Hiring a Florist
Florists are primarily responsible for selling and arranging flowers, either grown or obtained from wholesalers. They are creative designers who produce aesthetic arrangements for occasions such as weddings, birthdays, funerals, holidays, etc. They use design principles to arrange live or cut flowers, potted plants, foliage, or other decorative items to make eye-pleasing creations. They know which flowers are in season and how various environments are conducive to different variants. They provide customers with quality floral designs that fit their budgets and desires. Florists are employed by local flower shops, national chains, grocery stores, or established at-home businesses. They earn between $18,700 to $39,100 a year, depending on their location. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary is around $25,850 per annum. With the right amount of experience, most florists go on to open their own flower shops. According to the BLS, about a fourth of all florists are self-employed.
Responsibilities of a Florist
Florists are responsible for processing, coordinating, and receiving shipments of flowers, periodic pruning of flowers, displaying and arranging marketable bouquets and undertaking measures to ensure the longevity of flowers. They fulfill orders by handling both phone and online requests that can be either pre designed arrangements or custom orders. They also need to consistently cater to standing orders from facilities such as banquet halls and hotels. Florists produce eye-catching flower arrangements using an artistic mix of design, color, stem and flower lengths, and embellishments. They interact with clients regarding which flower combinations to purchase for a given occasion, how to transport them, and also the particulars of feeding processes, if applicable. They craft robust packaging solutions to avoid preventable breakages. In addition, florists also keep a tab on inventory and monitor and order supplies as needed. They should do their best in promoting the business by attending events such as bridal expos to showcase their skills and attract customers.
The right skillset
Candidates looking to make a career as a florist should be green-thumbed, artistic, inventive, enterprising, and organized. They should not only have the right design sensibilities but also be adept at customer service. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are important as customer satisfaction goes a long way in generating repeat business. Employers typically look for candidates with high school diplomas and botany majors are given preference. Applicants should be familiar with the nutritional needs and life spans of plants. Additionally, applicants should be attentive to details, approachable, patient, and forthcoming, and must have the ability to deal with customers diplomatically while meeting their expectations.
