Flowers bring colors in life and often they can bring money in pockets. Yes, we are talking about florists—the masters of flower caring. Florists have become acknowledged professionals dealing with flower arrangements and their demand have surged in the 21st century due to the rise in the popularity of flower decorations in ceremonies and parties. Most event planners are depending on a florist for decoration. Know how to become a freelance florist.
Thus, florists are no longer confined to conventional bouquet-making art. Now, floristry encompasses flower handling and care, flower arrangement, floral design, merchandising and flower delivery. The magnitude of floristry is such that florists nowadays directly engage in the cultivation of flowers, instead of having them being supplied from dealers.
Believe it or not, the floristry business holds a substantial presence in the social event and corporate world. Entryways, bridal bouquets, stage sets, wedding platforms, centerpiece, they are some of the main instances of the utility of flowers in the social event and corporate settings. Thus, floristry is a well-established and lucrative business and, therefore, a freelance florist may expect to earn handsomely if he/she keeps tabs on certain key considerations.
Floristry is a revered art, and you cannot take it lightly. There are many florists competing, and if you plan to become a freelance florist, you are required to keep in mind the following:
We shall start with the first and foremost requirement of becoming a freelance florist: Job requirements. Education, whether informal or formal, is a crucial aspect of the floristry industry, and it is well accepted that prior formal education is not mandatory to become a delivery florist. History is witness to the rise of informally educated florists, but the impetus on formal education is on the rise.
Many begin their careers following high school graduation; however, there are certain certification courses you can apply to for better understanding. For example, the Institute of Floral Design, India offers multiple certificate courses such as Advance Certificate course, which is a once-a-week course on flower arrangement; Speciality Certificate Course, which offers education on bridal bouquets, wearable flowers, etc; workshop courses. Other institutes are International Floral Design School, Fnp Floral Design School, and the Knowledge Academy.
If you want to learn from international experts, then you can apply to the prestigious American Institute of Floral Designers, which holds the reputation of being a top-notch institute for floristry education. The institute conducts a written examination, along with a four-hour practical examination for the finalization of certification.
In the absence of certifications, you will have to solely and heavily rely on experience. If you have extensively practiced floristry, the odds you are among the potential employees are pretty high. As a freelance florist, you are supposed to maintain a well-drafted portfolio of skills documenting all your related experiences. To increase your overall experience, undertake florist tasks such as engagement with small or big florist shops, write blogs, conduct your own florist classes, study in detail about flowers and different styles of flower arrangements, subscribe to related magazines and booklets, etc. Prepare samples for the purpose of application to the job opening.
If you are unable to put to work your skills, then there is no point in being formally educated.
Floristry is a very delicate art. It requires extensive knowledge and love for flowers, which are not easy to develop. Apart from these two, there are other skills which a florist must exhibit and those have been mentioned below:
There are ample opportunities for florists in the 21st century—much of them are attributable to the rise in the demands of flower-related embellishments.
The client will take a serious note of the skills, qualifications, and experience of the florist and thus, accordingly, your pay rate will be determined. (1) If you are a florist with sparkling certifications and long experience, then you are entitled to a handsome pay rate. Odds that your bid will be accepted by the client are high. If, however, you are a newbie but in possession of some certification from an elite floristry school, you may win a good pay rate. Those who are new and inexperienced, you will have a tough time demanding a high pay rate. Remember: whatever pay rate you demand, it should be in tandem with your overall skills and experience.
To know more about the prevalent pay rate, you can join meet-ups or online forums which will enable the expansion of the floristry network.