Florist News

Hello Everyone.
My name is Jackie and have found your forum very interesting, although I am not a florist.
My daughter who is 18 worked in a florist as a Saturday girl and worked in a florist full time straight from school. She had day release to do an NVQ2 which took two years.
Having worked for 18 months in one florist she left because there wasn't any propects to gain any experience , all they did was make up Interflora bouquets.. quite a lot of funeral work...hardy any wedding work.(only once in a blue moon). The work was traditional and she wanted to have a go at modern work. Anyway she left to start at a new shop that had just opened. She loved working there but the shop is to close down and she was given her cards.
Because she had just moved out she paniced and took an office job. Also because the pay was so low (only ?4.75)an hour she felt she wouldn't be able to live on such a low wage.
What I was wondering was: Is the pay that low for West Sussex (Horsham).
She is bored out of her skull in the office(3 weeks) and I know she would still like to work in floristry if she could get a better paid job... also to be able to find work in the Horsham area. She likes being busy and I think its abit of a shock for the system.
Thanks for taking the time to listen.
Flower Power

The problem is that when you are under 21 people try and get away with paying very low wages even if you have two years experience. But if your daughter is capable of good floristry then she shouldn't let her age get in the way. I found out the hard way (i'm 23 and have worked in floristry for eight years) that if you don't ask for the rate you want to be paid people will take advantage especially if you are young.

She should be able to get paid what she is worth i.e. the correct amount for the skills and experience. I have had to negotiate my salary for all my florist jobs But honestly floristry is not the best paid job, no one does it for the money. (But have a friend in her thirties that has two years experience and hasn't done any wedding work,she is on ?6.50 because she asked for it) It always helps if you have a really good CV stating what you have achieved in each job and any responsibilities etc. also a small portfolio of any really good pieces you've made to show them what you are capable of (you normally have a few pics from college courses)

but definitely go to the interview and ask for what you deserve

p.s. I was paid the same rate your daughter was on six years ago when I had the same experience, so with six years inflation on top.. well it's a big difference

Thanks for your reply.
She has all the photo's from her college work of the pieces she created and some of the wedding work she did so I can get a portfolio put together for her. It has been only one month since she created her current CV so it is as up to date as it can be.
If she gets too bored (looses the will to live) at her current job at least she can ask arround with confidence that she is worth more than she thought.
I really appreciate your helpful comments.
Regards,
Jackie.