“Flowers are the music of the ground. From earth’s lips spoken without sound.”- Edwin Curran
Flowers are the most beautiful thing on earth that can make all your happy memories way more cherishing and memorable. And, that’s where a florist goes absolutely rocking the show- they can make your life’s memories captured forever with the beauty of flowers.
Florists are simply the miracle workers who can gracefully change your surroundings and lift your mood. Playing with flowers to create incredible pieces of art is something they are specialized in. And, if you have a similar passion then you can create great floral arrangements to offer a luxuriating feel to the receiver.
And, as the great Spanish painter, Pablo Ruiz Picasso once said- “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
What you need to become a florist is exceptional creative ideas, practical skills, and artistic brilliance. If you possess a creative bent, we can help you with other details to help you be a successful florist.
Get your answer on how to become a florist and leave a lasting impression with your outstanding floral artistry. Keep reading this article to know more!
To begin with, let’s first know who are florists!
Floral specialists or florists whatever you call, these professionals are specialized in arranging previously cut plants and flowers in a creative way and presenting them in a form of an appealing bouquet or other arrangements. From small shops to retail businesses or online companies, florists can transform their passion to any form to make a decent income.
Interesting facts
- The history of floral design dates back to 2800 B.C during the Ancient Egyptian era.
- Ancient Greek and Romans are also known for their exceptional floral decorations during various ceremonies and celebrations.
- Japanese floral design- Ikebana dates back to the 7th century.
- Chinese floral designs were focused on basket arrangements based on flower symbolism.
What does a florist do?
Be it a wedding, birthday party, anniversary, or any other event, nothing can beat the charm of an excellent floral arrangement. And, that’s when a florist plays an inevitable role in making your special day a grand success.
To explain what a florist does may seem simply arranging flowers in a beautiful way but there’s a lot more beyond this. Well, some do follow conventional floral patterns to decorate, there are also some who go beyond pre-formatted layouts just to create original designs. Some even create magnificent floral art pieces to take part in competitions or simply exhibit their creations.
To be precise they have the following daily work details:
- Receiving shipment and getting the order ready
- Placing new flowers in a display case
- Arranging bouquets, vases, centerpieces, etc.
- Growing and watering plants
- Ordering flowers from whole seller or vendor
Besides knowing the scale and size for a specific arrangement of flowers, a florist must also have knowledge of various species of flowers, grass, and foliage and about their maintenance details.
Now as you know what it is to be a florist, let’s also discuss some other aspects of this unique profession!
How to become a florist?
To help you get through we have listed down some of the steps that will assist you to understand how to become a florist.
1. Figure out why you want to be a florist:
No matter what career you want to pursue or what business you want to start, figuring out the ‘why’ is the utmost necessity.
Being a florist is the most beautiful profession that one could think of. Fresh flowers are one of the most lovely things that boost creativity and ingrains enthusiasm into the people around you. As a result, being a florist would be an incredibly lucrative career option if you are both creative and have an entrepreneurial mindset.
2. Educate yourself:
If the profession intrigues you too much you can definitely go for it. But if you lack relevant experience, make sure you research well and educate yourself with some basic info.
Well, if going out and taking up offline courses from colleges or institutions is a problem for you, you can always go for online certification courses. And, by the way, in this age of the online or digital world, nothing seems impossible.
Run a check through various courses available or free online tutorials to get accustomed to floral knowledge. You can even attend workshops in person for better understanding.
But if you want to get advanced knowledge before trying your hands-on floristry then you must check out the below topics:
- Floral mechanics: How to keep floral arrangements ready for shipping?
- Right florist tools: What tools or floral care products are needed?
- Flower type: What flower is needed for specific arrangements?
3. Develop florist skills by working with a local florist:
Apart from online or offline courses or self-learning one of the best things you can do is opt for apprenticeship or training from local floral designers. Undoubtedly, hands-on training and some essential business knowledge would be of great help.
Besides interning under an established florist, some professionals even offer bachelor’s degrees as well The programs cover floral designing and management along with some other topics like:
- Hand-held boutiques
- Floral shop management
- Interior plant
- Wedding design
- Horticulture
4. Practice to cultivate your own style:
The intriguing part of the journey- ‘how to become a florist’ is to practice more and more to bring out your inner creativity. That’s the only way you can carve out a unique style and present your originality.
Work on your observational skills to develop your style from whatever design or pattern you encounter. Create your own signature style to stand out from others and establish a lasting impression among your potential customers.
5. Build a portfolio:
After you are all set with the necessary requirements your next move should be creating an attractive portfolio to showcase your capabilities. From wedding bouquets to centerpiece arrangements, highlight all your skills to invite more and more clients.
From starting a floral business to getting hired, a portfolio is your resume that demonstrates your work samples. This way it provides a clear idea to the potential clients about your ability and professionalism.
6. Join a professional organization to gain experience:
Whether initiating a floral business or joining a floral industry simply as a newcomer requires proper channeling and networking. Hence, joining a group would be beneficial in getting more job opportunities. Join a floral group or AIFD to get constant updates on various job listings for florist jobs.
7. Start your own business:
So now you are all set to start your own business. Just make sure you set your goals systematically- arrange short-term and long-term targets. This would help in a brand establishment, advertising and would also help in word-of-mouth recommendation as well.
Let’s’ quickly answer some faqs related to the florist profession:
Though any formal certification is not a must for long-term achievements going for special courses or training would be a big plus. This would enhance the importance of your portfolio and will set you apart from the crowd.
Formal training would be advantageous for your business establishment and growth. There are various programs and diplomas available nowadays which can help you create a strong biodata in this profession. For example, the Canadian Institute of Floral Design in Ontario or the Canadian Academy of Floral Art offers attractive sessions on floral arrangements and designs.
Joining a floral industry or working as a florist does not require any license. Just make sure to follow and fulfill all the provisional and federal law requirements to avoid complications. Moreover, if you wish to kick off your career with entrepreneurship then do get your business registered to avoid legal implications.
You can rent a space or set up your indoor space to start your floral business. Flowers are delicate so make sure the place is safe and secure and keep your pets (if you have) away from those. A well-lit garage or basement would work out wonderfully as a studio. Moreover, opt for less-insulated space to keep your flowers fresh for a longer duration.
Besides enough space and electrical arrangement, the equipment that you need to start your floral business is a pair of pruning shears, glass vases, a watering can, and a sturdy table.
Growing flowers in your backyard won’t possibly meet your vast requirement. Rather, make a quick internet search to spot flower suppliers who provide flowers in bulk.
In this age of the internet, marketing your floral business is way easier. Take the help of social media platforms to share your floral skills through enticing images of various types of floral arrangements. This way you would be able to reach out to more people and get orders online as well.
Bottom line!
Are you absolutely in love with the magical charm of flowers? Then follow the above guide to get ready as a professional florist. It’s okay to start slowly if you are a tenderfoot in the business world. Start as an entrepreneur, freelance florist, or industry professional to enjoy a joy-filled career in this profession.
