Florist News

Have been interviewing for staff today, whittled down to two, 1 ladies at college, and other has helped out in another shop for the last year, not interested in going to college, wants to learn at the bench.Both really nice, both done me a handtied, and arrangement, must admit lady whos helped out in another shop her handtied was lovely, college girls line arr (didnt ask for line just said arrangement) as lines were hardly ever asked for,didnt like very much, but i dislike them full stop anyway.the bottom line is who shall i give part-time to, very apprehensive on college girl case she nicks all my ideas and opens round corner next year, or the bubbly girl who wants another job to earn extra money, but has no qualifications,( i havent )and i learnt at the bench i know it was years ago, but do florists need al thease nvqs whatever there called??

tricky one lavendersblue. i am honestly of the opinion that you can go to college for years and still be a crap florist. some people can just 'do' flowers without any formal training because they have it in them, others try but will always come up short even with training. all you can do is go with gut instinct. the bench girl will probably be happy to make up and send out whatever you want her to where the training girl might want to put her own stamp on things which you might not like, seen this happen where i worked before, untrained but brilliant florist knew exactly what the owner wanted sent out and did just that, trained florist wanted to send out what she thought the shop was all about and ended up leaving because she was frustrated and wanted to do her own thing.

good luck with it, it will come down to how much time you have to train this 'bench' girl up. at least she will be trained the way you want.

__________________

Never say never.

Well, unless your sure.

Thank you louise that was a very good point, ive had work experience girls before 2 months at college and they think they know it all!!(not slating college, please dont be offended)

hi lavendersblue, I think you should go with the bench girl, as I have been a florist for 28 years, and had my own shop for 7 years, and I was bench trained and feel girls today who want to learn from a professional are more loyal to you, I had a girl start in my shop last year, straight from college, she was only with me for 3 months and she left to open her own shop, copied my ideas, and shop looked near enough identical to mine. or you could take both on part time for a trial peroid, cover christmas then decide. but go with your instincts...good luck

I had that done to me as well, so did a friend of mine, but they were only in business less than a year and went bustserves them bloody right!!

I am a student in my second year who has been looking for a job (in Brighton area if anyone interested) with no luck at all. Reading this I am very depressed. When I go into a shop do they automatically assume I am going to nick their ideas and run off to open my own shop?? Everyone says get your training but it could seem that you are a threat to a prospective employer if you do. No wonder I am not getting anywhere which is a shame because I am willing to work my arse off given the oportunity making and doing anything I am told to get in the industry. ????

__________________
Newgirl

Its a proven fact Lav that when interviewing you make your mind up in the first 5 mins and then spend the rest of the time trying to justify that decision. So I think you should go with your gut feeling, after all you have to work with this person in a very close environment so you need to like each other - good luck

I'm starting to wonder if all this training is worth it but in london they seem to want people who are trained

__________________

whatever decision you come to make sure you the new person on a trial basis so you dont get stuck with them if it doesn't work out

__________________
Sarah Creating Bespoke Wedding Flowers Cheshire

Agree with sosas on that one I did train but then I went to leisure classes when youngest started school the owner of the shop offered me a job later in the year she was also one of the tudors at the college so enrolled me stayed with her for 15 odd years until she sold up but the other florist in the shop had no qualifications and was a natural could have made anything also taught me a lot

__________________