A florist is the person who sells and arranges cut flowers in a flower shop. If you love the smells of fresh flowers and making flower arrangements, opening a flower shop may be the business for you. This is a tough business and the key to success is whether you can lock in the funeral homes and wedding venues for consistent sales. Ideally your shop should be in a physical high-traffic area, as well as having a strong online presence with your own website. Online sales of flowers may increase with customers doing more of their shopping over the internet. Many flower sales are due to impulse purchases and a good location will increase the opportunities to capitalise from these purchases.
You will need to have some knowledge in how to arrange flowers, good communication skills with your customers and suppliers, an eye for colour matching and some knowledge of how to care for flowers and other plants. Sources for flowers may be from local flower farms, wholesalers, or flower auctions. Before starting this business, it is advisable to work as a volunteer or paid assistant in a flower shop just to make sure that this is what you want to do.
Not much capital is required to start a flower shop either in a shop or even at home. What is necessary is an area to store the flowers which must be very cool, preferably a refrigerated cooler room. Flowers wilt and die easily so you need to be extra-careful when ordering and taking orders. Accessories you will need are a selection of vases, tables on which to work the arrangements, pruning scissors, ribbons and wrapping papers. A vehicle is necessary for deliveries or a delivery service can be used.
Requirements
- Start-up Capital: $100
- Space required: Tables to work on and a cool storage area
- Equipment: Vases, pruning scissors and packaging materials
- Specific skills: Nil – just a love for flowers
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