10 Things You Should Know About Florists

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1. They work crazy hours 

Not all florists are early risers by choice. But many are up before the sun. Major wholesale markets open at 3am and can start closing stalls at 8. That is a short window for florists to get in and grab the best product. Then they begin the second leg of their day. They are off to the shop or the studio to unload, condition, and create. This is another 8+ hours of their day. Throw an unexpected event into the mix, and florists can easily be living on 3 hours of sleep a night. 

2. They are on the hunt 

Nature is a fickle thing. A change in the conditions at the flower farm will turn your “perfect” ivory rose just a shade too pink. That means back to the drawing board for florists. They will call wholesalers, or physically trek their flower market, going from stall to stall, looking for that elusive shade of ivory.  

3. It’s a high pressure job

The work florists do is fueled by client’s emotions. Weddings, events, and holidays all come with big expectations from clients. And florists feel the pressure. Details need to be perfect. Timing needs to be spot on. Florists take this massive pressure and turn it into creative energy. It’s one of their super powers.

4. They are beauty seekers

My favorite quality is that florists see beauty all around them. That is part of their specialized skill set. They spot out and treasure a special heart shaped leaf, the changing tones of the season, and unique double petaled blooms.  Don’t be surprised if your florist friend stops and does a double take at particularly lush bush or wildflower. It’s just part of their nature to seek out beauty in all forms and take a moment to appreciate it.   

5. Their products die

Working with a perishable product is tough. Florists’ products need to be at its freshest. Once it arrives, it needs to be processed, conditioned and put into cold storage.  Even with all that effort, flowers will die sooner than expected. That’s an out of pocket expense for florists that can add up.

6. They work in challenging spaces

We’ve all seen the florists with stands on the streets. Beautiful blooms and bouquets ready to go on the sidewalk. But ever been by when the florist is opening or closing up? It’s a tiny space! It’s like playing tetris to get product in and out.  Ever wonder how studio florists do it without a cool room? They turn the design space into a cool room. They work in almost freezing conditions to keep designs looking fresh. Working in tiny, cold spaces is something many florists have to go through. It makes every aspect of their job, just slightly more challenging. 

7. They are multi talented

Mechanics. Architects. Artists. Curators. Laborers. Horticulturists. These some of the many hats that florists wear. They do it all! No matter if you’re the owner, designer or assistant, chances are you’ve had to wear many of these hats in one day.   

8. They get physical 

Bundles of flowers and foliage are heavier than they look. Add in anywhere from a dozen to hundreds of large buckets of water and you have enough to give you a definite back problem. It’s not all about lifting either. Florists run too! Sometimes a church will allot 15 minutes to install an entire set up. Florists lace up their shoes, get the team ready, and they run to make it happen. No sweat! Well, a little sweat.

9. They face their fears 

Think you are afraid of heights?  Creepy crawlers a deal breaker? Not for florists. To get the job done, they have to face their fears every day. They climb 15 foot ladders, on the edge of stairs or cliffs. They go up and down over 100 times for an event installation, regardless of their fear. As a florist you face your fears to get the job done and support you team.  

10. They care

Florists want every client to walk away happy. They will add in extra blooms to make sure your arrangement is just perfect. They will spend extra to get you your favorite color. They get emotional while writing out your card messages.  And here’s an inside secret - florists will go above and beyond for you every time if you appreciate them and their work.

7 Things I wish Knew Starting Out as a Floral Designer

1. You don’t have to buy every vase you see

Starting out, I realized I didn’t have a single vase. After a couple of trips (okay, about a dozen) to thrift stores all over the Bay Area, I had probably close to 100. After a couple of years, I used about 10 of those. Start with some simple vases to hold your basics. Get a couple cute things for last minute orders. The rest you can order as needed!

How many of your are hoarding vases for “someday” under your bed?

2. Save your Sales Tax (if you have your own business)

If your just starting out and you don’t have an accountant, put your sales tax in away in an account you cant touch Pay your sales tax quarterly. Do not touch it. Do not! Same goes for your projected income tax.

3. Know what opportunities are out there

There are more opportunities in floral than you may think! Look outside the box. I wish I knew early on about freelance and luxury weddings, because that was truly the most satisfying work for me. There’s opportunity in growing, wholesaling, distributing, designing, and delivering all kinds of floral experiences. Luckily for us, social media is showing us a new floral world. Don’t be intimidated, be inspired. 

4. You don’t have to have the most beautiful design space

A garage is perfectly fine! So is a studio. Just start where you are! Having someplace cool to store and process your flowers is key here. But delivering a beautiful product is what counts the most. I have been known to turn down the AC to almost freezing (sorry kitties!).  But aesthetic for your design space can come later. I know lots of luxury designers in Australia who do the most beautiful work, that comes out of pretty average design spaces. Don’t let your space hold you back.

5. Hire more help

Trust me. It’s worth every penny. Avoid burnout for yourself and your staff (or your family and friends who are helping). Hire one extra hand so you can get a little more sleep at night. It’s the biggest gift you can give yourself.

6. Ask the venue about access times and load in route before you submit a quote

It makes a huge difference in your quote. One too many times have we been given too short of a window for our installations last minute. This leads to burnout. If you know in advance, you can add more staff into your quote, and alleviate some of the last minute hustling. 

7. Have the right tools

It’s important to know what's out there! See what other designers are using. In Aus, they have so many great products that we should be using in the states and vise versa. To get you going you need a great set of clippers for flowers, wire, and woody stems, a good floral knife, cheap floral knives, floral foam or alternatives, chicken wire, floral foam cutters, floral tape, pins, and waterproof tape. Bonus points for taking these things on site: a go to installation outfit, a great water bottle, a watch that can track your steps.

What things do you wish you knew starting out?