Perhaps you love flowers. You love seeing and being around them all the time. When you are on an occasion or event, you can’t help but appreciate the flower arrangements. You fell in love with how they look and wish you know how they are done. Here are tips on learning how to design flowers and possibly landing into a floral design career or business.
Let’s Hear It From The Experts
For a start, let’s take a look at what professional floral designers and experts in the field say about getting into the business of flowers.
- Learn the ropes of the business. Before starting anything, it’s always a must that you get to know what you’re getting yourself into. It’s a rule of thumb for just about everything.
- Be a great communicator. One of the best ways to succeed in just about anything is to learn how to communicate well. A good relationship with customers and clients and almost anyone starts with knowing the right ways to communicate.
- Be creative and witty. Creativity is what makes you exceptional among your competitors. Wit is what makes you outclass the rest. The combination of the two is how people and businesses will recognize and label you. Let your creativity and wit flow naturally.
- Just go for it. Often, we get bogged down in fear of doing something that we haven’t done before. In all cases, just shake your fear off and go with it. Whatever it is. Normally, if it’s the right thing for you, it will turn out well. If not, then you’ll know it as well. At least, you tried.
- Create visions and goals. Keeping goals in mind and in check will help you succeed. It will also refrain you from doing unnecessary things and help you keep on track.
- Learn from others. You must admit, you don’t know everything and you won’t know everything on your own. Having expert flower designers around  will help you grow in your craft and business.
- Draw and sketch. It’s almost likely that you will get design ideas in your head in a random manner. It’s best to always have a pencil and sketchbook in hand most of the time to quickly draw whatever ideas appear in your head.
- Don’t let your creativity be hindered. One of the main things that can hamper your creativity are rules and other people’s opinions. Sometimes, they really don’t need to be listened to and followed. Your creativity will separate you from others who are doing the same business. Let it show.
- Practice whenever possible. Learning is a never-ending experience. There’s always something new to learn every day and the only way to master them is frequent practice. So, whenever you get the chance to slack, use that time to practice instead.
- Find your niche. Even in arranging flowers, there are different styles. Weddings, birthday parties, corporate events, burials – there are a lot of ways to arrange the flowers. Find the niche that you are most comfortable with – the niche where you can express your creativity better – and focus on it.
- Market your skills. This will decide whether or not you have been successful in the business or not. So learn how to market your skills or seek help from those who have the marketing skills.
The Necessary Education and Training
An education related to flower design is necessary to teach you to become an expert in flowers. It will also prepare you to create common flower arrangements and practice for your future business or career. A right education will establish your taste as a flower designer, and instill an understanding of the business of floral design. Education and training will open the doors to your career as a florist and ensure you are properly prepared for your new business challenges and journey ahead.
There are many ways to educate yourself in floral design. The cheapest way is to become an apprentice to a great florist. The next best way is to take a floral design course through a school or as a further education. Related courses in floral design are forestry, botany, horticulture and even fine arts. The courses can vary from full, Associate Degree Programs to online coursework or short-term career focused programs, floral design certificate programs (either online or attendance courses), or a collegiate degree. It really doesn’t matter.
But of course, after having gained the degree or certificates, you will still need to be an apprentice. Being an apprentice will teach you the day to day workings in an actual florist and will help you learn more about the craft and the business.
To get into the business of floral design, you should check out  any business or entrepreneurship courses. Or, if you are currently getting a college degree, take a business minor.
So, what should a prospective florist know before they start? Whether or not you have your own garden of flowers, a florist should know as much as they can about flowers – from the knowledge of how they’re grown and cultivated to the actual application of gardening and making them grow. A florist should study various plants and flowers around the world, and should know how and when they blossom, and how they interact with each other.
Conclusion
As a floral designer, you should know the basic and popular designs in arranging flowers and the tools to use . You should know the procedures for taking care of flowers, their makeup, and their lifespan. Lastly, but equally important, you should know the ropes of business management.
Floral design can be both physically demanding and can require a delicate touch all at the same time. A floral designer must be able to balance a business, market a brand and create unique and stylish designs. Taking courses and/or complete an internship with an experienced florist will prepare you for this challenging and rewarding career.
