How to become a Florist

109

£14,000/y

avg. starting salary

Roses are red, violets are blue. Something about being a Florist (which is clever, and rhymes)… Florists design, construct, and sell flower arrangements, using their imagination and artistic skills to come up with the most beautiful and creative displays for their customers. Their skills are needed for a variety of different occasions, ranging from birthdays, weddings and anniversaries through to retirements and bereavements. They may also create flower displays for special functions and events. Typical duties for a Florist could include:

Selecting and ordering flowers for their displays
Designing and assembling bouquets, wreaths and flower arrangements
Serving customers, and helping them choose their products
Educating people on how to care for their flowers
Taking online/phone orders, and making deliveries
Setting up displays at events

You’ll need a real interest in plants and flowers, not to mention creative flair and design skills, in order to become a Florist. Generally, you’ll be dealing with members of the general public, making excellent customer service skills similarly essential. And, contrary to popular belief, the job can also be quite physically demanding at times. Especially when transporting flowers and displays back and forth all day. N.B. Those suffering from severe cases of hay fever need not apply… Other key skills for a Florist include:

A good sense of colour, and shape
Knowledge of seasonality and a flower’s lifespan
Excellent practical skills
Natural business acumen and understanding of USP
Tact, empathy and sincerity
Good time management, and the ability to work under pressure

Junior Florist

Up to £14,000

Florist

Up to £24,000

Store Manager

Up to £30,000

"Being a Florist probably isn’t anything like what you’d expect – you know, all dainty and delicate. I get up at the crack of dawn three or four times a week to go to flower markets and pick up new stock, driving an hour or so each way to get the freshest possible products. Then I load it all in the van on my own, before I drive back and open the shop to start the day, putting together new arrangements and delivering them all over. It’s pretty exhausting, but when you get back to a beautiful shop bursting with flowers, it’s pretty much unbeatable. Just don’t be scared to get your hands dirty. Literally."

Get qualified

You won’t necessarily need any formal qualifications in order to become a Florist, and many employers offer on-the-job training or apprenticeships. However, it is a competitive industry, and a dedicated floristry certification will certainly set you apart when it comes to applying for entry-level roles.

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