Real Flower Business

Education and Business Training for Floral Designers.

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Business Plan Reboot

When’s the last time you wrote a business plan?

Was it 5 years ago? 10 years ago? Last week?

If it’s been longer than 3 years since you wrote a business plan, then I want to invite you to get on the good foot & put your business on a forward-thinking path by joining my Bonus Business Planning Jam Session Oct. 22-26!*

Because you can’t move forward if you’re following an outdated business plan.

*This is a bonus session for paid members of my course, The Art of Good Business, and you can click HERE to sign up before Oct. 22nd to join us or click HERE to learn more about what’s included in the course.

In this jam session you’ll take action & set clear goals! Including:

  • Looking toward the future of your biz
  • Identifying new opportunities right now
  • Improving your sales copy
  • Updating your business plan
  • Touching up your website to reflect your newfound insights!

As soon as you sign up, you’ll get instant access to the entire course and you’ll be invited to join the 5-day Bonus Jam Session.

real flower business courses, education for florists

When planning for success in business, it’s important to understand:

  • What’s your current vision? (And if you’ve been in biz for a while, how does your current vision compare to the vision you set forth when you wrote your first biz plan?)
  • What are your objectives? (ie. Why do you have this business?)
  • What are your SWOTs? (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)
  • What strategies are you employing to reach your goals?

If you’re having a hard time answering some of the above questions,

or it’s been a little while since you’ve really answered these questions honestly and thoroughly in your biz,

then you should seriously consider joining me for my 4th Quarter Biz Planning Jam Session, Oct. 22-26th so that you can get your business on the path to success in 2019 and over the next 3-5 years!

Read more about what you get in the course here!

Testimonial:

“Alison has put her heart and her vast knowledge into this class. She is open and supportive. Honest and kind. She will tell the truth. She is clear and concise. She is a bit of a genius and she’ll bring out the genius in you! Her class is one of a kind because of all the backing and support she offers.

I won’t lie, at first, I thought, this is not my forte, this is going to be a challenge…

But Alison’s approach is to encourage us to take some action, because it all adds up. One success leads to the next and soon it was fun! My new discoveries are exciting, I found myself not wanting it to end, and was pleased to discover that the information in the class will always be available to me.

I encourage you to indulge in the Art of Good Business. I promise when you are done, your journey to business success will have just begun.”

-Rebecca Raymond

You can do this work at your own pace.

This course is perfect for self-starters–but after our Oct. Jam Session we’ll be doing the entire course together, LIVE, in January in our private Facebook group. You don’t have to do this work alone. I’ll be here to support you along the way!

You can sign up any time between now and Jan. to join the course live, but the Jam Session is happening next week so the time to register is NOW….well, technically you have until 9am EST on Oct. 22nd, but why wait? Sign up today so you don’t miss the Bonus Session!

Testimonial:

“It was worth every penny…I am so happy with the value of this course. I didn’t even know that all of THIS is exactly what I needed to know!“

-Cathy Lamb

 

The total investment in this program is $1,000. In return I give you everything I know about building a trustworthy brand & designing an engaging website that helps you attract more customers that love you. 

Plus monthly livestreams in our private Facebook group, and lots of encouragement to get moving and “do the work” to implement changes in your business.

You’ll have access to hours worth of videos that complement the written content in your pdfs. You can do this course at your own pace, but you’re not alone.

A 4-payment plan is available and I do not charge any interest for the convenience of the payment plan. If this course is right for you I want you IN the course….I don’t want to put any speed bumps in the way.

Have a question for me? Shoot me an e-mail any time: floralartvt@gmail.com We can even hop on a call this week if you’re not sure if my course is right for you.

Testimonial:

“There is so much content in this course! Definitely exceeded expectations.

The most important part of this course for me was the section on choreographing the customer service portion of my business. I am learning how to communicate clearly and lead my clients in a way that builds trust and sets realistic expectations.
This course is great for anyone that is ready to refine their business practices. You have to be ready to take action for this to really make a difference.
I really enjoyed the live portion of the course…Felt like having you there with us.”
-Jessie Partridge

Ready to sign up? CLICK HERE TO ENROLL!

Note: Don’t sign up if you’re not willing to get out of your comfort zone and “do work”.
You’ll have to take action to get results.

I’ll be there to help push you over the finish line, but you have to take the first step to get started (read more)!

I look forward to welcoming some of you to my jam session and diving into The Art of Good Business with you!

With love from me to you,

Alison

Read more: Ready To Rise Above Your Competition? Click here!online education for florists, real flower business

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Are You Ready To Rise Above The Competition?

Hey Floralpreneur®,

How much do you worry about your competition?

  • Do you follow your competitors on social media and cringe when you see how “great” they’re doing?
  • Are you eager to know “who got that wedding”–the one that didn’t book with you?
  • Does jealousy or comparison creep in and undermine your confidence?

What would it look like if you could eliminate your competition?

Now, hold on…..I’m not talking about putting other local florists out of business!

Your goal should be to “stand out amongst the competition” and the surest way to do that is by being the truest, most authentic version of yourself in your business and your brand so that the right clients choose you!

online education for florists, real flower business

Oftentimes, business owners think they need to hire a branding or marketing “expert” to help attract the right clients, but that can cost tens of thousands of dollars!….really.

A “flower famous” friend of mine was quoted over $30k for a marketing expert to help her with her floral business….now, what florist has that kind of money lying around? Not many, that’s for sure.

So if you’re working on a limited budget, what are your options? How do you gain brand recognition and attract the right clients?

The answer?….there are many ways to develop your brand and improve your marketing efforts and you can do it yourself if you’re willing to dig deep and do the work.

You don’t have to be a marketing expert to have a good brand and stand out amongst your competition….but you do need to do some “brand exploration” to get to the heart of what makes your brand special so that the right customers continue to choose you over someone else!

This is the work we do in my course, The Art of Good Business! And for students who are enrolled in The Art of Good Business before Oct. 22nd you’re getting a bonus!

I’m hosting a BONUS 4th Quarter Biz Planning Jam Session to help jumpstart you end-of-year plans and THEN I’m going to walk through the entire course with you, LIVE IN JANUARY in our private Facebook group.

This biz jam session is happening Oct. 22-26th and if you want in, you can apply for a free scholarship HERE ($1,000 value) or click HERE to sign up for the course today!

If you’re a floral designer who….

  • Writes your own website copy & social media posts
  • Manages your marketing & branding strategy
  • Struggles with “selling yourself” sometimes
  • Still spends too much time with clients who aren’t a good fit
  • Wonders if you even have a brand yet…

Then The Art of Good Business was made for you!

So if you’re ready to zero-in on your ideal clients and move your marketing efforts to the next level, keep reading for more info or click here to sign up!

real flower business

In The Art of Good Business you’ll learn how to focus your marketing efforts and take your website from beautiful to functional by honing the voice of your brand so that you can prequalify leads and attract more clients that love you.

Who’ll benefit the most from The Art of Good Business?

Business owners at any level will gain tremendous insight from the course,

however, if you’ve been in business for 5 years or more and want to refine a clearer branding message to attract better clients, you’ll have the most to gain from the lessons inside the course.

For people who are enrolled in the course, I’ll be leading a power planning session in October(to put some foundational plans in motion!)…and then I’m going to jump in with more live coaching for the entire month of January in our private group–like a bootcamp for boot strapping biz owners….it’s gonna be good.

Once you sign up, you’re invested in me, so I want to make sure you know that I’m invested right back….because I am totally invested in your success! (You can read real florists’ reviews of my course here!)

This course is not:

  • a memoir,
  • it’s not a “quick fix”,
  • it’s not about budgeting or numbers,
  • it’s not a mash-up of my “all my other courses”,
  • and it’s definitely not for everyone.

Don’t sign up if you’re not willing to get out of your comfort zone and “do work”.
You’ll have to take action to get results.

I’ll be there to help push you over the finish line, but you have to take the first step to get started (read more)!

“I just booked my biggest gig yet, by $3k…

I just have to say this course, Alison’s content works!…my ideal client is more clearly defined, I’ve mostly reworked my web copy, have been better about blogging, and more intentional about how I talk to my followers on social media posts.” -Jessica Ormond

 

More from Alison:

It doesn’t matter if you’ve been in business for 3 years, 3 minutes or 3 decades…nothing defines your brand more than the experience you create for your customers.

The most important thing I’ve done for my floral design business over the past 15 years is work towards perfecting a customer service experience that reflects the values of my brand and speaks directly to the heart of my ideal clients.

I’m not a traditional “branding expert”, but I have studied and practiced (and practiced) my own approach to branding since I started my business in 2001.  It’s said to take 10,000 hours of “deliberate practice” to achieve mastery in a field. I’ve easily exceeded that quota as I’ve worked on mastering my brand.

I began my career in the floral industry over 24 years ago, and I’ve been practicing and developing the voice of my brand in order to lead with integrity and attract my ideal clients ever since. (And I’m practicing still….)

Join me on a brand building journey to help you hone your voice.

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have: info@floralartvt.com

With love from me to you,

Alison

floral design business courses, floristry, floral design, Alison Ellis

Definition of Eliminate: (Verb)

a: to put an end to or get rid of : REMOVE; eliminate errors in your marketing efforts

b: to remove from consideration; eliminate worries about your competition

You can get a sample preview of the course HERE.

“Making money is art…

and working is art…

and good business is the best art.”

-Andy Warhol

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Can A Single Rose Derail Your Business?

Hey Floralpreneur®!
Can a single rose really derail your business? When you look at the numbers, the answer is definitely, yes.
 
In fact, when you hear what I’m about to present, you might want to sit down.

My inspiration when I made today’s video was “How to be the most valuable floral designer at your company”.

This is a lesson I learned many years ago from a shop owner who I always refer to as my best-worst-boss-ever.
Because while he really was the worst boss in some ways, he was the best at teaching me about customer service, running a beautiful flower shop, and the importance of not overfilling orders.
Click to watch, “How a single rose can derail your flower business.”

THE TAKEAWAY

Whether you’re the owner/designer or you hire other pros, every designer must understand their unique impact on the bottom line for your business. 

Thanks for watching!

I hope you’ll share this video with your employees or at least relay the stats as they relate to your flower business.

Ready to learn how to stop over-filling orders so you can increase your income & price with confidence? Flower Math is the florist’s roadmap to profit clarity! Click here to find out more!

Need more pricing tips?

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What’s your 3 year plan?

Hey, Floralpreneur®,

Where do you want your business to be 3 years from now?

It may not sound super sexy, but…

planning ahead is not only necessary when you own a business, it’s actually really clarifying! Which is why I’m inviting up to 30 business savvy floral designers to a 4th Quarter Planning Session*!

Getting clear on what you want in your business–not what someone else wants in their business, but what works for your world, your life, your income goals, and your unique branding qualities–well, that can be the most liberating thing you can do for yourself in this next year in business!

Are you making plans this year to ensure you reach your future goals?

If you’re not sure where to start, we can chart this course together!

Ready to map out a plan for your business over the next 3-5 years?

Join me for a 4th Quarter Planning & Productivity Jam Session, October 22-26!

This is a bonus planning session for florists who’ve enrolled in The Art of Good Business* and I’m inviting up to 30 new enrollees to join us, too.

*You’ll be invited to this bonus planning session when you sign up for The Art of Good Business before October 22!

(scroll down for more details on the course & scholarship opportunities!)

New! Scholarship Opportunity

I’ll be awarding 2 full scholarships to join my planning session and my course for free!

Click HERE to fill out a scholarship application!

This program requires you to “do work”. If you do the work, you will get results!…and I’ll be here to help along the way with a live session of the course in our private Facebook group this January!

Note: The scholarship value for The Art of Good Business is $1,000.

Applications must be received before midnight on October 12th.

floral industry, Art of Good Business, floralpreneur

Marketing and branding is complex.

Talented florists often thrive in the creative aspects of the business, while the critical elements of marketing and “selling yourself” can be more frustrating and elusive.

I mean, what IS the best way to find the right customers year after year?

How CAN you market your business in a way that feels authentic to you–and not an imitation of someone else?

What steps are you going to take in order to fully express your one-of-a-kind style & brand? (You know, “the thing” that brings people to you/your business over any of your competitors!)

About The Art of Good Business:

This online program teaches you how to stand out from your competition by identifying your unique branding strengths so that you can run a business that feels authentic, trustworthy and fulfilling.

The Art of Good Business shows you how to tackle your marketing and take your website from beautiful to functional by honing the voice of your brand so that you can prequalify leads and attract more clients that love you.

You don’t have to be a branding expert to have a reputable brand, but you do need to dig deep to discover your most valuable selling points. This is the work we do in The Art of Good Business and it’s easy to get started…

 Click HERE to enroll today. 

Who is The Art of Good Business for?

You may be a talented floral designer, but do you also…

  • Write your own website copy & social media posts?
  • Manage your marketing & branding strategy?
  • Struggle with “selling yourself” sometimes?
  • Still spend too much time with clients who aren’t a good fit?
  • Wonder if you even have a brand yet?

If you said “yes” to any or all of the above, then The Art of Good Business is made for you!

Testimonial:

“I won’t lie, at first, I thought, this is not my forte, this is going to be a challenge…

But Alison’s approach is to encourage us to take some action, because it all adds up. One success leads to the next and soon it was fun!

My new discoveries are exciting, I found myself not wanting it to end, and was pleased to discover that the information in the class will always be available to me.

I encourage you to indulge in the Art of Good Business. I promise when you are done, your journey to business success will have just begun.”

–Rebecca Raymond Floral

How can you transform your business into a brand?

Attract awesome clients (and repel clients who aren’t a good fit),

by designing an engaging website (that converts into sales),

and choreograph your client management (take the lead to establish trust),

so that you can build an integrity brand that eliminates the competition.*

*If you’re about to update your website or refresh your branding, then you’ll want to do the work in this course first! 

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COURSE!

*Pro tip: At some point you have to stop worrying about what your “competition” is doing so that you can focus in on what you’re actually doing to attract more clients who love you!

 

Do you bootstrap your floral business?

If you’re anything like me, you probably “do it all”….sure, maybe you hire some help for deliveries or design work, and if you can afford it, you may have a bookkeeper handle all your business receipts & payroll…

But for the most part, you’re do it yourself-er. DIY floral biz owners make every decision from which shade of blush garden rose you’ll order, to how you spend advertising dollars, to the sales copy on your website, to the big-picture planning and forward thinking.

This business has a lot of moving parts to manage all at once…especially in the midst of a busy wedding season!

It can be hard to plan ahead when you’re struggling to just keep up with what’s happening this week, but we’ll dive deep into The Art of Good Business together to make sure you make progress, not just plans!

Here’s what you’ll learn in the course…

  • Gain valuable strategies around how to prequalify customers so that you’re not wasting time with clients who aren’t a good fit;
  • Florists will uncover a deeper understanding of who your ideal customers are so that you can speak directly to them;
  • Learn how to improve your website to create a first point of contact that attracts ideal clients;
  • Choreograph outstanding client management that feels like personalized customer service for your ideal clients;
  • ​​​​Hone the unique blend of talents that make up your one-of-a-kind brand so that you can eliminate the competition by highlighting your own personal branding strengths.

I teach you how to level-up with actionable steps & stellar tips so that you can perfect your brand’s messaging in The Art of Good Business!

To get the maximum benefits from this course you’ll need:

  • a computer to log in & download pdfs,
  • an open mind & willingness to expand your thinking,
  • a pen & notebook,
  • and a commitment to start what you finish!

And if you need some encouragement, I’ll be live once a month in our private Facebook group to help get you over the finish line & answer your questions!

Click HERE to learn more about what’s included in the course.

Or Click HERE to fill out a scholarship application!

You can check out a free preview of the course HERE!

Scholarship requirements and application guidelines are as follows:

1. You must have a website for your business.
2. Scholarships are for floral retailers; home-studio florists, flower growers and brick & mortar shops are welcome to apply.
3. Your business must be at least 3 years old (established no later than December 2015)…even if it’s still only part-time!
4. You’ll be asked to list out your SWOTs (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats). (If you need more info on this, Google it! You don’t have to know everything to run a business, but the Google can answers these sorts of questions for you.)
5. Submit a video introduction! Introduce yourself on a short video (5 minutes or less) and tell me what your business is currently known for as well as where you’d like to be in the next few months to 5 years in your biz.

This program requires you to “do work”. If you do the work, you will get results!…and I’ll be here to help along the way with a live session of the course in our private Facebook group this January!

Note: The scholarship value for The Art of Good Business is $1,000.

Applications must be received before midnight on October 12th.

Click HERE to fill out a scholarship application!

floral design business courses, floristry, floral design, Alison Ellis

Learn more about Alison here.

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Why you don’t want to book every customer

Pro tip: You don’t want to book every customer! You only want to book the right customers.

When I was first starting out in my business, I thought the goal was to book every client….no matter what it took!

  • Lower the price on a few things to meet the budget? Sure.
  • Meet at a super inconvenient time for me? Sounds great!
  • Schedule a second call to go over “all the things” before you decide to work with me? Um, OK!

Whatever reassurance a customer needed to be persuaded that I was the right florist for the job, that’s what I’d do!

But over time, with experience and concerted efforts to dive deeper into who my ideal customers actually are, I’ve come to realize that I don’t want to book every customer!….not by a long shot. I only want to book the right customers for me.

Who’s “the right customer”?

Well, it’s someone who doesn’t need to be convinced that I’m the right choice because she can already feel that I’m the right choice from her preliminary experience with my company and my brand.

I set the rules to clearly communicate the steps in our booking process, so neither one of us invests too much time before we’ve decided we’re a good match.

I share how I’ve perfected this process over the past 16 years in my courses for wedding florists: How To Write Proposals That Sell  and my Wedding Workflow pdfs show you how to spend less time before booking a client and how to lay out the steps for clients to follow from the initial inquiry to post-wedding day follow-up, click here to read more about my courses.

It takes a lot of work to learn how to speak directly to the heart of your ideal clients.

By tapping into who my clients really are and what they really care about, I’m able to reach them on a deeper level and develop a level of trust before we even speak.

I’ve streamlined my proposal process so that I’m not “giving away all the details”, yet I still provide enough detail that a client can trust that we’re on the same page.

It may not happen over night, but with time and practice, the booking process starts to take shape and you’ll be able to prequalify clients before investing too much time.

You can find all my downloadable pdfs here!

Keep doing beautiful work, floralpreneurs!

With love from me to you,

Alison