Real Flower Business

Education and Business Training for Floral Designers.

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By Alison Ellis Leave a Comment

Why Florists Need to Set A Minimum

realflowerbusiness.com, education for florists, online courses for florists, floral design

When you own your own business, you’re “the decider”. It’s up to you, as a floralpreneur®, to set the rules and boundaries for your small business. I often quote from Pretty Woman, “We say who, we say when, we say how much.”

I didn’t have a minimum when I started out….I was new! I couldn’t turn any business away.

As time went on and I had more wedding inquiries than I had dates available, well, I had to set some minimum standards to ensure my profit margins.


You are the choreographer of customer service in your small business!

Communicating your minimum can actually feel like customer service. Clients need to know “how this works” and by explaining the steps to potential clients, we’re teaching them what it’s like to dance with us.


Here’s why florists need to set a minimum and how I approach the “minimum spend” at this point in my biz:

The Takeaway

This is your business and you set the rules.

At a certain point you need to implement minimum standards so you can continue to grow.

And if you need some tips on how to communicate your minimum clearly (and kindly) check out my “Full Communication Package”….This 5-course Wedding Bundle includes my E-mail Templates, Proposal Template, Contract For Florists and 16 Step Workflow.


Florists can’t be afraid to talk about budget with customers.

When’s the last time you bought something, but had absolutely no idea what you were going to spend?

Your customers aren’t coming to you with zero idea about what they’re willing to spend or what feels do-able for them.

What if a client’s budget isn’t realistic? Click HERE to find out how I handle unrealistic budget requests.

Show them the steps so they can dance with you! And present your minimum with confidence….because you’re worth it!

Thanks so much for taking the time to read and watch.

xo. -Alison


Do you need help establishing your minimums?

Inside my course, Flower Math, you’ll find a list of all my starting prices (ie my minimums!) on wedding flowers over the past 16 years! Bouquets, centerpieces, ceremony arrangements, the whole sha-bang. (click here to see what else you get when you sign up.)

January 22, 2018 — 5:10 pm

By Alison Ellis Leave a Comment

Can you be professional without a storefront?

It’s not always easy to work from home.

But it’s not unprofessional to “not have a shop”.

A shop doesn’t make you “more professional”. Your talent-level isn’t related to your workspace.

If you create beautiful work and provide excellent customer service….from home, a small studio, or your basement or garage….don’t feel inferior due to a lack of storefront.

Click to watch, Can you be professional without a storefront:


A few questions for you:

How many people do you allow in a consultation?

Do you prescreen clients with a phone consultation?


Consultations are an investment of time and I like to start with a phone consultation.

We can arrange an in-person meeting if we both feel we’re a good fit.


I can put together a quick proposal and quote after a consultation to get the ball rolling, make sure we’re on the same page; it’s essential to have a meeting of the minds.


Have you signed up for my FREE e-mail course, How To Book More Weddings More Quickly?

Check it out my FREE course HERE to get some of my best tips for booking more clients in less time.


Thanks for stopping by and checking out some of my Real Flower Business “stuff” today!

Keep doing beautiful work, floralpreneur.

With love from me to you,

Alison


Find a full list of my course offerings HERE.

January 19, 2018 — 6:21 pm

By Alison Ellis Leave a Comment

Should Florists Charge Less If They Work From Home?

realflowerbusiness.com, courses for florists, florist pricing tips

The floral industry encompasses not only brick and mortar shops, but a growing number of home-based business owners as well, and while it may have been “out of the norm” to work from a home-studio back when I started my business in 2002, the “shop-less floral designers” have carved our own path in the flower biz.

As a home-studio florist who trained in 5 different flower shops before branching out on my own over 16 years ago, (ie opening a business from the kitchen of my 2nd story apartment!), I’ve come to realize that I was pretty lucky in my training.

As I’ve connected with super talented floral designers around the world, I’ve learned that even super talented florists sometimes struggle with pricing; including home-studio, boutique or appointment only designers, as well as brick & mortar flower shop owners!

The reason I say I was “lucky” in my training is because I was trained by different experienced florists, all with varying styles, income goals, overhead costs, employee retention rates and creativity & quality standards, etc…

BUT THE ONE THING THAT EVERY FLOWER SHOP HAD IN COMMON WAS THEIR PRICING.

No matter which shop I went to, I was taught the same pricing structure each and every time. (We even had cheat sheets at our design benches to ensure that everyone used the same guidelines.)

So by ‘lucky” I mean, I’m lucky to have never questioned my pricing model or my value because I knew without a doubt that I was following the flower shop model.

If you work from home and you’re wondering if you should charge less because you “don’t have a shop”, click to watch! This video was made for you.

And if you need more details on pricing like a flower shop, check out my FREE pricing course, Flower Boss 2: Industry Standards on Pricing,& Markups CLICK HERE to get it.

Thanks for tuning in!

Keep doing beautiful work.

xo. -Alison


P.S. Are you a Home-Studio designer? 

Get 10 Tips for Home-Studio Florists HERE.


P.P.S. Want to watch my first live chat on Periscope? Click below to watch!

January 19, 2018 — 3:10 pm

By Alison Ellis Leave a Comment

The most important thing you can do in your business today.

Do you know the most important thing you have to do in your business today?

Sometimes as business owners it can be tempting to push things off….

And sometimes you have a good reason. You’re busy, you’re “not ready”, or you” just don’t have time to get into that right now”.

But if you don’t implement, you don’t get results.

You may make a misstep or misfire, but if you wait until you’re “ready” or something’s “perfect”, you’ve probably waited, too long.


Don’t be afraid that it won’t be perfect….

because it probably won’t be perfect…

not at first.

Don’t wait for perfect.

You have to start somewhere.

Start before you’re ready.

Keep doing beautiful work!

xo. -Alison


Click for more Real Flower Business Resources:

  • How Much Money Does A Florist Make? Click to watch…

  • Get my FREE Website Tips HERE.


January 18, 2018 — 8:24 pm

By Alison Ellis Leave a Comment

What I’m Obsessed With In My Business Right Now

I invited floralpreneurs to join me for a LIVE chat in my Facebook group in December so I could share what I’m obsessed with in my business right now…and what I plan to stay obsessed with for the forseeable future. I hope you’ll watch and get obsessed, too!


Click to watch!

And if you’re ready to “get obsessed” and you’re interested in The Art of Good Business CLICK HERE.


If you’d like to see a full list of my courses, Click here.

December 14, 2017 — 6:57 pm

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Welcome, Floralpreneur®.  I’m Alison Ellis, creator of Flower Math, published author, and founder of Real Flower Business. My online business courses and private coaching help floral designers increase profits, book great clients & build a better brand.  Learn More →

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FOR WEDDING FLORISTS:

Read my book: Falling Into Flowers

Templates for Florists

Flower Math Formulas

3 Keys To Booking Great Clients

FREE RESOURCES:

Free ebook: Everything I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Business

5 Actions To Take When Biz Is Uncertain

10 Things I Did To Grow My Biz

AS SEEN ON:

*The Flower Podcast

*Slow Flowers Podcast

*Mornings With Mayesh

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*Florists’ Review

*FlirtyFleurs.com

*From The Ground Up Floral-podcast

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