Have you ever walked into a garden and were left in awe of the beauty and fragrance of the flowers? Perhaps your gaze has been held for a moment when passing or entering a florist store. Have you spent time looking for the best birthday flower delivery service so you can send a lovely bouquet to a family member on their special day? Ever wonder how the business model of a floristry business works?
If your answer to any of these questions is a ‘yes’ and you have a desire to be a florist yourself, read further.
Flowers leave a mystical impact on everyone around them. No matter what occasion, sending flowers is the first thing that comes to mind. These beauties of nature are an ideal gift that never goes out of fashion. Whether it is a birthday or marriage, an anniversary or graduation, visiting an ailing friend or a funeral, you are sure to find flowers adorning the premises or in the hands of arriving guests.
What is Floristry?
Floristry is defined as the production, commerce, and trade in flowers. It encapsulates the cultivation of flowers, floral designing, and arrangement, merchandising and delivering. All it takes is the ability to take necessary risks, a drive to succeed and enough knowledge about the art of floristry, and you are set to venture out as a florist. For instance, you might want to take a look at Carrollwood Florist if you are looking to know what a florist offers.
Tips to Help You Run a Florist Business
The following points take you step by step through starting and successfully running a florist business.
Research
Before you decide on starting any business, it is imperative to understand the finer details and get a thorough knowledge of every aspect of the trade. Primarily, extract as much information as you can from the right sources concerning the cultivation of flowers, their supply chain, procuring the right cultivator/wholesaler for your business, market trends within your geographical reach, and the necessary skills required for designing and the decoration of flowers and staffing. Be sure to document all the information gained at this stage.
Consolidate Your Finances
Being a florist is not a very capital-intensive profession. It can be run from the comfort of your home or taken up as a part-time profession. It is important to determine how much you are willing to invest and the level of risk you are willing to take. Many times, people underestimate the expenses involved and soon find themselves with the doldrums.
Once you have assessed all the costs involved, you may choose to enter as a wholesaler supplying to retailers, an event management company, or choose to enter the retail market either through a physical setup or on an online platform. Startup costs usually range from $12,000 to $50,000.
Have Documentation in Place
Depending on the legal requirements in your region, obtain all necessary approvals and licenses to operate as a florist and always keep a copy of the registration certificate at your work premises for any spot checks.
Know Your Niche
If you enter the retail market, you must decide on who your target audience will be. Whether it is business organizations you are looking to target for their corporate needs, small budget parties and get-togethers, walk-in customers only or becoming known as a wedding decorator, a different plan of action and marketing techniques are required for each.
If it’s weddings you seek to cater to, try collaborating with a wedding or event planner. For business collaborations, list a few companies and contact the person in a position to make decisions.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Imagine opening a shop near your house and no customers show up. Location plays a pivotal role in determining the success or failure of your business. Whether you set up a store on the main road or in proximity to a residential location, make sure to make your presence felt.
Advertise in the local paper, spread the word through friends and family, use your social networks or create a page on Facebook. If your budget permits, publish ads through Google or create a website and stock up on business cards to hand out to walk-in customers or attach them along with your orders booked via call or digital platform.
Bring Out Your Creativity
It is eventually your work that speaks loudest. As a florist, you must have a creative eye and deliver the best products to your customers. The usual orders comprise of bouquets, centerpieces, decorating venues or preparing customized floral designs. It is advisable to hire additional staff with artistic or creative ability and a courteous approach.
With ever-growing competition, distinguish your services by surpassing customer expectations. Are you ready to begin?
