Agricultural Careers

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F L O R I S T
Agricultural Careers
By Dr. Frank Flanders and Asha Wise Georgia
Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia
Department of Education June 2005
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Three Major Components

• Growers usually specialize in a few crops or
  plants.
• Wholesalers usually have an inventory of items
  from all over the world. A wholesaler deals with
  several dealers from many countries to secure the
  variety necessary for the retail florist to
  satisfy the customers demand.
• Retail florist deal directly with the consumer,
  either by telephone or walk-in sales. They have
  to anticipate customers needs and desires and be
  creative in constructing pleasing arrangements of
  an international variety of plants, flowers and
  materials that the customer will want to
  purchase. They have to be business savvy as well
  as know plant materials, be creative and work
  with people.

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• Design appropriate floral arrangements of
  flowers, plant materials and accessories
• Discuss with clients their desires and
  requirements, including type of occasion and
  budget available to determine and full-fill their
  needs
• Select flowers and greenery, taking into account
  the expected life of each flower in combination
• Make sure that flowers remain in good condition
• Arrange local delivery of flowers and relay
  interstate and overseas orders
• Arrange dried, paper, silk or latex flowers,
  fruits and other materials
• Take orders by phone or in face-to-face sales
  situations
• Prepare floral inventory and place orders for
  needed materials and supplies
• Keep the shop premises and displays neat and tidy

Duties and Responsibilities
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Qualities and Skills

• A good sense of design, color, creativity, and
  artistic ability are very important in florist as
  is an appreciation of the different varieties of
  flowers, plants and accessories
• Patience and people skills are necessary for
  someone in this career, particularly for florists
  dealing directly with the public
• For those operating their own florist, sound
  business and supervising skills are required
• To be successful, time management and sales
  skills are also needed
• Florists must understand the importance of
  discretion and confidentiality

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Salary
Average salary for a florist in 2004 was 25,000
per year. The low end was 15,000 and the high
end was 29,000-45,000. The salary may vary
depending on geographical location, experience
and reputation.
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Education
A high school degree or GED is often the only
education requirement for beginning floral
designers. However, formal training is an asset.
Vocational and technical schools offer programs
in floral design, usually lasting less than a
year. Most floral designers learn their skills on
the job. Anyone with an eye for color and style
can be trained the floral career.
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Career Resources
Society of American Florists1601 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314Internet http//www.safnow.o
rg/ American Institute of Floral Designers 720
Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 Internet
www.aifd.org Directory of USA State Floral
Associations Internet www.floralshops.com/statefl
oralassociations.html