Real Flower Business

Education and Business Training for Floral Designers.

By

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

—

By

The Results Are In: Real Florists Tell Me What They Think

Floralpreneurs were kind enough to share their feedback with me (thank you!) and in my last blog post I shared the #1 Thing florists told me they want to learn (you can read it here).  Today I want to share Thing 2; the #2 Thing Florists Need To Learn based on the survey results I received.

Thanks so much to all who took the time to share your thoughts with me! It really does help me to hear your input so that I can work to better tailor my course offerings and free content to meet your needs, struggles and wants. Everything I create is designed to help you better manage your successful and fulfilling small business.

Before I share “Thing #2” florists told me they need to learn, I want to let you in on more of the feedback florists gave me…

I asked: Do you feel confident that your brand is “as good as it can be”?

Real florists said:

“I’m not sure I really even have a brand…“

“I don’t think you can ever stop developing your brand. I need to improve in making my voice come through stronger. I struggle with the thought that I need to sound professional and businesslike while also be personable and show my voice without sounding like it is forced.”

“I am not good at “selling” myself.  I have a style that people can immediately identify as my work, however I haven’t been able to translate that at all via website. Of course I haven’t been good at taking photos of work—I’ve done tons of work with really nothing to show for it.”

I think every business owner can relate to these feelings….do I have a business or a brand?…what IS my voice?…I’m good at what I do, but I hate selling “me”.

Good brands are built, not born. It takes time and practice to develop a brand that goes “beyond just a business”.

 

The #2 Thing Florists Told Me They Want to Learn is “Website stuff”. Only 3% of respondents said they don’t update their own website! If “website stuff” is on your list of things to-do, then you will LOVE the Art of Good Business!

I asked: What made you think the course was NOT right for you…click below to watch!

It’s easy to understand that floralpreneurs expressed skepticism regarding the value of a $999 investment; on the other hand, some were not clear on what I was actually offering…and then, some were hoping they could buy just part of the course…But these are the stats that I found most interesting:

89% of florists told me hands down that the course was out of their budget…

However, only 1 florist said that she already works with her ideal clients, has an awesome website and a stellar client management process!

(And, by the way, I did have at least 2 men fill out my survey as well, so shout out to the guys, too!)

If only 1% of respondents is reaching her ideal clients and crushing it with her business, then it seems to me that florists really do need The Art Of Good Business and the results you can create for yourself once you take action and join my course here.

2 of most frequent answers as to why floralpreneurs did NOT sign up for The Art Of Good Business– #1. it was a busy time of year and #2, I was surprised to learn that most florists said they’d never taken an online course before.

I’d like to address ALL of your concerns regarding time, cost and “busyness” and invite you to 3 new sessions of The Art Of Good Business starting in November, January or March. And because people mentioned price as the #1 roadblock, I’m introducing a 4-payment plan.

Since we’re talking about price…

Think about the investment like this: what it would mean if you booked JUST 1 MORE IDEAL CLIENT after taking my course?……Would you make back your investment in 1 gig? Would it be worth it?

What if you booked 5 more ideal clients? Now, what if you consistently book more and more ideal clients every year from now on?…..what would that be worth?

Whether you missed the boat for the October session or you simply didn’t think it was worth the investment, think about where you are NOW….and consider where you want to be next year….2 years from now….5 years from now……What steps are you going to take to get there? How are you going to transform your business into a long lasting brand?

(I’ve spent almost $2k in online education in the past 3 months…at a time when I was “so busy” I knew I didn’t have time to fully absorb all the info, but I started anyway…and over the next few months I’ll be digging in.) I am not afraid to start before I’m ready….it’s the only reason I am where I am right now.

Being too busy or not having $999 in your budget can be a totally valid reason to not sign up for my course and I understand the feeling–it took a long time for me to decide it was worth the risk to try to figure out how to have a business that was branded and excellent; I had to take a leap and invest in myself if I wanted to move on to the next level with my biz.

I always felt like I had to do everything myself–for years–but I took my first leap on a conference in NYC with Marie Forleo & Danielle LaPorte called Selling Your Soul and I got so much value–so much inspiration–that I’ve been investing in my business education and development every year since.

Don’t wait until “the time is right”…..the time is NEVER right. There is always a holiday, or another project, or an upcoming “big ticket item” that we have to plan for….think about what it would mean if you booked JUST 1 MORE IDEAL CLIENT this my course…….would you make back your investment? Would it be worth it?

While most florists said that they had never taken an online course, of those who’ve taken online courses, over 6% of people had been disappointed in a previous online course they’d purchased.

I’m sorry to hear that and I’ve been there, too. When Flower Math first came out in November 2015 I purchased another pricing course to see how it compared and I was really disappointed in what I saw. Frankly, it was marketed to floral designers, but it wasn’t nearly specific enough and did not properly represent the industry standards on pricing & profits. It was heavily marketed to florists and I bet a lot of business owners bought it and didn’t get their proper value.

Bad courses happen. Your skepticism is warranted.

But if you’ve been burned before, don’t give up hope! I’ve invested in several online courses (admittedly not wedding or floristry related; they were highly vetted business courses) and each of them has majorly helped me to push my business to the next level.

Join the November session HERE.  Registration is open Nov. 1-30. Class begins Nov. 6th.

Doors Open for the next session Jan. 1-31.

As always, you can contact me with any questions you may have!

With love from me to you,

Alison

P.S.

When I asked you what you’re most interested in learning or improving, the hands-down response was “Pricing and profitability”. This doesn’t surprise me. My very first course is Flower Math, The Florist’s Guide To Pricing & Profitability, which I created because I know that there are really talented florists out there who still don’t have a firm grasp on how to price their work.

I know how important pricing and profits are to your small business. Since so many of you answered that this 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.

—

By

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

—

By

A Hero’s Journey. The story of your business.

If you missed my Facebook Live today, check out a replay here:

The topic is the hero’s journey of your small business. I wonder if you can relate?

These are the final few days to register for Session 2 of The Art of Good Business!

Click below to see what other floralpreneurs had to say about the course.

Click here to enroll today. The first 5 Floralpreneurs to register will receive a FREE 1:1 coaching call as a bonus!

Still not sure if The Art Of Good Business is right for you? Let’s hop on a call. I’m happy to answer any questions you  may have.

Shoot me an e-mail any time at floralartvt@gmail.com

floral industry, Art of Good Business, floralpreneur

Join my Facebook group here and catch my next Livestream on Friday at 11:00am.

—

By

How to get more testimonials

Testimonials are a powerful tool in your small business.

Great testimonials help do the work of establishing trust and building brand authority with potential clients, but before you can put your testimonials to work for you, you must gather rave reviews.

What’s the best way to get more reviews from clients?

Whether you send a survey from your company, or ask clients to review your work online on a service like Wedding Wire or The Knot or Google, it’s worth taking the time to request the feedback you seek!

Today, I’m sharing a free e-mail template with an example of how you can approach your clients about writing a “rave review” for your business. (This template is free and there’s no e-mail opt-in required! Grab it below…)

Click to download: How To Ask For A Testimonial

If your clients had a good experience with your company, you want to know about it!

And if for any reason they had a “less than awesome” experience, well, you should want to know about that, too….

Because your client’s feedback reflects the truth about what you’re actually delivering….

And if you’re especially good at what you do, there’s no better way to say it, than in your own customers’ words.

Push yourself out of your comfort zone! If you’re not in the habit of asking for feedback, make it a part of your workflow process asap!

Want some more insight on how to create a survey to put your client feedback to work in your business? Check out my tips for creating a client questionnaire on my Patreon Creator Page here! I’ll show you my quick tips to create a questionnaire that gathers market research for your small biz!

real flower business courses, education for florists

Want some more insight on how I build trust and authority? Check out my E-mail Templates for Florists here!

xo. -Alison

P.S. You can read some of my customer testimonials HERE.

 

—