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Florist Duties and Responsibilities

Accomplishing their ultimate goal of creating floral arrangements that satisfy customers requires Florists to be well-versed in a variety of areas. From our analysis of job postings, common tasks performed by Florists include:

Serving Customers Whether a husband asks for a single rose for his wife or the organizer of a retirement dinner needs 50 centerpieces, Florists listen to what customers want to buy. They offer advice on matters such as cost, color, care, vases and bloom longevity. Transactions range from simple in-store "cash and carry" purchases to writing out detailed instructions regarding where and when specified floral arrangements need to be delivered for an upcoming event.

Fulfilling Orders Florists handle phone and online requests for both predesigned arrangements and custom orders. They examine what the order calls for and ensure it gets delivered to the proper location at the correct time. If the final product needs to be wrapped or have a note attached, Florists make sure these things are done. Facilities such as banquet halls and hotels may have standing orders that need to be attended to on a consistent basis.

Arranging Flowers The creative aspect of being a Florist is picking and cutting flowers to craft into a display, such as a wedding bouquet or a cross for a funeral casket. Florists aim to produce eye-pleasing arrangements through design, color, blossom choice, varying lengths, filler greenery and embellishments such as lace. They also pay attention to support structures so that arrangements make it to their destination safely and remain beautiful.

Managing Inventory Florists keep tabs on what flowers they have on hand and how long they should remain usable. They also monitor other supplies needed within the shop and order more as necessary.

Promoting the Business Florists may attend bridal expos and other events to showcase their skills and drum up customers.

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Florist Skills

Part designer, part customer service expert, Florists combine their knowledge of flowers with the desires of clients to create beautiful arrangements. Because of the emotion behind many of the purchases, Florists need good interpersonal skills. By communicating clearly and diplomatically, Florists achieve customer satisfaction while dealing with limitations such as budget and flower availability. Other good skills to possess include:
  • Paying attention to detail so that flower arrangements look their best and meet customer expectations
  • Exhibiting dexterity because much of the job involves using one's hands
  • Thinking outside of the box to create unique floral arrangements in line with the occasion and setting
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Florist Education and Training

Most Florists possess a high school diploma (or the equivalent). Some also have taken college courses or earned a postsecondary degree, especially those who want to run their own shop. Extensive on-the-job training is common for people starting out in the floral industry.
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Florist Salary

The median annual salary for Florists, categorized by the BLS under Floral Designers, is $25,850. Florists in the 10th percentile earn about $18,700 a year, and the highest paid make more than $39,100 a year. Florists in the District of Columbia Alaska and Massachusetts make the highest median salaries in the U.S. - $34,240, $33,350 and $32,540, respectively.
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Florist Resources

Ready to learn more about becoming a Florist? We've picked out several organizations and books that can start you on your way:

Society of American Florists - This national trade organization offers a plethora of information, ranging from industry trends to marketing ideas for various occasions. For those interested in education, sections exist on the website covering floral design schools, webinars and expos.

Floral Design Professionals -- A retired

floral designer/teacher created this LinkedIn group as a place for professionals to network. With more than 8,500 members, chances are someone has answers to your career and industry questions.

The Flower Recipe Book by Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo - Wondering what creating beautiful flower arrangements involves? This book by the founders of the trendy San Francisco-based Studio Choo breaks down floral designs like recipes in step-by-step fashion accompanied by stunning photos and useful tips.

FabJob Guide to Become a Florist by Alisa Gordaneer - Whether you want to get hired as a Florist or start your own floral shop, this handy guide has you covered. Readers especially praise the book for its coverage of the business end of the industry, though it also contains info on design, storage and color availability for various flowers.

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