How to Start a Wedding Floral Business
Due to the recent recession, more and more people are finding ways to work for themselves. A 2009 study revealed that more than half of the individuals that have small businesses can experience financial freedom despite the state of the economy--with the right planning and money management skills. So, if you're interested in wedding planning, enjoy working with flowers, and love decorating, starting a wedding floral business may be the right professional move for you.
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Instructions
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Get in touch with wholesalers in your area and open professional accounts with these businesses. This will allow you to buy the flowers you need in bulk at a discounted price, and the wholesaler will receive a percentage of your sales. You can also set up an account with local growers so that the flowers will be fresh---this will keep your materials affordable and make them more appealing.
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Decide where you'll do business in your city. This will depend on the number of people that will be buying the flowers you sell. Since your products will be used for weddings, it's a good idea to find a location that is in the trendier part of town, so that couples will feel as though they are getting something exclusive. Of course, you can also use a flower cart when you're just getting started, or you can run the business out of your home.
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Find a safe place to store the flowers, whether they're fresh or artificial. Fresh flowers should be kept refrigerated until they are ready to be used, and artificial varieties will stay in their best condition when they are kept in a cool, dry place and wiped with a damp cloth to remove dust. Creating a few floral arrangements and using them as displays will also give potential customers a better idea of your expertise, and will draw more people into your business to inquire about your services.
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Visit some local flower shops and start comparing prices. Keep your prices in the same range as your general competition, but offer a few items at just below the average price point so that more people will be willing to patronize your business---as your company grows, you can start to raise the prices slightly.
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Get the right signage to advertise your business; since you're just starting out, money is probably tight, so ask your friends and family if they know any art school students who would be willing to create signs for you. Of course, the Internet is also a great tool for advertising---you can use templates to create your own logo, and send out emails to friends and potential business contacts to notify them of sales and promotions. Take advantage of the Clip Art feature in Microsoft Word for possible design ideas, or visit www.fotosearch.com to start creating your sign and logo.
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