Q. Why did you choose floristry as a career?
A: I was very creative at school and planned to study art at A-Level, but this didn’t work out for me. I saw an advertisement for a florist, had an interview and got the job! I was very “in over my head”, no experience, no knowledge and no idea what to expect, but very soon I was excited, keen, and had fallen in love with being creative all over again.
Q: What do your friends and family think?
A: They are very supportive; they could see that this was the perfect opportunity for me and an excellent industry to start a career in.
Q: What’s the best bit about your chosen career?
A: Working in the shop full-time allows me to build relationships with the customers, learning how to navigate interactions when they are upset or emotional such as when ordering funeral flowers for example. I’m learning about different flowers and how to make and execute bespoke pieces. Being able to create these tributes for people going through difficult times is very rewarding. I love having creative freedom when making products up and taking part in new projects.
Q: Have you any regrets about your choice?
A: None at all. I’m happy and I enjoy what I do; learning, creating and expanding my skills.
Q: Where do you hope to be in the future?
A: I would like to own my own shop. My boss (and teacher), Nicola, is a huge inspiration to me, showing me what it’s like to run a business. She’s taught me everything I know so far.
Q: What advice would you give to anyone thinking about taking up floristry?
A: Every day is different and that’s what makes it interesting. Being a florist means you need to know and understand what the customer needs, every product made is unique and important.
Q: What would you like to tell the world about floristry?
A: It’s also not as easy as it looks. It can get very stressful during peak times and it can get very cold in winter! Also, you’re on your feet all day.
Floristry is a huge industry and it’s important to encourage people to support these businesses and for us as florists to take pride in the work we do for our customers. Being a florist is more than just selling flowers, it’s creating beautiful gifts, bringing happiness to those going through difficult times, providing exceptional service and understanding the effort required to design, develop, and produce exceptional products.
