It’s Not Difficult To Be A Florist 

Deciding to pursue a floral career might just be the best decision you’ll make in your life, especially since the flower industry can be really rewarding, both literally and figuratively. How easy or hard is it to start a floristry career?

What Exactly is a Florist?

What Exactly is a Florist?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, florists, also referred to as floral designers, have the primary duties of arranging fresh, dried, and silk flowers along with greeneries to make stunning bouquets and ornamental displays. Also, they frequently work in retail establishments like grocery stores and floral shops and some may also have their own floral stores.

Other responsibilities of a florist include recommending floral combinations to clients, growing flowers, and mixing flower solutions, among others. That’s basically everything that has something to do with flowers, especially floral arrangements.

Steps to Become a Florist

Now that you know what florists are and what they do, it’s time to know how exactly you can become one.

Below are the five easy steps to becoming a florist:

Get Yourself a Highschool Diploma 

Even though you don’t need a college degree or a Ph.D., you still need to complete your high school education or a General Education Development (GED). A diploma will help you get hired in flower businesses and equip you with the rudimentary knowledge and skills that will surely prove helpful in floristry.

My suggestion is that while in school, you can consider taking up some courses in art and biology. This is because both of these courses will help you with the skills and knowledge that will come in handy when you start growing flowers and designing bouquets.

Acquire Some Florist Skills 

Acquire Some Florist Skills 

You also need to acquire a specific set of skills for floristry. For instance, you need skills in artistry or design because these will help you greatly in arranging flowers. Aside from that, you also need skills in communication and customer service. Becoming a florist entails providing excellent service and talking to customers. Also, you need skills in time management because florist work does take a lot of time, so you should be able to manage your time efficiently.

Develop Your Niche or Style 

Yes, you also need to make sure that you have come up with a style of your own, especially if you want to start a brand or floral business. Having a distinct style will help you a lot in the flower industry. For instance, when applying for a job, having a specialty of your own can increase your chances of getting hired. And when it comes to your brand, having your floral niche can help you stand out from the rest of your competitors.

Gain Some Experience 

Gain Some Experience 

After you’ve settled on your education, skills, and personal style, your next step will be to gain some experience. This includes practicing on your own, working at local flower shops and grocery stores, and working as an apprentice for a mentor. Every flower designing opportunity that comes your way will guarantee you to learn and gain valuable experience, so you should take it.

Complete Any Formal Training 

Lastly, you need to complete any formal florist training. This is to make sure that you’re well-equipped to work as one and can also help you gain more credibility. For instance, you can take a special program from the American Institute of Floral Designers that can help you become an internationally recognized Certified Floral Designer, which, I think, can help you a lot in your floristry journey.

Conclusion

It’s quite easy to become a florist or a floral designer, especially since it doesn’t require you to have a college degree or a Ph.D. To be more specific, you only need the following to become a florist: 1) a high school diploma or a General Education Development degree, both of which can help you get hired; 2) skills related to floristry, such as design, communication, and customer service; 3) a niche or style of your own; 4) floral work experience, such as working for a mentor; and 5) formal training, ideally one from the American Institute of Floral Designers.

To learn more on how to start your own flower shop business check out my startup documents here.

Please note that the contents of this blog are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Any action taken based on the information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk. Additionally, all images used in this blog are generated under the CC0 license of Creative Commons, which means they are free to use for any purpose without attribution.