If you have good interpersonal skills, possess a passion for working with flowers, and fancy yourself as having an eye fine for details, going into business as a florist might be something you should consider. Many florists will tell you that there are happy with their chosen career and experience high levels of autonomy and the chance to exercise their creative flair on a daily basis. For anyone who is considering taking the leap and embarking on the road to becoming the owner of a flower shop, the following list will provide an informative guide on the steps that need to be taken to make this dream a reality.
The Tricks of the Trade
People usually enter the world of floristry via two well-trodden routes. Firstly, you might decide to find an apprenticeship at a well-respected local florist. The skills and knowledge that you will pick up during your time shadowing an experienced florist will provide you with a tantalising taste of what it takes to run a floristry business. The second route is you might take is to take a floristry course at a local community college. Alternatively, you could visit Pearsons Florist for a wide range of specialised courses that will give you a great foundation and a valuable certificate of completion.
Formulate a Business Plan
Going out on your own in any new business always involves a certain degree of risk. One way to minimise this inherent risk is spend considerable time and effort is to put together a watertight business plan. Any comprehensive plan will cover how you envisage the company will be structured, a detailed budget, an initial assessment of the local competition, a well-thought-out marketing strategy, and an overall mission statement that sets out what it is that you want your business to achieve.
The Importance of Location
The importance of choosing the right location at which to set up your shop cannot be stressed enough. Think about renting or buying a property in a strategic spot that is likely to see a high number of passers-by who belong to the demographic that is most likely to want to buy your product. Remember that a majority of people that will end up becoming your customers are likely to be those who are in a rush to buy flowers as a gift for special occasions that may have slipped their minds.
Sourcing Stock
After you have fitted your new shop with a climate control module to keep things cool and dry, you will need to think about placing your first stock order. Making connections and shopping around to find out who has the best product at the best price is key at this stage. Identify potential suppliers and contact them to inform them about your shop and when you plan to open. If you see the potential of a fruitful relationship with a supplier, do not hesitate to propose a partnership with them. If you agree to take a lot of their stock on, you might be offered reductions in price.
Getting Licensed
The final piece of the puzzle is to make sure you have all the correct licences in place. It is important to do your research and check with the relevant authorities to make sure you have the green light to start trading.If you are about to embark on a journey to become the owner of a florist show, we would like to wish you good luck. However, while a small element of luck will be necessary, the success of your business with really comes down to you and the effort and plannin
