Real Flower Business

Education and Business Training for Floral Designers.

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3 Pricing Tips for Florists

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Anytime is a good time of the year to plan ahead for a successful upcoming season…..but when you’re a floralpreneur® who “does it all”, it can be overwhelming to try to make the time to “think forward”.

You’re not alone! Take a few minutes to appreciate yo’self and don’t let the non-stop hustle and bustle of balancing “all the things you have to do” bog you down.

Whether you run a brick & mortar shop or you’re operating from a home-based studio, I have 3 Pricing Tips for you today, including…

  • Follow industry standards on pricing….
  • Don’t price “based on need”….that’s a myth that can limit your income potential….
  • Trickle down economics is also a myth, BUT trickle down confidence is something I believe in….
  • PLUS charging for delivery & set-up…
  • AND why you shouldn’t have a “spending goal” on wholesale purchases!

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch my tips below and make this the year you finally master your pricing!

And if you want to learn how to price with confidence & stop over-buying so you can increase your income, I teach you everything I know about pricing in Flower Math! 

Sign up & SAVE $100!

Click to watch, Price Talk: Live on Dec. 8th in my Facebook group (click here to join my group!).

Remember: A lack of confidence in your pricing can permeate into other aspects of your business.

Having your pricing on lock is your responsibility as a business owner. You owe it to yourself to be paid for your time and expertise.

The good news is you can make money and provide value to your clients. (Pricing is not a mystery.)

Additional Resources:

Thanks for reading! Keep doing beautiful work!

With love from me to you,

Alison

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

Flower Math review, online courses for florists

Flower Math review

Learn more about Flower Math HERE.

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Congratulations florists! You can never be replaced.

I was delivering my final wedding of 2017 a few weeks ago, and on my way home I was listening to a story on the news regarding automation and how “robots” will be replacing more and more employees…right down to entering your own order into a touchpad at McDonald’s instead of interacting with cashiers at the counter.

 

This is nothing new; it’s something we all know has been happening for decades now, of course, but for some reason, today, it really struck me: I can never be replaced.

 

There will never be a robot doing my job. Ever.

 

There will never be a touchpad that can interpret a bride’s vision and turn it into 20 centerpieces, 8 bridesmaids’ bouquets, 1 bridal bouquet, 12 boutonnieres, a chuppah of their dreams AND make it work within a budget they’re willing to commit to.

 

There will never be a robot that can drape fabric over an arbor and then create a meticulously designed fresh, seasonal floral swag that will look gorgeous for hours and hours. Never.

 

Demanding as it may be.
Tough as some of the physical demands are at times.
For the love and the glory.
No on can do it like you do….
You can never be replaced.

 

Keep doing beautiful work!
With love from me to you,
Alison

These are the final days to join me for the November Session of The Art of Good Business! Read details here.

Is this your session? Why wait? Get started today!

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The best way to evaluate a course: Real Florist Reviews

In my last two blog posts I shared survey results from real florists on why they did not sign up for my course, The Art of Good Business, and today I want to share the outcome and results from real floralpreneurs who DID take the leap to join my course.

I truly believe the best way to evaluate a course is to hear from real life florists.

(You can check out a FREE preview of the course here.)

Here’s what real florists had to say about The Art of Good Business:

“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
“Because it was nearly impossible for me to atend the live stream, it was invaluable to be able to watch when I was able to.
This is a terrific course for a floral design company to take their business knowledge to the next level. It also supports and confirms a more experienced designer and can round out any deficits.”
-Lisa Sommers
“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
“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 with integrity 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

 

“I recommend The Art of Good Business to anyone who has been trying to go it alone. I tried to figure out my business path on my own and found a patchwork of information. The Art of Good Business puts a plan out there to follow step by step. Also, because it is cohesive it puts all the information you need into one clear class. I have taken my binder with me everywhere I go to read and re-read the course. I find new depth in the material each time. It is wonderful that this course continues to grow with your business. The Art of Good Business is a guide book for my future.“

-Rebecca Raymond

Jessica Ormond shared in our private Facebook group:

“Hey everyone! I just have to say this course, Alison’s content works! If you are dragging your feet in applying the materials, just do it! Do whatever little piece you can fit in during wedding season…here’s my story …

I still have website tweaks to make but 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.

…just booked as my biggest gig yet, by $3k….

They refused to give me a budget. Just said that they were willing to pay what was reasonable, flowers were a priority, and they knew they were going to be a big chunk so they intentionally saved in other places. It was sooo had to leave my money shoes in the closet and not make disclaimers when I sent the proposal.

In two hours she texted to say everything looked perfect… She signed the contact in 24hrs. And, she picked me over one of the more prestigious shops in town.”

Floralpreneurs told me that November, January and March are the best times to start my course so I’ve set up 3 new sessions so you can learn at your own pace.

REGISTER FOR 3 NEW SESSIONS:

0.1  DOORS OPEN NOW-NOV. 30

0.2  DOORS WILL OPEN JAN. 1-31

0.3  DOORS WILL OPEN MAR. 1-31

The Art of Good Business includes:

  • 6 pdfs (over 125 pages of lessons + 8 pages of worksheets) that you can download right to your computer; you can even print out the entire course if you’d like.
  • 10 videos with over 4 hours of content to supplement the pdfs.
  • Plus monthly livestreams in our private Facebook group to help move you through the course all year long! In our private group we can interact with one another (including other florists) and I can address your specific questions.

If you want to design a more engaging website, attract better clients and stop worrying about what “other florists” are doing, let’s dive into The Art Of Good Business.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW THRU NOV. 30TH!

(check out a FREE preview of the course here.)

Click HERE to join my course today!

Feel free to contact me with questions here: floralartvt@gmail.com

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The #1 Thing Florists Want to Learn

Real feedback from real people…there ain’t nothing like the real thing, baby. Real florists told me what they really think…and I am ever so grateful.

I asked floralpreneurs why they did not sign up for the October session of my course, The Art Of Good Business, and I got some genuinely valuable feedback from over 100 florists over the course of a few days.

The survey results were interesting, heartening and share-worthy. Thanks so much to all those who offered your feedback.

Y’all said some really nice things about my courses and my “free stuff” and my Facebook group; your opinions and encouragement are greatly appreciated.

I’m going to share some of the survey results with you in two posts including Thing #1 and Thing #2 that florists told me they want to learn or improve….stay tuned on Monday morning for Part 2, “The #2 Thing Florists Want To Learn”.

Before I share the #1 thing florists told me they want to improve or learn, I want to share some of the heartfelt struggles florists shared with me:

“I can put awesome stuff in the vase and book nearly all wedding proposals I write, but I don’t have enough clients coming at me. I DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW TO HELP CLIENTS FIND ME.”

“I would like my brand to be truly my own…Not a template or just a series of pictures that look just like every other flower shop or wedding designer.”

“I don’t get a lot of inquiries! Also my quote process takes so long I dread it.”

“I’m overwhelmed by the sheer number of workshops being offered. Do I take a design course? A business course? A farming course (I’m a cut flower farmer and florist)? I sign up for these lists because I admire all of you, and it can be really difficult figuring out what to take and when.”

I know a lot of florists share these same sentiments, which is why I share these words from real florists with you today….you’re not alone.

The #1 Thing Florists Said They Want To Learn:

When I asked you what you’re most interested in learning or improving, the hands-down response was “Pricing and profitability”.  71% of florists said they’re most interested in learning more about pricing!

This does not surprise me. The very first course I created, Flower Math, The Florist’s Guide To Pricing & Profitability, shares everything I know about pricing & profitability. I designed this course for florists because I know that there are really talented designers out there who still don’t have a firm grasp on how to price their work.

Click here to read what’s included in Flower Math.

Transparency is what Flower Math is all about.

Nicole just signed up for Flower Math on Monday, and she wrote to me on Tuesday (Yes, just 1 day later!) to say this…

“…I’ve taken a handful of courses…I really felt like I needed to invest in everything marketed to me before I could be considered legitimate. I took [3 “other” online courses for florists]… Even after all of that, it all seemed muddy. I told myself I’d give Flower Math a try and then no more courses.

For the first time in nearly two years, I feel empowered ordering flowers. Flower Math made all the other courses I’ve taken completely irrelevant. It’s honest, practical and totally transparent. I can’t thank you enough. It feels amazing to have an actual plan about how I’m going to execute this wedding I just ordered and knowing exactly how much I will be making. With your examples, I sat down and wrote out actual recipes, which I’ve never done before (since learning from a few courses above that they’re not necessary).
Before I started my business, I did a six month stint at a studio…I somehow let my distaste from working there trick me into thinking there was some magical way I could price and not markup flowers and… still be profitable. I totally see now that the flower shop way is the way! But I can still design how I want to and create a healthy work environment for myself….
I listened to your recent podcast interview and you said something that really stuck with me. It was something along the lines of, just because someone is doing beautiful work and seems successful on Instagram doesn’t mean they are running a successful business in real life. You’re in this for the long-term. I loved that. It felt like permission for me to also stop caring what everyone else is doing and focus on growing my business for the long-term.
All the best,  Nicole”

Don’t listen to people who tell you that you “don’t need a recipe”. You most definitely do need a recipe to turn a profit in your floral design business. Recipes are an important part of your pricing and profits in your small business.

In Flower Math, I don’t tell you what I think you should do. I show you, step by step, exactly how I do it. Whether you’re pricing a wedding or a daily delivery from your shop, you’ll learn how to make a profit on every order you make.

I created this course for floral designers who have a talent and love for flowers, but do not have anywhere to turn for mentorship to learn the business-side of the craft.

From industry standard mark-ups and how to apply them to recipes and wholesale ordering, plus 3 real weddings worth of sales, orders, recipes & real profits—I’m taking you behind the scenes to show you how I run my floral design business.

I know you will take these formulas, recipes, tips and advice and run with them.

Save $100 Off Flower Math here.

New!  Since so many of you answered that Pricing & Profitability is what you’re most interested in learning or improving I’m introducing a 2-payment plan for Flower Math….you can start today if you’re ready.

Flower Math is an investment in your business. You have to ask yourself as a business owner, “how many weddings do I have to sell to make back this investment?”

So, how much work would you have to book to make it worth it? How many gigs do you have to book to make $499?

I’ve had florists tells me they’ve made back the price of the course in 1 wedding.

Larissa of Bridal Beginnings shared on Facebook, “Flower Math saved my business.”

Invest in your business, invest in your profitability. Click to get Flower Math here today!

More feedback from real florists…

Some floralpreneurs said they were interested in The Art of Good Business, but it just wasn’t the right time:

“I genuinely LOVE your courses and rave about them to literally everyone and anyone. The short courses on proposals and contracts has been invaluable and I know I would get a lot out of the art of good business, I whole heartedly trust your voice and know your advise is well worth the fee. I spent up on advertising this year and am still trying to recoup some gains from that investment so it was more a timing issue for me this time round. I have already earmarked for next year instead of collaborations and paid adverts I am investing in your course, I just hope that you will run it again in the new year (after Valentines).”

“I’ve got a client management system in place that I am always tweaking. I was actually thinking that flower math might be a better option for me at this point. You are an awesome resource, Alison, and I’m grateful for all of your assistance in the group. Thank you for your videos as well.”

“I should ask my husband to buy me your course for Christmas!“

Because many floral designers said “timing” was an issue…

Many florists said that November, January and March were ideal times to dive into a course so I am offering 3 upcoming sessions of The Art of Good Business and you can find details here! Registration will be open in November, January and March. You can sign up any time that works for you during the registration months and then join me for livestreams in our private Facebook group once a month for the entire year! You can do this course at your own pace and get live support from me once a month for the entire year. I don’t want you to just buy the course, I want you to get results!}

 

Again, many thanks to those who took the time to share your input with me. I have more survey results to share with you….tune in Monday for the #2 Thing florists told me they want to learn more about!

Keep doing beautiful work!

With love from me to you,

Alison

Learn more about Flower Math here.

Want to book a one-on-one strategy session? Find the details here: Private lessons

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My first podcast interview

I am happy to share my first podcast interview on From The Ground Up Floral.

When Gina invited me on, I was an immediate yes….I love talking to florists about business so this was a fun opportunity for me.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to check it out! You can listen here: fromthegroundupfloral.media/podcast/2019/6/14/flower-math-with-alison-ellis

Here are some of the topics we talk about in our chat:

  • How I got started in the floral industry;
  • How do you make money as a home-based floral business?;
  • Industry standards on pricing;
  • Lessons from my best-worst boss;
  • A misconception I used to have about “ideal clients”;
  • The Art of Good Business (my online branding and biz building course);
  • Gina mentions that one of her favorite videos about the consequences of “adding one extra rose” (see below);
  • Should a newer designer charge less?;
  • Quoting on the spot;
  • Why grocery stores are losing out by not using Flower Math Fomulas!

You can find the podcast on iTunes and subscribe to future episodes as well! I hope you’ll make some time to listen.

Here’s the video mentioned in our interview:

Thanks to Gina for inviting me to your podcast!

Floralpreneurs sometimes ask me if I’ll ever do a podcast and while I’d never say never, you can currently find me on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest!

xo. -Alison

 

Read more about The Art Of Good Business HERE.

 

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