Florist News

Hi there,

I've just joined the forum and am looking for some advice about career changes! I'm thinking about going into floristry - I haven't even done any courses but I love flowers and I really want to do something creative. I've looked into courses and it seems the City and Guilds Level 2 course would be a good option, but can anyone give me any advice about what a career in floristry is like? Is it difficult to be a successful florist? Any advice would be very welcome!

Thanks

As long as you don't mind very long hours, a thankless job, and next to no pay then go for it!!

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FAUN TO BE WILD...!!!

and arthritus, bad back and cold feet

ooohh yeah...forgot about those!!

On another note, I think (correct me if I'm wrong tho anyone), you have to take the city and guilds level 1 first before the level 2...

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FAUN TO BE WILD...!!!

Its also not a place for looking glam/you dont see many eskimo's on the catwalk....its just a fact of floristry that us workers look, well at best,a bit neglected...if you've got long nails and immaculate hands and are into showing tons of flesh(save that for the weekends)try hair n beauty.
But it does have many good points i'm just soooo knacked i can't think of em at the mo.....oh yes and the moment i go into even the slightest hint of warm after freezing all day at the shop,my face glows bright red(burn'ey hot)for ages...

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seldom rong!!!!

Be prepared to give up your life as you know it to spend lots of time washing buckets, sweeping floors, conditioning flowers and realise it ain't all about 'playing' with flowers. Get yourself into a good college and try and get some work experience. If you post in a years time and say you are loving it then you might make a good florist - being a successful florist is a whole other ball game. Good luck with whatever you decide

You won't regret it if you do decide to become a florist - despite the long hours, complete lack of fingernails, the occasional case of chilblains and hypothermia there's really no better job in the worl!

ok, we prat around playing with flowers all day, looking prety and we all have pots of money.thats the genral we get from customers. ye in your dreams.....

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Thanks to everyone who has replied so far - I wasn't expecting all the responses to be positive, but I thought there might be a bit more enthusiasm!

Surely there must be good things about working in floristry, or do you all hate your jobs just like everyone else?! I hope I'm being realistic about a career change and I do want to think about all the things it might not be ('pratting around with flowers all day' may not be the reality, but I'd think better than sitting in front of a computer all day??)

Hi Ali,

am in the process of a career change to Floristry!

For me its a long process, I'm still in a job which I love (most of the time!) so didn't want to jump straight into a trainee job in a shop. I decided to get some qualifications (C+G 1 now halfway through level 2) and do additional non certificated courses (wedding work etc). 2 yrs down the line from deciding, I still want (and plan) to switch; but think it is so important to get some experience in a florists - have done a little bit - mainly conditioning, sweeping, wrapping, writing order cards to support a friend who's shop was busy at Christmas time.

Read the threads on here - because the guys on here will give you an insight as to what its like. If you're creative, I'm sure you'll take to it but don't have any illusions that its going to make you millions. I've done some freelance work - 3 x weddings and loved every minute of it so far but I can see the negatives as well as the positives and I still want to do it.

And if when the time comes once you're studying, only take on work that you know that you can deliver professionally (once people know you're learning floristry, you'll get asked to do work). There's a lot of people who have done a few lessons and then turned out shabby, substandard work when been approached to do a real job e.g. wedding for someone.

Be warned, its gonna cost you to learn - I am buying flowers all the time to practice - even if there isn't a class, I see it as an investment in my future. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Out of interest, what are you doing at the moment? How old are you?

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www.treesfloraldesign.co.uk