The Florist

A florist is someone who arranges flowers and other plant elements into a pleasing design. The arrangements are used primarily for celebratory events like weddings, birthdays and Valentines Day, but are also used for hotels, catered events, homes, funerals and saying ‘I love you’. Florists were once almost exclusively owners of small independent shops; however, with the recent invention of internet-based delivery services and all-in-one convenience markets, many are now employed by larger companies.

What does a Florist do?

A florist will design and create arrangements of flowers in wreaths, bouquets, vases and centrepiece elements. Sometimes florists may design entire rooms or outdoor areas, and fill them with flowers in a pleasing arrangement. This is especially true in the case of extravagant weddings or parties.

Some florists stick to pre-formatted layouts in order to design their flower arrangements, while others are true artists, or floral designers, who create their own patterns or design original works on commission. Typically, floral designers earn more for original creations though the demand is much less due to both the cost of original designs and the availability of a wide variety of pre-existing designs.

Though creating floral arrangements for events and parties is the typical response of a florist, they are also artists who may create designs for other purposes. There are floral competitions, for example, where floral artists create elaborate displays and art pieces. Pieces can include a ladies’ hat made entirely from leaves, or a temporary sculpture of a horse made from the stems and heads of sunflowers. With success in these competitions, a florist will improve their reputation and often receive more business as a result.

In addition to arranging flowers, a florist is also responsible for their care. They must be proficient in all aspects of plant care and be able to maintain a wide variety of species in the flower, foliage, herb and ornamental grass families. Plants used in arrangements must be picked at the peak of their beauty and last as long as possible after being delivered to the client. Successful florists will choose a balance between the hardiest and most beautiful species.

Though many floral designers work in retail, some become so knowledgeable and passionate about plant care that they are able to transition to working in a wholesale capacity. Wholesale florists operate business-to-business organizations in which they grow plants specifically for retail floral shops. In addition, they may create pre-designed floral arrangements that are disbursed to convenience stores.

Workplace of a Florist

Most florists, if they are not working as part of an internet-based flower retailer, carry out their daily responsibilities in an independent shop. In addition to a private area for working on floral arrangements, shops will usually have a large retail display area with a wide variety of flowers, where customers can browse. Depending on the regional area and season, floral designers will maintain this front office space or even a street side display of their offerings. They also maintain one or more coolers, depending on the size of the shop, where flowers are stored to lengthen their useful life.

Along with these responsibilities, a florist will work with customers in the shop or on the phone to take orders and discuss custom floral designs. Floral designers working in these shops usually have a regular schedule, arriving when the shop is open and leaving at closing time. In some cases, a florist who also manages the shop must work after-hours, usually to catch up on bookkeeping duties or to fulfil large orders.

A florist employed by larger companies, especially internet-based floral shops, almost always works a traditional 40-hour work week. They usually work in an industrial environment, creating arrangements according to specifications set out in the work orders they receive. These florists may also be responsible for packaging the flowers and preparing them to ship to customers.

Skills Needed

Having a basic understanding of design elements is essential if you wish to pursue this art. Love for flowers, and a good imagination and visualization skills with a knack for colour combinations, and retail skills would be of great help. Being skilled at cutting flowers, leaves, and branches to create beautiful flower arrangements is an added advantage. Sound knowledge of the styles of flower arrangements will be helpful, too.

Floristry as a Career

If you wish to start a floristry business, you need to plan your budget according to the type of arrangements you will be doing, the flowers you will be using (whether you will be cultivating flowers or buying them from someone else), the clients you will be targeting, and the location of your flower shop, as well.

Nowadays, there are online florist shops that offer the customers the convenience of ordering flowers from home. Floristry is a growing business with the ever-increasing amounts of money people are willing to spend for flowers.

How to find a Florist job

Approximately one out of four florists in the UK are self-employed. Though self-employment is the path for many in the floristry industry, it is not the only route. With more than 8,000 florist shops in the UK and the growth of online florist businesses, there are a variety of employment possibilities. Starting out with an entry-level job in a florist shop is also a great way to gain practical experience that could be substituted for formal education.