Florist News

Hey steven
The reason I believe in getting the qualifications is that if you leave a job you have got more than just a reference to say you can do that job. But there are florists out there who have done the training and been doing it for years but still chuck out crap work. The biggest form of advertising is word of mouth, if you do a good job and people are happy with it they will come back!! As I said earlier I aint no florist and dont want to be, but I recently contacted jake about his wonderful leaf weaving as i want to learn how to do it and supply the florists wonderful greenery to work with. You are right to follow your dreams and I wish you all the luck in the world.

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Julie

wow thanks for that sound advice, and it is true everything you say amanda, and jlandon you are right, we had a phone call today from a customer of the massive funeral that we supplied 4 arrangements for last week (all wreaths nothing big)whilst there were tons of tributes and i mean tons, anyway on the phone she told me that everyone commented on our pieces for the fact that they were so lovely anyway she finished the conversation by telling me that from now on her whole family were going to use us. i was both flattered and humbled, we are yet to see if her family use us but even to take the time to call meant that she had been thinking about us, just goes to show that we can make a good impression.

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lots of lottery wins!!!!!

I think the reason they get away with it so much is because it's just pretty flowers. alot of people just wont notice the shabby work, to the untrained eye it's just flowers. it's because we are looking for "that shape" or "that form" i was shown always work in 3's and 5's so when i see a basket arrangement with 4 i always think it looks odd.
The woman who owns the shop I work in has no training whatso ever and for years has talked people into b/qs. and her baskets are awful. she cant handtie and cant so a front facing arrangement or even buttonholes. To say her skills are limited is an understatement. Can't fault the quality of the stock as it's top notch and shes a really nice lady but when i see some of the things she does it kinda turns my tummy abit.
So you can imagine what its like for me, i'm 26 teaching this 57 year old woman who has had this shop for 30 years my way of doing. and now she freaks out if someone comes in and asks for something when i'm not there.
And people come into the shop and comment on how nice her new trainee is!!!

and on another note, i had a woman come in the other day with a basket from another florist along from us and she paid £35 for it and was very upset as it looked tiny, there was no more than £15 in it. and the woman didnt want to embarrass herself by giving it to her inlaws. she left our shop very happy. That makes me smile.

OK...I dont know anything about UK prices BUT....15 pounds flowers, 10 pounds basket, 10 pounds labour and sundries. Sounds to me like they undercharged.

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Send Flowers Rockingham
Rockingham Florist flowers delivered www.hangingbasketflorist.com.au

i mean i wouldnt of charged any more than £15 for it. it was very very small

Oops

well, carry on then, as you were, nothing to see here.

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Send Flowers Rockingham
Rockingham Florist flowers delivered www.hangingbasketflorist.com.au

and where on earth does a basket cost 10 bucks

I think Steve you are on great area, where haven't lots of great qualifild florists.
In my town run florist courses and Northampton/ Moulton college great
Lots of great florist round and this is push up standards.
I born in flower shop, finished holticulturist uni, worked in greenhouses since I am 10 years old ( family business) rum my shops, make level 3 in UK, work 2 years in flower shop ( after didn't touch flowers for another 2 years ) and I opened my own since 1.5 years.
You have to be proud, but you have to learn always.
How more you know than you can realise what you did not know yet.
Good luck with your shop

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Flowers in Style

www.flowersinstyle.co.uk

I think whilst we all go on about"proper" florists we should remember there are a terrible lot of people with a qualification to their name (hence they are by right a "proper" florist) who would be hard pressed to do a flat pack. I just wish colleges were more fussy.

I can remember getting into a steaming row with one of my tutors because in my first year I produced an assignment which I was very unhappy with - I certainly would not have passed it but assumed I would fail so could do it again. They only passed the thing an I accused them of a "sympathy" pass - I mean I was ill and it was really horrible - all over the place.

If tutors are doing this and not demanding the best work to prepare florists, then crap will undoubtedly abound. JMO

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If we had been meant to eat all our greens all our teeth would have been in the front