My Life as a Florist ~ a repost

-
Back in 2009 I was asked to write a blog for Flower Shop Network called "Bloomin' Blog" and I really had fun writing it. Fast forward 4 years to 2013 and nothing has really changed so I thought it might be fun to re-post. Hope you enjoy! 

Me ~ oh how I have changed in the last 4 years
I've noticed over the years that what I love most about my job is something that an average person usually hates. What is that, you wonder? It’s diversity, change, constant evolution and sometimes even chaos. The day in the life of a florist is anything but boring or mundane.

I’ll bet if you asked someone what they thought it would be like to be a florist for the day, most would answer with cliche. The most common ones I've heard over the years is “It must be fun to play with flowers all day”. Play? Who said anything about playing. Last time I looked it was my job to be a florist, not my hobby. Another personal favorite is “It must be so calm and relaxing being surrounded by all the flowers”.  OK, anyone that says this has not been standing knee deep in floral debris with a pile of orders in front of them to be designed, with a delivery driver rushing you to hurry up, and all 6 of the phone lines are ringing at once. Ah… stress is holding me together! What would I do without it?
2013 Princeton Reunion Weekend


Is it always that hectic at a flower shop? Of course not, but the truth is that most people never experience that side of our industry. The day in the life of a florist is much more complex that anyone would imagine. There are flowers and supplies to be ordered, windows and coolers to be cleaned, balloons to be inflated, flowers to be prepped and arranged,  plants to be watered, payroll, bills and taxes to be paid not to mention invoicing along with credit and collections. Orders and customers don’t just fall in our lap. There are marketing and advertising dollars to be spent wisely, websites to be updated, bridal consultations and proposals to be typed, phones to be answered and the list goes on.


Norman and Kristin having fun for the camera.
What I love most about my days in the flower shop are the things that most people probably would avoid. No two days are ever the same. I never know what the day will hold. Maybe an old friend from high school will walk through my doors and ask me to do her wedding flowers or maybe the White House or a Celebrity will call with a flower order. Sound crazy? Those things have happened to me within the last six months. It’s what I love, the diversity of each day! The Life of a Florist - it’s not always a bed of roses but I wouldn't have it any other way! 
Location: 111 Main Street, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Make a Flower Puppy

-
Image
It's amazing what you can do with 12 carnations and a little bit of creativity. Our Floral Designer Rocio loves making puppy arrangements so here she shares her tips with you! Here's what you will need ~ 12 full size carnations, floral glue, floral tape, a floral container, 1/3 of a block of floral foam and some assorted greenery.  First take your wet floral foam and tape it securely into your floral container.  Slowly start adding the 12 carnations starting with the top to form the head, the ears, the face and the 2 front legs.   Keep going, adding carnations but only using 12 total!  Now he has his 2 front legs, sitting over the edge of the container.  Using the floral glue, add the eyes and the nose. Be creative here. We use eyes and noses for the floral industry but you can use felt, screws or even a pip cleaner to form these facial features.   Next, start filling in with assorted greenery and mosses. This will become his little bed!  Be sure to f
Read more

What is a Grave Blanket?

-
Image
Never heard of a Grave Blanket? Don't worry, your probably aren't alone. Here in the north east is customary to have a lovely "blanket" made from ever greens and winter accents to be placed on the grave of a loved one.  It's just a nice remembrance during the holiday season to make the graveside look a bit more decorated and festive.  According to Ask.com   "A  Grave blankets are a type of flower design that is used to decorate graves. They are made in a variety of sizes and styles, for example, standard, cascading, traditional, and double wide. Each of these styles has a specific design and flower capacity . I chucked when I read that because we make all of our Grave Blankets custom for each customer and no two ever look exactly the same. The folks who order them from us are looking for something lush and beautiful with many holiday and winter accents like this one that has golden lotus pods, ilex winter berry, glittered pine cones, red velvet rib
Read more

All of Your Prom Corsage and Boutonniere Questions- Answered!

-
Image
All of Your Prom Corsage and Boutonniere Questions- Answered! What is a prom corsage? A prom corsage is a small floral arrangement to be worn on a female’s wrist or collar. The prom corsage is typically purchased and given to her by her prom date. The wrist corsage is the most common kind, and is typically chosen to match the prom dress. What is a boutonniere? A boutonniere is a floral design worn by a male on the lapel of a suit or tux. The boutonniere is typically bought for him by his prom date and is chosen to match the prom corsage. What wrist is the corsage worn on? Proper etiquette calls for the corsage to be worn on the left wrist, unless the person wearing it is left-handed. If left-handed, the corsage can be worn on the right wrist. Do the corsage and boutonniere have to match? It is not a rule that they match, however the couple will look more put together if they do. The boutonniere gives a touch of color to match the male to his prom date though
Read more