Trends within floristry are constantly changing. We see it in how asymmetrical designs have shifted from fashion to flowers this year and how monochromatic colour schemes have gathered a lot of attention — whether in explosive magenta tones or a warm blend of dried florals.
Your floristry business should be the same. Workshops are the perfect way to reinvent your marketing and try something new, and can help you find and connect with new customers.
Look at workshops as a chance to introduce yourself and your business to a captive audience of customers — tell them the story of your business, the services you offer and connect with your customers in a natural and engaging way that can be difficult in the flurry of retail.
What should I teach?
You want to be able to guide your participants as much as possible — the easiest aspect of the event should be the teaching. Then you can have fun with it! So, choose an arrangement that you feel confident with.
It could also be worth choosing a theme for your workshop. Look into trends in your area, the florist industry, and the fashion or interior design communities to inspire colour palettes and textures.
Make sure you explore the different elements of floral design — line, form, space, texture, pattern, colour, size and fragrance — too. How can these elements be incorporated into the theme of your workshop? Perhaps use scented candles that align with the flowers you will be using or create backdrops that complement the colour palette of your blooms.
The only limit is your imagination, so feel free to experiment!
Just keep in mind the time it takes to make the design and the level of experience needed to recreate it. You want to ensure your workshop is inclusive and suitable for various skill levels to garner the most attendees possible. So, decide on a design that works well for any skill level and is easy to gift-wrap and transport so that guests can take their arrangement home.
Where can I host my workshop?
Hosting your workshop online has great benefits. You are less limited — more people have the chance to attend, the event will be cheaper to run and there will be less mess for you to clean up! However, it is easier for people to learn in person for an event like this.
If you are a floral retail shop owner, you may have the space to run a floral design workshop. This is ideal, as attendees will be surrounded by all your wonderful creations.
If you need to hire a space, the location must be accessible. Make sure the venue has enough table space for the required designs, plus a sizable area for set-up and to display your beautiful flowers without things getting too cramped.
Another factor to consider is the space’s lighting. This event is the perfect opportunity to shoot behind-the-scenes content for your social media channels and website, and you should encourage attendees to take pictures they can share on their own social media channels, too.
After the workshop, take the time to email attendees with any relevant flower guides and care tips, as well as a link to your newsletter sign-up and social media accounts. Offer discount codes for repeat bookers or those who recommend you. This is a great way to build a solid following whilst gaining credibility and a loyal customer base.
What supplies will I need?
Your attendees will need the necessary floristry supplies to create their designs, such as florist wire, twine, scissors and containers (use anything from inexpensive mason jars and collected vases to floral buckets from a wholesale supplier). When arranging, you will also need floral foam to keep the flowers in place. Or, for an eco-friendlier alternative, use floral tape to make a grid across the vase.
As you can see, there is a lot to consider when purchasing the supplies for your floral workshop — it can be a little overwhelming as your checklist continues to grow…
Luckily, The Baggery Sundries is the largest online stockist of wholesale floristry supplies and point-of-sale packaging. With over 4,000 products in stock at any time, we aim to deliver a one-stop shopping experience for our customers. From balloons, flower bags and corsages to candles, artificial flowers and vases, we stock everything you could need to deliver a successful floral design workshop.
Are you ready to host your floral workshop? The Baggery Sundries is a trusted wholesale florist supplier happy to meet your needs and supply your event. Get in touch today to discuss how we can help you.
