yes | It‘s unclear… | Unclear origin | Yes, sustainable |
| Gifting Combos Beyond Flowers? | Yes | Yes | Some | No |
| Ships Internationally? | No, AU only | Yes, 150+ countries! | US + Canada only | Yes, UK + EU mainly |
While Lvly doesn’t have the brand clout or longevity as email-era stalwarts like 1-800-Flowers yet, their scores prove they deserve a seat at the table thanks continuing customer satisfaction and consistent flower quality decade after decade.
Interestingly, newer disruptor Floom matches Lvly for sustainability and speedy shipping times across London and the EU. But their lack of gift pairings beyond blooms shows an opportunity for Lvly to continue differentiating down under.
Changes at Lvly: What to Know With the Recent Acquisition
After hearing whispers of Lvly‘s growing success abroad, a surprise business deal unfolded – Lvly Flowers was acquired in late 2021 by Malaysian ecommerce giant Limitless Technology.
What does this deal mean for Lvly shoppers today? From what I can tell 6 months into new ownership, Limitless has taken a smart “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach:
- No changes to Lvly’s branding, website, service standards or product lineup that I can see
- Current Lvly managers still heading up daily operations and logistics
- Possible expansion to deliver overseas* or launch affiliated brands in the future
(*As of now in mid-2022 though, Lvly still only delivers locally within Australia like usual)
While only time will tell how the acquisition plays out long-term, the investment seems to signal confidence in Lvly‘s potential staying power – perhaps becoming Australia‘s answer to 1-800-Flowers in the US or Interflora in the UK.
Saving on Lvly: Tips to Snag the Best Deals
While undeniably on the pricier side, a few insider tips can help you save on Lvly‘s elevated floral gifts:
1. Don‘t Wait Until the Last Minute – Same-day delivery requires paying a small surcharge, so order in advance when you can.
2. Join Their Mail List – Lvly sends out exclusive deals and promotions to subscribers only.
3. Refer Friends – Share your unique $20 referral code with pals to benefit you both!
4. Buy Their Best-Sellers – Avoid customization to get the most blooms for your buck. Their #1 hits have gone through countless iterations to offer the highest value.
5. Save the Date For Sales – Lvly guarantees deals on flowers and gifts around peak holidays like Valentine‘s Day and Mother‘s Day.
Final Verdict: Lvly Wins My Flowers For Life
What started as trial “test buy” out of curiosity quickly transitioned to a genuine love for Lvly Flowers‘ friendly service, trendy aesthetic and reliable delivery.
After nearly 10 gifts over the past year, I confidently crown them as my new go-to online florist – no hesitations. Their creative pairings and locally-grown blooms bursting with beauty simply can‘t be beat.
While not the cheapest, Lvly provides tremendous value when gifting thanks to bouquets and surprises that consistently delight. For any special delivery needing to impress my VIPs, Lvly will be my first stop.
Have your own stories of wreaths gone wrong or botanical bliss? Share your flower buying experiences in the comments – I’d love to swap war stories!
