Are you someone who has a passion for working with plants and flowers, possesses great interpersonal skills and is known for their a meticulous eye for detail?
Are you currently discontented and worn out with your current line of work? If you answered yes to both of these questions, maybe you should think about following your dream and becoming a florist.
Although the floristry trade is unlikely to appeal to people who are looking for a get-rich-quick scheme, florists often report high levels of job satisfaction due to high levels of autonomy and a having a good outlet for their creativity.
Furthermore, Mother’s Day is just around the corner and most people are looking for the best mothers day flowers that they can get their hands on. Follow the list of steps below for a guide on how you might become the proud owner of your own floristry shops.
Learn the Trade
There are two main routes by which people usually enter the world of floristry. This first is by taking an apprenticeship with a local florist. This experience will provide a fantastic chance to learn the ins and outs of the trade as well as teaching you at first hand exactly what it takes to run a business.
The second route is to enroll in an educational program at your local community college or places like Pearsons School of Floristry. Most courses will award you a certificate on completion that will serve you well in your coming career.
Develop a Business Plan
Like any business venture, opening your own shop involves a certain degree of risk. To make sure that you stand the maximum chance of success, you should think long and hard as you plan a detailed business plan.
Include the mission and ethos you envision your business embodying, the company structure and initial budget break-down, an analysis of the local competition you will be up against and the way in which you plan to market yourself.
Find a Location to Rent
If you are planning on opening a physical store (some people choose to conduct their whole business as an online mail-order service these days), think carefully about where you should rent the premises.
Ideally, you should strategically place your shop in an area or on a street that sees a high number of pedestrian traffic at all times of the week.
Since a high proportion of your customers are likely to be people who are buying flowers for a loved one on a whim or in a rush because they have forgotten to buy a gift for a special occasion, the visibility and accessibility of your shop will be a determining factor to whether your business sinks or swims.
Decide How You Are Going to Source Your Stock
Once you are up and running with a climate-controlled shop, it is time to think about how much stock you are going to order to start off and where you are going to buy it. It pays to do some research on the best and most reliable suppliers in your area. Drop them a line or send them an email to let them know about your opening date and enquire whether they would be interested in striking up a relationship with your business.
Apply for Licenses
As a final note, ensure that you have all the requisite licenses you need to start trading. Check with your local authority for more info on how to obtain them to avoid any complications after you have opened your doors. When you have done this, there is nothing left to do other than await the big day!
When broken down into manageable stages, opening your own floristry business will not look as daunting as you might have expected. If you follow the steps laid out above, it surely will not be long before you have established yourself and are living out your long-term floristry ambitions.
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