Florists (2024)

Arranging flowers is a hobby to some, but 30,000 people make a living from selling them. There are more than 7,700 florist's shops in the UK, many of them small and employing three or four people.

Most are linked by organisations such as Interflora and Teleflorist, which allow customers to send flowers worldwide. The Chelsea Flower Show, which takes place this week, is popular with florists seeking ideas in this competitive field.

Florists offer an individual service, wrapping and decorating arrangements for customers; some specialists design exclusively for special occasions. They buy flowers wholesale - most are from the Netherlands - and cater for customers' special requests, including some from celebrities. Elton John and the Beckhams are especially renowned for their floral extravagance.

Many courses in floristry are available, the most esteemed being the National Diploma of the Society of Floristry, though qualifications are not vital

You need to be artistic, creative and dextrous. Flowers are given on happy and sad occasions, so sensitivity when dealing with customers is essential.

Income

Unqualified florists usually receive only the minimum wage, now£4.20 an hour for most adults and £3.50 for anyone under 22.

Above this, pay varies greatly according to region and type of business. Roland Davies of the British Floristry Association quotes £15,000 as an average salary.

Qualified florists can earn £25,000 a year as managers; freelancers in London get up to £12 an hour. Many work part-time.

Perks

The job is varied, with flowers in season at different times and design influenced by trends in furniture and interiors. It's very arty, with different florists developing their own styles.

'Flowers are the only product that can say anything to anyone on any occasion,' says Caroline Marshall-Foster of Florist & Wholesale Buyer magazine.

Disadvantages

Flowers don't like heat, so you have to get used to working in the cold.

The work is physical: 'Your long red nails won't last for long,' says Angela Turner of the Society of Floristry. Expect to work very long hours at busy times: 'Valentines Day is only there for 24 hours,' Turner points out.

The market fluctuates greatly. Flowers are a luxury, so sales are quick to suffer with economic downturn. There is increased competition from supermarkets.

The future

Florists have to stay in touch with fashion to compete with the supermarkets.

'The customer is more discerning, and floristry is becoming more design and fashion-oriented,' says Roland Davies. Designs from Germany and the Netherlands are increasing in influence.

Slaves online

Wage Slaves now has its own section on the Unlimited website where all the articles in this series can be found in alphabetical order: click to theguardian.com/work/wageslaves

Florists (2024)

FAQs

What is a florist answer? ›

A florist is a shopkeeper who arranges and sells flowers and sells house plants. The hotel's florist can create floral arrangements for all occasions.

What is the 3 5 8 rule in floristry? ›

One of the European designs that we create in floristry is called the Form Linear, in which we apply flowers by using the 3:5:8 rule, with 3 main focal groups: 3 = Sub-dominate Group/Placement. 5 = Contrasting Group/Placement. 8 = Dominate Group/Placement.

What is a good sentence for florist? ›

Examples from Collins dictionaries

The hotel's florist can create floral arrangements for all occasions. The florist provides flowers for weddings and other events. A florist is available to create all types of floral arrangement.

Is florist a stressful job? ›

The disadvantages of being a Florist

You may experience some stressful working conditions during peak holiday seasons, such as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Christmas. There are regularly time critical jobs with unforeseen deadlines & urgent last-minute orders or additions to the original order.

Why do we go to a florist answer? ›

Answer: to get flowers for celebration events . The shopkeeper or seller who sells flowers is called florist.

What do florists use? ›

Vases and floral tape

You will also need vases, pots, boxes, baskets, and containers - as well as waterproof flower wrapping paper. With a range of different shapes and sizes available, you can customize your arrangements to suit any occasion.

What is the golden rule in floral design? ›

Employ The Golden Ratio

According to Bruni, the "golden ratio" for floral arranging is creating a visual where the arrangement is two-and-a-half sizes bigger than its container.

What are the four rules of flower? ›

The four basic whorls of flower are sepals, petals, androecium and gynoecium. They play an important role in protection of the bud, petals attract pollinating agents, anthers produce pollen and ovary is part of gynoecium. The ovules develop into seeds and the ovule forms the fruit.

Do florists use math? ›

Key Mathematical Concepts in Floral Design

Here are some of the important mathematical elements that are often considered: Percentages: To calculate profit margins. Multiplication, Division, and Addition: To work out quantities and costs of flowers. Scale Drawings: To measure areas for arranging flowers.

Is being a florist hard? ›

Here's the real deal: being a florist involves more than just creativity — it also requires organizational and communication skills, lots of hands-on training, and perseverance to make it through long work days, grit, passion and band-aids.

What is a professional florist called? ›

Floral designers in retail businesses serve walk-in customers as well as customers placing orders over the telephone, on the Internet, or through other florists. Some floral designers who work on a contract basis when creating arrangements for events, such as weddings, have to travel to event locations.

What to expect from a florist? ›

The florists use creativity and knowledge of plants to design and create floral arrangements. Florists sell flowers, plants, and arrangements to the general public, companies, event organizers, etc. The most common mistake in organizing your event with respect to flowers is not knowing what to expect from your florist.

What personality type is a florist? ›

Florists tend to be predominantly artistic individuals, meaning that they are creative and original and work well in a setting that allows for self-expression. They also tend to be enterprising, which means that they are usually quite natural leaders who thrive at influencing and persuading others.

Where do florists make the most money? ›

What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Florist Jobs
CityAnnual SalaryMonthly Pay
Renton, WA$39,924$3,327
Santa Monica, CA$39,622$3,301
Severn, MD$39,459$3,288
New York Metro Area, NY$39,298$3,274
6 more rows

Is floristry good money? ›

Running a flower business can be a highly profitable endeavour. Once you wrap your head around pricing, see the value in managing your costs, learn marketing, and conquer sales, you'll start to see a lot of money in your bank account.

What is the definition of a florist? ›

flo·​rist ˈflȯr-ist. ˈflär- : a person who sells or grows for sale flowers and ornamental plants.

What does being a florist mean? ›

As a florist, or floral designer, your primary job responsibilities are to create flower arrangements. Arrangements include bouquets, gift baskets, wreaths, centerpieces, and corsages. You may make arrangements for different events, such as gift baskets, holidays, funerals, weddings, and more.

What's a florist called? ›

Often the terms "floral design" and "floristry" are considered synonymous. Florists are people who work with flowers and plants, generally at the retail level. Floristry differs from floristics, the study of distribution and relationships of plant species over geographic areas.

What is a florist person? ›

a person who works in a store that sells cut flowers and plants for inside the house.

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