So, you want to quit your day job and become a florist?

Here's the scenario...I'm out somewhere making new friends and they find out I'm a florist. Inevitably, the next words that come out of their mouth are, "I've always dreamed about being a florist! That must be so much fun playing with flowers all day!"

Mind you, I do L-O-V-E what I do. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been doing this for so long! But, there are a few misconceptions about this industry. You've got to have tenacity and grit to keep the gracefulness of the beauty you create. If you long to design with flowers on a daily basis and dream of building a flowers business, here are a few things to think about.

Start Small. Working from your home is perfectly fine to start out. Give yourself some space to work from and delve into this business by getting your feet wet! I got my start in my mom's basement as well as working for another floral shop to get an idea of how the business runs. You can't expect to put together a sizeable floral installation on your first wedding. And, if you need help, ASK!

Get to Know Your Product and Get the Education You Need. Take time to get to know your flowers/plants/branches, etc. When you are new to the industry, you have to cultivate the relationships with wholesalers and communicate with them. Look online for how you process certain flowers. (I will curate some processing tips for you in the future. Shoot me your email so you don't miss out!).

Get to Know Your Style. As you get more and more into your design knowledge and work on creating your brand, take time to realize what makes you sing! This, too, doesn't happen overnight. You will evolve, and a design aesthetic will start to emerge. Until then, let your creative juices flow, all the while learning the best practices and mechanics to design.

Get to Know Your Business. I realize that many blogs, books, etc. try to tell you that you need to focus on what you're good at and then hire out for the rest. That is easier said than done! When you are starting out, you can't afford to hire other people to do parts of your business. You have to wear the marketing hat, the accounting hat, the driver hat, etc. You will be on your feet for hours. You will have some late nights just working on an event. It's a lot, but you can do this! It's the drive that keeps you going.

Ask for Help. It's okay to admit you need help! If it weren't for my mom and close friends in those early years, I wouldn't have made it where I am today. I had more help from friends, especially when I needed to set-up weddings and events. And, I had some key people throughout my business life that have provided me with insight, advice and hands-on learning to keep the business going.

A rising tide lifts all boats. ~John F. Kennedy

Need help getting started? I provide coaching to individuals. Let's hop on a call!