It takes more than just a love for flowers to create beautiful arrangements and run a successful floristry business! There are certain skills that are essential for florists to master, and in this blog, we’ll explore the top 3 skills that every florist needs to have in order to thrive in this competitive industry. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, these skills will help you create stunning floral designs and build a loyal customer base.
Design and Creativity Skills
Design skills and an innate sense of creativity are what allow the best florists to create the kind of arrangements that amaze and wow customers. Design principles such as colour theory, composition, and texture can be used to make arrangements that are both beautiful and functional. Having a strong understanding of design will be instrumental in helping you create arrangements that are tailored to the specific needs and preferences of your customers, and that will stand out in a crowded market.
On top of this, an understanding of design principles means you’ll be able to use flowers and other materials in unexpected ways, which can help to create unique and memorable arrangements. Creativity on its own is not enough for making bouquets that feel different to what every other florist is doing. You need both – the creativity and the design skills.
Sales and Business Skills
You’re not going to get very far with your floristry business without some serious sales and business skills under your belt. A florist who has strong sales skills will be able to effectively market their products and services to potential customers, which can lead to increased sales and customer loyalty. Additionally, a florist with strong business skills will be able to effectively manage their finances and make strategic decisions that can lead to growth and more profits. This includes budgeting, forecasting, and managing inventory and expenses.
Having a strong understanding of business operations and customer service can also help build a positive reputation for the business, which can attract more customers. Overall, sales and business skills are essential for you as a florist to be successful and ensure the longevity of your business.
Flower Knowledge
This one should go without saying, but we’re going to say it anyway. To be a successful florist you need to have a detailed knowledge of most flowers (especially those commonly available in your country/area) and how to care for them. It’s this knowledge that’s going to ensure you’re able to properly select, arrange, and care for the flowers you use in your designs.
For example, a florist needs to know that Lilies require a lot of indirect sunlight to unfurl and that some flowers have a shorter vase life than other flowers, such as Daffodils. This knowledge will help them to choose the right flowers for a particular arrangement and ensure that they last as long as possible.
Additionally, a florist must be able to care for the flowers properly. This includes knowing how to correctly store the flowers, how to keep them fresh and healthy, how to prevent pests and diseases, and how to keep the flowers looking at their best for as long as possible. Not only will your customers ask you for this information, but you’ll be caring for large bunches of cut flowers until they’re sold – so you’ll need to keep them looking beautiful.
On top of knowing all about a flower’s features and how to care for it, you’ll also need to have a good understanding of the meaning and symbolism behind each flower. This knowledge is very helpful when creating arrangements for special occasions, such as weddings or funerals, where the flowers may have specific meanings and traditional uses.
Ready to become a florist? We teach most of these skills in our online floristry courses (except for creativity, which you’ll need to unlock within yourself all on your own!) We’ve got the Career Change Course for a deep dive into design principles and colour theory, the Bloom in Business 90-Day Course for everything business and sales related, and the Bloom Basics Course, for anyone looking to dip their toe into floristry before taking the big leap.
