Floristry 28

The florist may work in one of several sectors but often they are self-employed and work on commissioned projects or in the retail sector. As such they need to have business acumen and excellent interpersonal skills when dealing with clients. Excellent levels of customer care and sales skills are crucial. As themed floral works are often commissioned for important life events such as weddings, the florist must have perception and be able to offer appropriate expert advice to the client whilst interpreting the vision for the finished project.

Flowers and other botanical materials are delicate, easily damaged or spoilt and have a limited storage life. As such the florist must be respectful of the raw materials with which they work and apply extensive knowledge of effective sourcing, purchasing and storage of all botanical materials.

Design of a floral work, whether it is a small bouquet or a large installation for a major event, requires the florist to be innovative, creative and to demonstrate artistic and design talent that incorporates aesthetics and practicalities. The florist must apply the rules and theory of composition, colour and technique as valid by the floristry trade worldwide, and show clear ideas (principles and elements of floral design) in his/her works.

The florist will use their expertise and knowledge of flowers, plants, botanical materials and accessories to produce floral works. There is a wide scope of practice in industry. Some florists will work in retail outlets and prepare bouquets and arrangements speculatively for sale and must therefore be keenly aware of their market. At the other end of the professional spectrum, a florist may be commissioned to provide floral displays for major high profile international events that require interpreting a theme and working effectively with a large team and other professionals in a high pressure situation with tight time limitations.

Required skills

Be creative, artistic, innovative and resourceful
Show initiative
Be responsive and flexible to changing circumstances
Have technical expertise
Maintain continuous professional development in order to be aware of current trends, new ideas and styles and new materials
Demonstrate a willingness to try new methods and embrace change
Plan and organize work effectively to make best use of available resources
Work within health and safety regulations and practice
Work under time pressures and meet deadlines and targets
Work effectively on own initiative and demonstrate a high degree of autonomy in working methods
Work cleanly and methodically
Work effectively according to the situation
IT literate to conduct on-line business activities
Be able to translate the language of flowers to communicate feelings or atmosphere

Career info

Floristry requires both creative and business skills including, materials aesthetics, selection and sustainability, and client communication and relationship building.

Flowers and other botanical materials are delicate, easily damaged or spoilt, often scarce, and have a limited storage life. As such the florist must be respectful of the nature as well as beauty of the raw materials with which they work, and apply extensive knowledge of effective sourcing, purchasing and storage of all botanical materials.

Whether it is a small bouquet or a themed installation for a large event, the florist must be innovative, market and client-savvy, creative, business like, cost conscious, and practical. Respect for the uniqueness, beauty and sustainability of materials will be uppermost in the mind of an expert florist as they bring to life something that we recognize as “simply beautiful!”

At the Competition

The Competitor is judged on:

Flowers and botanical material
The tools and equipment that are used in floristry
The theory of composition, colour, design and technique
How to interpret a brief
Apply design principles

The Competitor will be judged on their ability to:

Select botanical materials, containers, technical aids/materials and decorative accessories for the planned design to comply with the room, the person, the wedding or the funeral, etc.
Create a room decoration using suitable techniques such or combinations of techniques
Condition and prepare the botanical materials for the design
Create a shop design using botanical materials, interior furniture, stands, displays, vases, containers and accessories
Design and prepare the full range of floral works used at a wedding including large and complex displays appropriate for a wedding
Apply appropriate health and safety when working with plant displays