Real Flower Business

Education and Business Training for Floral Designers.

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Join me Live at The Floral Reserve

I’m doing some end of year business planning live and in person at The Floral Reserve in Providence, Rhode Island on December 9th,….do you want to meet me there?

In honor of their 1 year anniversary, The Floral Reserve invited me to present an educational seminar for their wholesale customers and fellow florists as part of their end-of-year celebration and I am so honored and excited to be a part of it! There’s room for up to 45 floralpreneurs so space is limited!

And after the educational portion of our day, you’re invited to the Flowers By Semia studio for a meal catered by Gracie’s restaurant. You will be treated to a lavish tablescape and candlelit room for dinner, as a thank you for an amazing first year of business at The Floral Reserve. (I will also be joining you for dinner, of course!) Limited to 25 attendees.

You can click HERE for details to register to join me and reserve your seat today!

education for florists, floral education

I will lead two 45 minute presentations with breaks for questions in between, from 3pm-5pm on Sunday, December 9th.

The first will be a discussion on the on the basics of business planning so that you can update your business plan and grow your brand. You’ll have access to the slides from this presentation afterwards for future reference as well.

The second presentation will be on Pricing and Profitability and attendees will get a special discount on my online pricing course, Flower Math, if you’d like to dive deeper into the pricing lessons.

From The Floral Reserve:

“While there is always room to improve and grow in your designs, growing your business is just as important. On December 9th, we are so excited to invite our friends in the floral design community to something truly special. We will be hosting the lovely Alison Ellis of Real Flower Business at The Floral Reserve, a floral designer and business guru, as she shares her knowledge to educate and empower fellow “floralpreneurs” to achieve their business goals and build long-lasting brands….read more here.

Keep doing beautiful work!

xo. -Alison

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Business Planning Jumpstart

Many of the florists I’ve talked with recently say it’s been a busy year, which is awesome news as someone who keeps a beat on what’s happening in the floral industry!….but if you want to plan for a busy next season….and the season after that, you’re invited to join me LIVE Monday, Oct. 22-26 for a business planning boost before the end of the year!
This is a bonus planning session for paid members of The Art of Good Business. You have lifetime access to this course, including any bonuses and updates I add, plus you can ask me questions any time in our private Facebook group for members only.

Next-level planning starts now for your business!

Here’s what’s covered in the 5-day bonus planning session starting Monday:
  • Day 1: Planning ahead: You future-thinking business goals
  • Day 2: SWOTs (Note: I want you to identify 1 opportunity that you can act on!)
  • Day 3: Improving Sales Copy With “Benefits & Results”
  • Day 4: Bare Bones Business Plan (you’ll have a current and future plan for your biz this week!)
  • Day 5: Updating and Implementing (because action is essential!)
THIS IS IMPORTANT WORK TO DO BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
Your business can’t wait until January to plan for a successful 2019.
And you can’t just “hope business increases” without a plan to make meaningful moves that create changes in your biz.

So if you’re looking for better clients or struggling with your sales copy or you’re not sure how to improve your brand without investing $20,000+ in a marketing expert, this course is made for you!

You don’t have to be a marketing expert to have a good brand.
(But you do have to do some hard work to get to the heart of your brand’s message and values!)

Here’s what you’ll learn in The Art of Good Business:

  • Gain valuable strategies around how to prequalify customers so that you’re not wasting time with clients who aren’t a good fit;
  • 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.

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 enroll before 9am Monday to join my bonus jam session. 

OR

Click HERE to read more about The Art of Good Business.

If have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to get in touch floralartvt@gmail.com 
We can even hop on a phone or Skype call so I can address your questions before signing up.
(Yes, I’ll talk to you on a Sunday!)
​​​​​​​
If you know a florist who would enjoy my Real Flower Business “stuff”, please pass it on.
​​​​​​​Keep doing beautiful work!
With love from me to you,
Alison

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Behind the Scenes

There are only a few days left to get in on my end-of-year business reboot!

Before signing up for my 4th Quarter Business Planning Jam Session and joining me for The Art of Good Business, check out this quick behind the scenes video:

Click here to learn more about the course.

OR get an inside look at the course HERE.

Real florists say:

“I was hesitant to start and not finish the course online, but this course was very accessible.

[This course is for]…anyone and everyone seriously interested in improving their business. Learning to be passionate, but at the same time differentiate a hobby from a business.
I would love to do it again…”
-Sarita De Castro
floral industry, Art of Good Business, floralpreneur
“Being a success is more than dollars earned, recognition, or floral-designing mastered. More than visibility on social media or working prestigious venues. The integrity of delivering great value… and client’s perception of being well served is what is a worthy goal.
AND the work is mine to DO not just to KNOW. This falls in line with my personal life values so I’m happy to put this at the top of my list of business goals…
It was worth every penny. It was at the top of my affordability at this time in my fledgling business. And I did not have to get a hotel room or plane ticket, which kept me in the game.

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

“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

Click here to learn more about the course.

OR get an inside look at the course HERE.

And if you have a question for me, get in touch! floralartvt@gmail.com

Who is The Art of Good Business for?

You may be a talented 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 this course is made for you!

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. It’s easy to get started…

 Click HERE to get started today.

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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