Florist News

Yes Charlies flowers is now closed, he opened up just after Claire's florist shut up shop in Easter Road. Vista Print be careful with sizes they made a mistake with mine that could not be rectified. Had other stuff from them with no problems. Lots of hotels up here buy their own flowers cutting costs although in Edinburgh you will have a better chance so many of them. Yes am a member of F2F. Look for special offers with printers if you have a small place local they may do a deal for you. Could you not do your leaflet on glossy paper gives it a more professional look, although by the time you buy the paper set it up hundreds of times till you get it right (I speak frome experience) it works out cheaper going to printer. lol

god i'm so glad this thread has been started - i'm in the 'burgh area too and thinking about going solo except am terrified about the ifs and buts, so good to hear logical (and practical) advice. Plus tis great to have more buddies from this end of the country!!

I have always wondered How do you girls that work from home work out what to buy? Do you wait until you have orders and then buy? i am assuming you don't have passing trade as we do in the shop, which enables us to sell off anything left over.

I started off at home and it was a mare! I only bought in for pre orders and as you know with a shop, most want same day! I really specialised in weddings though which was ok but i did work pretty much full time anyway to pay the bills. Not dissing what anyones doing but that was my experience. Having the shop now has been like a second mortgage but its working, so all good really!

Mmmm tried it and its not for me - thats why I'm looking for premises - ready for next stage and ultimately my dream. Think carefully.
1. Are you happy working on your own?
2. Generally you always end up over buying, do you give all your profits away and make a bigger BQ or always have a 'lovely' vase in the hallway at home?
3. Don't expect to pay the mortgage.
4. Harder to keep up with current trends as your not in shop enviroment and working with creative people.
5. Pay your business rates or some other florist will get wind of what youre up to and report you.
Sorry to sound negative but just my findings.

For me at the moment I see the stuff left over as investment and I practise! Had an internet order last week which left me with enough over to do 2 more arrangements. Am not aggressively promoting myself - just website for awareness. I've got a small 'contract' with a local hairdresser which for me its more important to say I've got a client - I don't do stuff every week as its not viable at the moment but once back on my course then I will have to be buying materials most weeks anyway - so can use some of this for her! What I should do is try and get other local work but don't want to over commit as still have a day job to do. When I get level2 (next June) then it'll be a different story and will have to be more cost conscious - although the real plan is for a shop.

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www.treesfloraldesign.co.uk

All I can say is keep plodding. The best thing I found was to work with the local council - I am actually in a regeneration area but the type of work I am concentrating on is not totally reliant on footfall so the low rent was great for me. Councils are actually quite helpful - you need to contact the Democratic and Legal Services Department.

Good luck.