Real Flower Business

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By Alison Ellis

Featured On Flirty Fleurs

I wrote my first floral education article as a guest blog post for FlirtyFleurs.com back in March 2011 with 15 Tips To Book More Weddings.

I continued to submit flower business articles and videos and the rest, as they say, is herstory.

I was inspired to share what I knew so I went out on a limb to ask a knowledgable floral expert, Alicia Schwede–who didn’t know me at all–if she’d be willing to let me talk to her audience and lucky for me, she said yes!

In fact, she continued to say yes to my submissions and floral designers can find dozens of guest blog posts, videos, checklists, and I even had features in a few of the Flirty Fleurs print magazines over the years. (Scroll down to see those original 15 Tips I shared!)

I’ve covered a lot of ground over at Flirty Fleurs!

From topics like mock-ups and minimums to tipping and “extra flowers” to pricing garlands and when to get paid; scroll down for a Flirty Fleurs Playlist!

As you know if you own a business: everybody has to start somewhere. And this is where I started my floral education journey.


15 Tips To Book Weddings More Quickly (via FlirtyFleurs circa 2011!)

  • Be easy to reach via e-mail. E-mail is essential to coordinating with your clients.
  • Schedule consultations with the lead wedding designer—someone who is skilled and versed in weddings, works well with customers and translates ideas into designs.
  • Update your portfolios and website to reflect the best of your work and professional photos are always best. This means that wedding bouquet from 1995 has to go. Heck, maybe that bouquet from 2009 has to go, too! Keep it fresh.
  • Keep up! Follow trends on blogs, websites, magazines, social media, etc. You have to know what’s happening in your industry. (Your clients do!)
  • Decide which services you offer and which you don’t. Are you: a floral designer; an event designer; a florist who does weddings; a wedding designer who owns a flower shop; a lighting specialist? You don’t have to be all things to all weddings!
  • Do what you do. Don’t worry about what the other guys are up to.
  • Be upfront about your pricing. Find out what the clients’ budget is and either do your best to stick to it or suggest what you think is a reasonable budget for what they want. Years ago I was advised to never inquire about budget and to always “up-sell” to clients planning a wedding. After all it’s their wedding day—a day to “go for it”—it’s a chance to steer them towards more expensive options. Wrong. People can’t spent money they don’t have—period.
  • If the pricing or style doesn’t work, then move on. It’s OK to decide that a client is not a good fit. It will make life easier in the long run.
  • Don’t overbook. Taking on more than you can handle is never a good idea.
  • Require a signed contract and a reasonable deposit of at least 20-30% of the total budget to book an event.
  • Be concise in proposals about what is required to book a date, when final payment is due, etc.
  • If you send out a proposal and don’t hear back within a reasonable timeframe you should follow up—once—with the client to see if there are any questions you can answer.
  • Charge fairly, but you have to be compensated for your flower markup, design fee, delivery and set-up, travel, etc. If you are not charging enough, then why are you working so darn hard?
  • Don’t promise what you can’t deliver. (Definitely don’t do that!)
  • Listen to what your clients want. Then, make it happen.

9 years later, I still stand by these tips by the way!!


After sharing my “stuff” with floral designers for years on Alicia’s blog, I finally branched out and created my website, realflowerbusiness.com, where I could create my own corner of the world to create and share. I’ve been doing so since 2015 and I’m so thankful for the thousands of florists who’ve taken the time to watch my videos, join a course, or participate in one of my Live Q&A Tuesdays on Facebook!

But I still make guest appearances on Flirty Fleurs–look for me on the first Monday of the month–including this video: Should Florists Make Mock Ups? If you’ve ever been asked to make a mock up, click to watch!


Funny story: I first knew florists were watching my educational videos when I attended a Chapel Designer’s Workshop and someone said, “I’m your biggest fan!”

I walked into the ladies’ room one of the attendees looked over at me and said, “Oh my gosh, I’m your biggest fan!”
Um, surely she had me confused with someone else, right?…
Turns out, no. She was actually talking to me!
She was reading and watching my posts on Flirty Fleurs and she liked me! She really, really like me. (Who’d have thunk it?)

It hadn’t occurred to me how many florists were actually watching my videos or reading my articles so when someone recognized me and called herself a “fan”, I must admit I was surprised. And flattered. But first and foremost I was inspired to keep creating!

I thanked Alicia in a blog post a few years ago for sharing her stage with me (read that here) and most recently on her website (see my video below) and if you’ve missed any of my Flirty Fleurs Features you can catch them all in my YouTube Playlist here.

To see some of my videos throughout the years, check out the Flirty Fleurs Playlist below!

Thanks for taking the time to tune in, Floralpreneur®! Keep doing beautiful work!

With love from me to you,

Alison


Find a Playlist on YouTube with hours of videos here:

Remember: If you like my videos, please “like” them, comment and share ’em with your best flower friends. xo.

 

February 29, 2020 — 6:03 pm

By Alison Ellis

Sixth Anniversary with Flirty Fleurs

I try to keep track of landmark moments and anniversaries in my business, but I’ll admit a few business anniversaries have snuck up on me! I’ve officially been in business for 15 years now…my 16th season begins this month!

This “Sweet 16” feels like another landmark to me. I suppose each year in business is worth celebrating in its own way.

We have to make deliberate moves in our business, if we want to reach our landmark moments.

(For example: Will you leave your “real job” to do flowers full-time? Will you be able to set a minimum or say “no” to work that doesn’t meet your criterion? Will you blog? Will you get more training; hire a new accountant; get another designer; teach your staff more?)

I make moves in my business.

I made a move back in 2011 when I wrote my first guest blog post for Flirty Fleurs.

I had no idea if Alicia would be interested in what I had to say, but I LOVED her blog, and I felt like I had something to say, so I wrote up a post, held my breath and sent it.

I was thrilled that she not only posted my article, but she encouraged me to send her more.

I kept writing articles and made my first video in 2014.  I have about 50 posts published so far.

Last March was my 5th Anniversary as a guest blogger on flirtyfleurs.com.

I even have my own blog category, which was absolutely a landmark day for me. I’m not kidding, Alison Ellis Videos is a legit category!

coral peony, real flower business, Alison EllisI’m also a proud contributor to the first 3 issues of the Flirty Fleurs print magazines. If you haven’t seen them, check them out.

The print magazines are absolutely beautiful!

They really are designed especially with floral designers in mind.

One of my favorite things about the magazines is that every single flower photo includes top billing to the floral designer! It’s truly a florist’s dream come true; designer credit right on the photo!

Check out the 3rd edition of Flirty Fleurs magazine HERE and treat yourself to all 3 magazines to enjoy all the incredible images!

Happy 6 year Anniversary, Alicia! Thanks for always giving me a place to “share my stuff” with your readers and fans!

xo. -A

 

April 12, 2017 — 4:01 pm

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:

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5 Actions To Take When Biz Is Uncertain

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