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Maybe you are tired of your old job, coming back after maternity leave or going through a hard time. Or maybe you have dreamed about your own flower shop for years but was scared. I became a florist 13 years ago, and every year I see people come into this field. Here is an honest look how the path could look like.
Floristry isn't only beautiful, it is also hard physical work with full of surprises. On tough days, what keeps you going is simply loving what you do.
Watch free lessons and visit workshops, listen podcasts, watch YouTube videos, read articles. Go to meetups and listen to how other florists got started. It will save you a lot of time.
Find which flower shops and studios are in your city, follow them and visit. Almost every shop runs workshops these days, so sign up for one. When the flowers are already picked for you, someone shows you how to make a bouquet and helps you fix things, a few hours are enough to feel whether this is for you. And usually people fall even more in love with flowers afterwards.
Look for someone who already has what you dream of, and who feels easy and inspiring to learn from. Notice how they explain things, read the course outline carefully and try their free materials first. Sometimes the ads look great but the course is weak. Or the person is a wonderful florist but can't explain well. And remember: the result depends on both the teacher and you.
A good course teaches you:
• how to build a nice arrangement and combine colours;
• how to choose flowers and get to know them;
• how to make a spiral bouquet, and not just one kind but several: round, loose, tall, garden style;
• how to wrap a bouquet nicely, especially if you want to sell;
• how to work with floral foam, wire mesh, a pin holder (kenzan), wire and tape;
• plus feedback from the teacher on your work.
My students and I feel that one month in a shop teaches you as much as six months of trying on your own. You will see lots of different flowers, learn their names, meet all kinds of customers, and sometimes make a bouquet in five minutes.
Write a short letter saying you love flowers, you like that shop's style and you would love to try as an intern. Interns clean flowers, wash vases and help the florists, but they learn all the time just by watching. You can start as an intern and study later, or the other way round, and then look for a florist's assistant job.
If the team or the vibe doesn't feel right, try another shop. What matters is finding out whether you enjoy working as part of a team.
I wouldn't idealise either the florist's job or running your own business. Having your own business isn't for everyone. It takes a certain character and inner strength, and there is less freedom than it seems. If you are a one-person orchestra who loves new challenges and is happy to find clients, make bouquets and take photos, give your own business a try.
It often goes like this: a few months in a shop -> then working for yourself making bouquets at home. Probably every second florist started with bouquets in their kitchen. More and more people hear about you, and in a year or two a home 'studio' can turn into your own studio.
Back in 2012 there were no floristry courses in Odesa, Ukraine. I found English-language videos on YouTube, and they lit a fire in me. Then I found a florist who already had what I dreamed of: her own shop and wedding work. I studied with her, then went to work in a flower shop, but after a month or two it felt too small for me, and I started working for myself.
Floristry is not only bouquets but also decorating, weddings and celebrations, so there are lots of opportunities. Try things, don't be afraid of mistakes! Starting in floristry is easy, which is exactly why it matters to start the right way.
In the video, I talk through this whole path in more detail.
