At The Baggery Sundries, we sell everything but the flowers — but after speaking to florists over the years, we know what it takes to have a successful shop.
If you dream about opening your very own floristry business, these are the non-negotiable factors: a love for flowers, creativity, a strong work ethic and a plan of action.
Here are our top tips for opening and running a flourishing shop…
- Choose your market
Firstly, you need to decide what sort of florist you will be, what you will sell and who you will sell to. Are you going to sell only to the general public? Or perhaps you would like to take on contract work with local businesses and functions?
It is also essential to decide on your product range — will you sell fresh or dried flowers? How about greeting cards, balloons, accessories or confectionary? Consider what you would like to cater for — weddings, birthdays and funerals, or perhaps you would prefer to specialise in one field?
Take into account the competition in your area and what you could offer to make you stand out. Any specialisation is beneficial and adds a personal touch to your services. It should feel genuine, so consider what you could bring to the table to make this space in the industry your own.
- Know your industry
Understanding the floristry industry — how it ebbs and flows — can help with your sales and marketing strategies once you have launched your business. The floristry industry market size, when measured by revenue, is currently worth £900.9 million. With the growing number of online florists, the next five years are predicted to bring strong support to industry revenue growth — this means plenty of competition ahead.
Supermarkets are the prime challenge for the industry now, as they are seen as a more accessible and cost-effective source for flowers.
But specialist flower retailers are expected to still do well over the next few years because of the arrangement skills required for special events like weddings: 60% of all flowers and plants sold globally are purchased as a gift for someone else, 20% are purchased for weddings or funerals, and approximately 20% are purchased for the home or office.
Keep an eye on consumer trends so that you can always stay one step ahead!
- Blooming great presentation
Whether you operate from a physical store or strictly as an online business, potential customers need to see who you are and what you have to offer from the get-go. Representation is key — from your business name, brand and logo to your website design and shopfront.
Your website should be accessible, easy to navigate and full of unique content — from feature floristry advice to a ‘meet the team’ page. Make sure your content is engaging and fun to keep potential customers coming back for more.
If you have a physical store, ensure enough space for a retail area to interface with the public, a cool storage room, a preparation area to construct arrangements and a wide frontage to present your flowers outside and create attractive window displays.
Remember: the shopfront is your stage! No one likes a messy shop, so keep it tidy and filled with beautiful arrangements to catch the attention of potential customers and show them what you have to offer.
- Spread the word
Attracting customers can be one of the most difficult parts of running any business. Building a loyal customer base can be a challenge, but it is the key to success.
Investing in social media is essential as they are platforms that people will likely use to find you — utilising visual platforms allows you to showcase what you have to offer as a florist.
You might not be a social media whizz, but posting regularly and interacting with similar accounts can help attract your target audience. Inspire your online followers with gorgeous images of your floral designs, show the behind-the-scenes arrangements or a simple how-to video. These activities all help build engagement with your audience and prove that you are an expert in your field.
- Find a supplier you trust
We believe in going the extra mile for our customers, with customer satisfaction being our top priority.
The Baggery Sundries Ltd is the largest online stockist of wholesale floristry supplies and point-of-sale packaging. With over 4,000 products in stock at any one 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 launch your successful business.
Missing something? Just reach out to our specialised team, who will find what you are looking for.
To see how The Baggery Sundries can supply your aspiring business, get in touch today, and our team will be happy to help.
