Florist News

Hi Everyone

My name is Kelly, I am 29, and have a passion for flowers. At 29, I have only just realised that I chose the wrong degree & career and am looking to begin a floristy course ASAP (not sure if this is a little late in life though )

I would appreciate any advice from people as to what sort of course to look at. I currently run my own business, but this is nothing to do with floristry, so I am starting from scratch really.

I have long held a passion for flowers and have provided flowers for 5 weddings (friends) this year alone, through my own contact and design skills, however I am aware that I would need a qualification on paper to go any further.

This will be a long road, but I know it is what I want to do.

I am based in the Midlands, so if anyone has any ideas, please post them. I would eventually like my own shop/design business.

Thanks

Hi there Kelly.

first of all welcome to the gang.

I can't help regarding which courses to look at because i'm just a simple wholesaler that has no feeling for design or colours at all.

On the other hand, being 29 probably has more advantages than disadvantages in this trade, and having already had your own business will definitely give you a good headstart if you plan to start up on your own when you are more established.

Hopefully a few members out there can give you some useful tips & ideas on what steps to take next.

Good luck, & chat soon

Paul.

Hi Kelly, don't dispair,you are never too old to do what you would like in life. Find your nearest college and start with a basic floristry course. Then if I were you, and if you can afford it, go to a local florist and offer to maybe work Saturdays for free to gain experience. Personally if I have a choice, I would rather employ a florist with shop experience, than a girl who has spent years at college,bless her but has no speed. If you turn out to be an asset to the shop,I bet you will be offered a job!! Please be aware though, good florists are worth their weight in gold, but the profession is one of the worst paid. Good luck, keep in touch and let me know how you get on.
.

Hi Kelly,

I too have chosen a new career path and I'm a bit older than you! I have recently started a floristry Diploma where I live in Dorset. I am originally from the MIdlands though. I think there are quite a few colleges up there that offer floristry courses. I found when I searched that there were many courses on offer, but you have to make sure they are accredited, (otherwise your certificate wont be worth much). I talked to Lantra and they told me the same. There's lots of different courses out there. I just did a search on the internet and looked at the ones that offered the shortest path. Two days a week for a year, with work experience to run alongside. I really enjoy it. Good luck with your search. I hope you find a course you like. If you do it quickly you may be able to join a new course as they started around the beginning of September. All the best.


Kat

Hi Kat

When you say accredited do you mean an official qualification such as City and Guilds, or do you mean that the course needs to be accredited by a particular association, if so, could you tell me which to look out for?

Thanks.

HI Kelly

yes C&G or Edexcel etc. Usually, the course you are looking at should list the exact accreditation base. If not, then I would ring them to check. Anything by the Usual UK associations RHS etc., although a lot of those seem to be advanced courses. I'd start off looking at C&G, younger ppl tend to go for NVQ, but I chose Edexcel. Hope this helps. Let me know how you get on.

TTFN

Kat

Hi,
Just joined the site today and finding it very informative.
I am 42 yrs old female 'today' and am in my 2nd year of the NCF @ Writtle college and enjoying it very much.
Decided to get into Floristry after completing the Taster Course at the college and loved it and have only recently managed to find myself a lovely person who has kindly agreed to my joining her a couple of times a week in the shop as a trainee for additional experiences.
Am hopeing to in the 'future' to combine it with my balloon decoration business and eventually open up my own shop once my children are older.

After Christmas I am looking at joining a floral relay company to work from home so any advice on companies combined with their pro's & cons would be very much appreciated.

Regards,
Michelle x

Hello, I just opened a shop and I am looking for some advice on getting corporate accounts. I am in Brookline MA. Boston is an easy way to remember the location. Any information would be very wonderful.

Hi there Magic,

welcome to the forum.

If you post in the Sales & Marketing section, hopefully you should get a bit of feedback.

Unfortunately I am in the export business, so I can't help, but i'm sure a few of our lovely ladies out there will be able to point you in the right direction.

Paul

Hello

My name is Jo. I live in the East of England, not born here, but came here to college and never went away!!!I'll soon be the Big 4-0! Having a career change after my kids and have just started on a City and Guilds Floristry course, so will be on here picking your brains and asking for advice.