Hi Elaine,
How I empathise with you, when my best florist left last year to move up north I was devastated and had a nightmare trying to replace her. I ended up taking on a lady going into her 2nd year, her portfolio was great and she did a really good interview, though she had never worked in a shop she seemed an ideal candidate to train up - hmm how wrong can you be. Her work can be good but she is really slow and her customer skills are terrible and despite intensive training with her I feel I'm getting nowhere. Christmas and Valentines was a nightmare with her, she completely panicked over everything, I kept her at the back of the shop with easy orders to do but even doing a simple gift wrap she lost it. She has definately cost me money because others have had to stay late to complete the orders she couldn't do. I now have the dubious task of sitting her down and telling her that she will make a great flower arranger but never a florist and thats going to be tough because despite everything she's a lovely lady. The only thing thats kept me sane is that my lovely gal that went up north is back - albeit on a semi temporary basis but I will endeavour to keep her even if it means stapling her feet to the floor Moral of the story however desperate you are be very, very careful. I hope you find someone soon.

Breezy