Any Florists out there with advice?

I graduated from university this past august, and am already tired of corporate america. I've thought for a while that I would enjoy working in a flower shop, but am not sure how to pursue a job with a florist. By that I mean learning to be one myself, not just ringing up the flowers. My qualifications don't line up at all, yet... (I had a roommate whose mother worked in a florist's shop so I'm not ENTIRELY naive about the demands of wedding season and its brides, or the finger toughness necessary to wire countless roses) -- any tips/suggestions on how to approach so drastic a career change?

Any Florists out there with advice?
Before you go to any flower shop for a job, ask your self a few questions. Are you good under stress, Can you work very long hours for no pay, are you willing to work every holiday and what do you really expect from your training, if you don't know what to expect, then what are you goals and dreams for 5 years down the road.


The Flower business is one of the hardest businesses to be in. Orders come in last minute and everything has to be made last minute. Your dealing with a perishable product and the shop that you work for will probably be turning over it’s complete stock every two to 3 days. You will work late on Friday nights to prep/finish for Saturday wedding, you will work late on Saturday to prep/finish Sundays wedding. On a normal Friday, you will work 9am to 9pm and Saturday 8am to 7pm. If there are wedding(s) during a florist holiday, i.e. Mother’s day or Valentine’s Day you will work until 1am, Owners will work even later. You will be on your feet all day, In busy shops there are no chairs, chairs cut down on the amount of work you can do and how fast you can do it. Time is Money.


You will work Mother’s day, Thanksgiving Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and some florist work Christmas Day. Don’t ask off any days during those weeks because they will just fire you and hire the next person that will work.


A normal workweek for employee is 40 hours, but at times of the year 50-60 hours happen. Owner will work 60-70 hours. No Benefits.


Sorry I do not want to scare you, it’s just the way it is.


Before you go for your first florist job, you will want to go to a high volume shop that the owners are florist and that are there on a day to day basis. This is how you will get the best training. Most better flower shops are Family owned, the family will train you and treat you like family, especially after you become good, but then they will expect you to show up or stay when someone calls out, just like family. I would stay away from very large florist or florist with absentee owner, they have managers that will not train you well.


I prefer the applicants that apply to my shop to look presentable, but not so dressed that I feel that you do not want to get dirty, you will get dirty. No long nails, you cannot tie balloons with long nails. Be honest, tell them you want to be a florist and that your willing to work when needed but you need training. Don’t bring a Resume, There is no other job like a florist, so you are just wasting my time to read it, and it maybe held against you if you have had many jobs. Florists are looking for Reliability, That you show up all the time, on time and that you are going to work for them forever. Training if you went to school to be a florist is about $2000. I feel it takes 3 years of working in a florist before your any good. Some florist will train you in exchange for not paying you. I always felt this is the wrong message. Do not work without being paid, you should be paid something even if it is only $7-8 per hour.


Is there any upside of being a florist? Yes, People share with you the special moment of their life; Births, Birthdays, anniversaries and the pain of losses. Regular customers will ask for and about you by name. You will become part of a larger family in a sense. Everyday it’s different and for the most part happy.