What to look for when employing a Florist - Top Tips

Are you thinking of employing a florist for your flower shop??

Here are some Tips for employing Flower Shop Staff

Personality - Florists are dealing with people in all different emotional states and it is important that a florist is professional whilst having empathy and a sense of understanding

Cop On ! - Florists need to be able to work on their own initiative, if the floor is covered in leaves, clean it up, if the buckets need to be filled, fill them.  There may be lots of times in a flower shop where there are no customers coming in a it seems very quiet, but there is always something to do

Experience - If you looking to employ a florist on a long term basis you may be happy for them not to have too much experience so you can pay a lower rate of pay and let them build up their experience over time, however if you are looking for a florist to step in and cover while you go on holidays or at busy times, experience is vital. - always contact previous employers or check references

Freelance Florists - Does your florist work form home?  It is important to draw up policy's and procedures regarding this so that it is clear from the start what you are happy to accept.  Always be aware they may take work from your business.

Driving Licence - A florist with a full clean driving licence can be an asset for making deliveries or collecting flowers from suppliers at busy times.

Floristry Skills - Skill test them at interviews and ask to see a portfolio of their previous work

Working relationships - when working in a small business it can be hard to keep your relationship strictly professional but remember there has to be only one boss - don't cross the line

Job Description - from day one make sure the employee is very aware of their job description and what is expected of them.  Don't leave the door open for "that's not my job"  include - Cleaning, Buying, Selling  Opening, Closing, display, upkeep of plants, bleaching buckets, making displays, preparation like bows, cellos, boxes etc ect etc…..

Trial - Always take staff on a trial basis (1-6 months)

Do not employ a Local Florist as they may take work from the shop

Wishing you the very best of luck with your Flower Business

www.kaysschool.com 

Commercial Flower Arranging & Floristry Training for Beginners & Advanced Students

Bridal Brooch Bouquet Designers and Trainers 

DIY Distant Learning Bridal Brooch Bouquet Kits Available Here 

Country Flower Baskets designed on our Commercial Flower Arranging Course

A recent Flower Arranging Course saw our students design these country baskets.. We have seen Baskets of flower become more and more popular, they seem to disappear for a while over the past 10 years, but they are back and we love them 

As florists they are a great alternative to bouquet of flowers and for the customer they have a prearranged basket ready to display immediately.

For information on any of our Commercial & Hobby Flower arranging Courses, just drop us an email to info@kaysschool/com or visit the website of Kay's Flower School 

Would you like to become a Wedding Florist ?

We were delighted to see our returning students arrive for their Beginners Bridal Course recently, some of them already had weddings booked in in the coming months.  
We also had a couple of new students who had not being to our Flower School before and it didnt take them long to fit in. 

Beginners Bridal Floristry

Day 1 was a busy start to the course with the students making 2 different styles in Hand Tied Bridal Bouquets.  One being of Beautiful White Avalanche Roses and the other of Mixed Bridal Flowers in shades of pink.  Sweet Avalanche, large & baby carnations, hyperican berry, spray roses, wax flower & cymbidium,  Germini, Dianthus, Pink Gyp, Pittisporum & Eucalyptus.

What would be your favorite if you had to choose?

Day 2 saw the students learning wiring and taping techniques and putting together bridal buttonholes, corsages, and flower girls wands.  Although the did initially find the wiring and taping difficult, it wasn't long until they had mastered the floristry techniques. 

Day 3 is probably one of the most difficult days as this is where true floristry skills is put to the test.  The students initially begin by creating an all wired posie bouquet then go on to turn it into a teardrop bridal bouquet. ( teardrop/ shower  bouquets are becoming more and more popular again ) 

Day 4 

Our students now learn how to create all the accessories that complete a wedding order.

Flower Girls Hoops, Flower Girls Pomanders, Flower Girls Baskets, Peace Roses, and they also design their own Contemporary Bridal Bouquet. 

On completing our Beginners Bridal Course most of our Students wishing to specialise in wedding and Bridal Floristry will go on to do our Advanced Bridal Floristry and Church Flower Design Course.  

Beginners Commercial Flower Arranging Course

Day 1 & 2 of our Beginners Commercial Flower Arranging Course saw a brand new bunch of students arrive to Kay's School to begin their new venture onto the world of floristry. 

We have a full course of ladies this time with no Men to grace our presence but we do a have one of the largest array of nationalities to date. 

We were delighted to welcome Erica from Lithuania living in Dublin, Justyna from Poland living in Balbriggan, Timea from Slovakia  living in Kilkenny, Elvyra from Lithuania living in Waterford and Silva from Germany.  We also welcomed Bernadette from Dublin, Caroline from Limerick, Muireann from Carlow  & Kim & Hazel from Dublin. 

Within hours some of the students had swapped phone numbers and were organising lifts and those staying in the Hilton organising to meet fro dinner.  It amazes us how quickly a group of strangers bond in a matter of hours. 

Below is just some of the designs the ladies designed over the first 2 days of their course. 

For more information about our commercial Flower Arranging Courses or any of our Floristry Courses see www.kaysschool.com