Tips for florists starting out

I can’t quite fathom it, but I have been a florist for 10 years and owned a floristry business for 8. I still have a lot to learn, but here are a few pieces of advice that I hope are helpful if you are starting out.

When and where you can get as much varied freelance work as possible.

Freelancing is the best way to learn everything there is to know about floristry. I love freelancing; I still do it now to learn new skills, make money, and to complain about niche things only other florists can relate to, such as how to look socially acceptable for a wedding you are attending and also doing the flowers for.

If you can get some work in the holy trinity of shop work, flower farm work, and wedding work, this is going to stand you in good stead. Each teaches you such different skills, and to have the speed of a shop florist, with the knowledge of florals of a grower backed with the logistics and planning of an event florist, you will be unstoppable.

Flowers at Elmore Court

 Don't make your flower arrangements too complicated 

I think when you first start out as a florist, it's very easy to get overexcited about all the beautiful flowers on offer because, let's face it, they are the best. 

However, in my humble opinion, this does not always lead to the best designs. Too many varieties of flowers and foliage can end up looking busy and can cost you a lot—you don’t need a Craspedia in everything just because they are cool and cheap.

Consider what you are making; think about what flowers are going to be easy to work with in this design and what flowers complement each other.

I work with a method when picking flowers based on shape, tone, and texture. Shape - what shape do you want to create? Pick foliage and florals that complement that. Tone - what colors are in your palette? Have you got a good ratio? Are they conveying the mood? And finally, Texture - have you got enough textures? Or is your design looking flat? I could talk about this till the cows come home, but I will leave it there in case no one reads this. 

Flowers at Elmore Court

Be wary of floral trends. 

Floral trends—you have got to get down with them; otherwise, no one will hire you. But also, don’t let them become your identity and bankrupt you, particularly when it comes to vases/containers. I would imagine if you are starting out in floristry, you have limited space and funds, and you need to be selective about what you buy. When I first started out in floristry, my dad said to me, ‘Storage is money, Flicky,’ and I thought, ‘What a boring thing to say to me as I start out on this exciting endeavor,’ but every time I move around my rose gold urns in my studio (remember when everything was rose gold?), which I can count on one hand the number of times I have used, I think of him.

Be selective about what you buy and focus on your personal floral style rather than what is trending. Trends will come and go (pampas grass and eucalyptus, sprayed gold pineapples, birdcages, to name a few). Take the bits that work with your design and leave what doesn’t.

Flowers at Elmore Court

Food prep

This is really boring advice, but it's true. Floristry involves long, physical days, and it's very easy to end up spending a lot of money on food. I dread to think how much money I have spent on the M4 and M5 services; coffee alone could probably buy me a small boat or a very expensive pedigree dog. 

My first accountant gave me this advice, and so I’m giving it to you: whenever you can, make all your food at home; it's cheaper, healthier, and more delicious. Don’t spend all your hard-earned cash on WH Smith's meal deals. 

Flowers at Elmore Court

Books

Books, remember them? Instagram and Pinterest are great for floristry, essential really if you want to run a floristry business, but they can also make you feel like pants. Having some floristry books when you are starting out as a florist is a really inspiring and grounding way to develop your craft. 

A few below which I love and use still: 

‘The Flower Recipe Book’ by Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo of Studio Choo. I got recommended this book when I did a course at Tallulah Flower School. It's a great book breaking down flower recipes and getting you familiar with different flowers.

‘Flower Color Theory’ by Darroch and Michael Putnam. If you struggle with color palettes, this book breaks them down really easily, and I often lean on it when I can’t get a palette to work.

‘Braiding Sweetgrass’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Technically not a floristry book, but a beautiful book about nature.

‘Flower: Exploring the World in Bloom’ by Phaidon. A bit of a splurge, but a really inspiring book full of artworks featuring florals.

And I would also recommend buying the books of your favourite florists. 

Flowers at Elmore Court

Finally, you can probably do it, so say yes. 

No one knew less about weddings than I did when I started a wedding floristry business. I didn’t know what a wedding breakfast was, and my mum had to inform me that you don’t get given the wedding rings by the nice people who are marrying you. You have to buy them. 

So if I can do it, anyone can! Say yes to the jobs and the opportunities; you will figure it out and learn on the job.

Everyone has to start somewhere, so give it a go! You know more than you think, and what you don’t know, you will pick up! 

Floristry is a beautiful job and worth the work so keep going!