If you are interested in becoming a florist, it is important for you to understand what the career itself will entail. Most people think about florists only when they are on the receiving end of a beautiful arrangement or want to send one. Sometimes, we hear our friends and neighbors come into our shops and say something like, “You sure are lucky! You get to work with and smell gorgeous flowers all day!” Of course, they typically only see the creative outcome! Like with any such pursuit, knowing what to expect and how to plan ahead will allow you to enter the field in a much more positive way. Training to become a florist is no different.
In order to begin your education as a florist, you will need more than a casual interest in the field. You must have a passion for floral design and arrangements, and be prepared to spend active time in the industry in order to stand out to employers. With the right training and attitude, you will find it easy to accumulate the skills you need to hit the ground running. Do you have a good sense of design? Do you have manual dexterity? Are you interested in self-employment? Will you be able to learn every aspect of floral design? Asking yourself these questions will help you figure out if you are ready to pursue this as a career.
Getting the right hands on experience is one of the best ways to become a florist. Not only will you get recommendations to help grow in the industry, but you will learn some basic information about flowers, their caring needs, and how they can be shaped into complex floral designs.
While formal education is not required to become a florist, there are many vocational schools and colleges available around the country that can help you begin learning in a more formal environment. Engaging these programs can be particularly beneficial, as they will offer classes in floral design and flower and plant identification, helping you stand out among others in the field. For example, in my case here in Delaware, I initially found a non-credit introductory class at a community college. Community colleges are great sources of interesting classes in nearly every region of the U.S.
Even if a local college doesn’t offer what you need, you can ask the florists in your area where they got their training. Or, reach out to the industry organizations such as the Society of American Florists or your state employment offices for help.
In order to get become a professional florist after you have completed your training, it is a good idea to become familiar with the industry itself through several unrelated jobs. Working your way up to florist is common, and many professionals got started as delivery people, cashiers, and even general laborers. There are also many opportunities that you can explore that will help you become a part time florist, or even a seasonal one, should the opportunity present itself. If you are still in high school, ask your guidance or career counselor if there are job shadowing or student internship opportunities. See the video we’ve included on this page for a professional’s advice on how to become a florist.
Call every retail location in your area and ask if you could speak to the hiring manager. You can ask a little bit about the store and let them know that you are interested in working as a florist. Ask them about what positions they may have open in the store and be sure to follow up every few weeks to remind them that you are interested. If you can demonstrate an ability to work with common florist's tools, that is a help as well.
Depending on how far you want to travel or what your budget is, you can also attend a specialty school, such as the Koehler & Dramm Institute of Floristry in Minneapolis, MN.
Florists can expect to work in a wide variety of different locations, not solely flower shops and florist booths. If you are interested in pursuing this career, call grocery stores, floral retail stores, and other local merchandise stores. Eventually, when you have accumulated enough experience and feel as though you will be able to succeed through self-employment, you may choose to open your own business. While it may seem difficult at first, it is important for you to explore every opportunity as it becomes available to you. You will be able to set yourself apart from the competition by showing your employers how dedicated you are and how passionate you can be about the job. Develop your strengths and you will find successful employment in this fast paced and enjoyable industry.
In order to begin your education as a florist, you will need more than a casual interest in the field. You must have a passion for floral design and arrangements, and be prepared to spend active time in the industry in order to stand out to employers. With the right training and attitude, you will find it easy to accumulate the skills you need to hit the ground running. Do you have a good sense of design? Do you have manual dexterity? Are you interested in self-employment? Will you be able to learn every aspect of floral design? Asking yourself these questions will help you figure out if you are ready to pursue this as a career.
Getting the right hands on experience is one of the best ways to become a florist. Not only will you get recommendations to help grow in the industry, but you will learn some basic information about flowers, their caring needs, and how they can be shaped into complex floral designs.
While formal education is not required to become a florist, there are many vocational schools and colleges available around the country that can help you begin learning in a more formal environment. Engaging these programs can be particularly beneficial, as they will offer classes in floral design and flower and plant identification, helping you stand out among others in the field. For example, in my case here in Delaware, I initially found a non-credit introductory class at a community college. Community colleges are great sources of interesting classes in nearly every region of the U.S.
Even if a local college doesn’t offer what you need, you can ask the florists in your area where they got their training. Or, reach out to the industry organizations such as the Society of American Florists or your state employment offices for help.
In order to get become a professional florist after you have completed your training, it is a good idea to become familiar with the industry itself through several unrelated jobs. Working your way up to florist is common, and many professionals got started as delivery people, cashiers, and even general laborers. There are also many opportunities that you can explore that will help you become a part time florist, or even a seasonal one, should the opportunity present itself. If you are still in high school, ask your guidance or career counselor if there are job shadowing or student internship opportunities. See the video we’ve included on this page for a professional’s advice on how to become a florist.
Call every retail location in your area and ask if you could speak to the hiring manager. You can ask a little bit about the store and let them know that you are interested in working as a florist. Ask them about what positions they may have open in the store and be sure to follow up every few weeks to remind them that you are interested. If you can demonstrate an ability to work with common florist's tools, that is a help as well.
Depending on how far you want to travel or what your budget is, you can also attend a specialty school, such as the Koehler & Dramm Institute of Floristry in Minneapolis, MN.
Florists can expect to work in a wide variety of different locations, not solely flower shops and florist booths. If you are interested in pursuing this career, call grocery stores, floral retail stores, and other local merchandise stores. Eventually, when you have accumulated enough experience and feel as though you will be able to succeed through self-employment, you may choose to open your own business. While it may seem difficult at first, it is important for you to explore every opportunity as it becomes available to you. You will be able to set yourself apart from the competition by showing your employers how dedicated you are and how passionate you can be about the job. Develop your strengths and you will find successful employment in this fast paced and enjoyable industry.