1. Tablet & connectivity
Your tablet is how orders reach you. If the tablet is off, asleep, or disconnected from WiFi, the storefront appears closed on DoorDash and Uber Eats — and orders stop routing to your shop.
Daily checklist
- Power on and plugged in before your operating hours begin. Keep the tablet connected to a charger at all times — battery-only mode leads to unexpected shutdowns.
- Connected to WiFi. Confirm the WiFi indicator shows a solid connection. If your shop’s WiFi is unreliable, consider a dedicated hotspot or placing the tablet closer to the router.
- Volume turned up. New orders play an audible alert. If the volume is down, orders can sit unacknowledged and eventually auto-cancel.
- Screen visible. Put the tablet somewhere your staff can see and hear it during business hours.
If you use free platform tablets: You’ll have a separate tablet for DoorDash and Uber Eats. Both need to be on and connected during your hours.
If you use Otter: All orders come to one tablet. Same rules apply — keep it on, plugged in, and connected.
Troubleshooting
If the tablet stops receiving orders or shows an error, restart it first. If that doesn’t fix it, contact us immediately at info@atflowers.com — we’ll check the platform side and get you back online.
2. Accepting orders
When an order comes in, accept it promptly. Both platforms track how long it takes you to acknowledge an order, and consistent delays hurt your storefront’s visibility in search results.
What to look for on every order
- Arrangement type and size. The order description tells you what the customer chose — match it.
- Delivery window. Note the estimated pickup time so the arrangement is ready when the driver arrives.
- Special instructions. Customers sometimes add notes — a card message, color preference, or delivery instruction. Read them.
Never cancel an order if you can avoid it. Cancellation rates directly affect your storefront’s standing on both platforms. If you can’t fulfill an order for any reason, contact us before canceling. We can often find a solution that keeps the order alive.
3. Arrangement quality
This is the single biggest factor in long-term success. Customers who receive a beautiful arrangement leave good ratings, order again, and tell friends. Customers who feel shortchanged leave bad ratings that drag down the entire storefront.
The standard
If a customer pays $100 for a spring bouquet, they should receive a $100 spring bouquet. Not a $60 bouquet. Not a handful of filler with two statement stems. The arrangement should match the value the customer paid for.
Creative interpretation is expected
You don’t need to replicate the listing photo stem-for-stem. The @flowers menu is built so partners can interpret arrangements using whatever inventory is in their cooler that day. Use your expertise. Just match the value, the color palette direction, and the overall feel.
Think of it this way: If you handed the finished arrangement to the customer in person and told them the price, would they feel like they got their money’s worth? That’s the bar.
4. Packaging for delivery
Delivery is not the same as handing a bouquet to a walk-in customer. The arrangement will ride in a car, possibly alongside other deliveries. Package accordingly.
- Secure the vase or container. Use a bag, box, or holder that prevents tipping. If you’re delivering in a vase with water, make sure it can’t spill during transit.
- Wrap loose stems. Anything that could shift, snag, or break during a car ride should be secured.
- Protect delicate blooms. Tissue, cellophane, or a protective sleeve around the top goes a long way.
- Keep it upright. Package the arrangement so it’s obvious which direction is “up.”
5. Driver handoff
- Have the order ready before the driver arrives. The tablet shows the estimated pickup time. Be ready.
- Designate a pickup area. A specific counter or spot near the entrance where drivers know to go.
- Brief the driver if needed. A 5-second note like “keep this upright” or “there’s water in the vase” prevents delivery issues.
- Confirm the order before handing it off. Check the order name or number matches what’s on the driver’s phone.
6. Store hours & availability
- Tell us immediately if your hours change. Email info@atflowers.com and we’ll update both platforms.
- Plan ahead for closures. Let us know at least 48 hours in advance so we can pause the storefronts cleanly.
- Use the tablet’s pause button for same-day emergencies only. Frequent pauses reduce your storefront’s visibility over time.
Pro tip: If you’re open but your tablet is off, the platform thinks you’re closed. If your tablet is on but your shop is closed, orders will come in that nobody fulfills. Keep the two in sync.
7. Ratings & reviews
Customer ratings directly affect how often your storefront appears in search results. High ratings earn more visibility. Low ratings push you down.
What drives good ratings
- Arrangements that match or exceed the value paid
- Orders ready on time for driver pickup
- Clean, secure packaging that protects the flowers in transit
- Attention to special instructions and card messages
What drives bad ratings
- Arrangements that feel thin or cheap relative to the price
- Late prep that delays the driver and the delivery
- Missing card messages or ignored special instructions
- Poor packaging that results in damaged flowers on arrival
8. Holiday preparation
Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and a handful of other holidays produce 3–5x normal order volume.
Before the holiday
- Stock up. Plan for significantly higher volume than a normal week.
- Staff up. Plan for @flowers volume on top of your retail holiday volume.
- Confirm your hours with us. Holiday hours often differ from regular hours.
- Test your tablet setup. Make sure everything works before the rush starts.
During the holiday
- Stay in communication. If you’re hitting capacity, tell us immediately. We can temporarily adjust the storefront.
- Don’t cancel — communicate. A slightly delayed order is better than a canceled one.
Holiday weeks regularly produce $4,000–$6,000 in partner payouts. The partners who earn the most are the ones who plan ahead, stay online, and communicate with us when volume gets intense.
9. When to contact @flowers
The short answer: whenever anything is off. We’d rather hear from you too often than not often enough.
Tablet issues. Order problems. Can’t fulfill an order. Wrong items on the menu. Anything affecting live orders.
Hours changes. Planned closures. Staffing adjustments that affect capacity. Menu feedback.
Questions about payouts. Ideas or feedback. Issues with a past order. Anything you’re unsure about.
Email info@atflowers.com for everything. For urgent issues during business hours, email gets the fastest response.
10. Platform policies
Virtual storefronts are explicitly permitted by both DoorDash and Uber Eats. Both platforms publish guidelines for how virtual brands operate, including menu differentiation requirements and quality standards. The @flowers model is built to comply with these policies.
For reference, here are the relevant platform resources:
- DoorDash — Virtual Brand Quality Requirements
- DoorDash — Virtual Restaurant Learning Center
- Uber Eats — Creating a Virtual Restaurant
- Uber Eats — Virtual Restaurant Program
You don’t need to read these to be a successful partner — we handle all platform compliance on your behalf. But they’re here if you’re curious.
This guide is maintained by @flowers and updated as platforms or best practices evolve. Last updated May 2026. Questions? Email info@atflowers.com.