Hiring a Floral Designer
Floral designers cut and arrange live, dried, silk flowers, artificial flowers, and foliage to make decorative displays. They help customers select the complementary accessories to create the arrangements. The designers then arrange the flowers artistically to make wedding bouquets, corsages, wreaths, and other decorations. Most floral designers work in retail businesses, usually flower stores. In retail establishments, they attend to both walk-in customers as well as customers who place their orders over the phone, via the internet, or through other florists. Some floral designers also work on a contract basis, creating arrangements for events and various occasions. They may work with interior designers in creating displays for residential and commercial spaces; others are self-employed and have their own businesses. Floral designers can work full-time as well as part-time, although their working hours may vary with their employment arrangement. Full-time employees earn an average salary of $30,000 annually. Professionals who undertake formal floral design training can advance their career in this field, becoming a supervisor or a chief floral designer.
Responsibilities of a floral designer
The need for floral designers increases at certain times of the year, specifically during the holiday season. Apart from this, these professionals are hired seasonally for special occasions. Based on the work setting, floral designers may create single arrangements or multiple displays with real and artificial flowers for various occasions. Their primary duty is to create original designs and fulfill customer orders based on their requirements. They must work with clients to achieve their vision for events, providing suggestions for flower selection based on their client’s budget. They should be able to communicate clearly with customers regarding the care, maintenance, and handling of the arrangements. They are usually in charge of a wide range of foliage and flowers, finding suitable vendors to supply seasonal flowers. They are also responsible for the order, purchase, and storage of the supplies from growers or wholesalers. Some employers expect designers to hire and supervise staff to help with their daily work.
Candidate background and requirements
Hiring managers seek floral designers with a high school diploma or equivalent and relevant prior experience. Candidates applying for the job should be able to use their sense of style to create aesthetically pleasing designs. They must use their artistry and knowledge of diverse blooms to select appropriate flowers for each occasion. Floral designers need to have an understanding of when each flower variety is in season and available. Besides this, they must have the ability to use their expertise to recommend flowers and designs to customers. Since they spend a substantial part of their workday communicating with customers and vendors, they must be able to understand what a customer is looking for and provide quality service. Floral designers need to be well-organized, ensuring timely completion of orders, thereby keeping the business operating smoothly. The candidate must also be open to new ideas, keeping up with the latest floral design trends.
