How to become a Florist

Florists prepare floral arrangements such as bouquets, sprays, wreaths and vases of flowers. They also organise the storage, sale and delivery of floral arrangements.

Personal requirements for a Florist

  • Enjoy artistic and creative activities
  • A good sense of colour, texture and design
  • An appreciation of different varieties of flowers
  • Good communication skills
  • Sound business skills (if interested in operating a business)
  • Attention to detail

Education & Training for a Florist

To become a florist you usually have to complete a VET qualification. As subjects and prerequisites can vary between institutions, you should contact your chosen institution for further information.You can also become a florist through an apprenticeship or traineeship. Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10.


Duties & Tasks of a Florist

Florists:

  • Design appropriate floral arrangements based on discussions with clients about their requirements, considering the type of occasion and budget
  • Select flowers and greenery, taking into account their expected lifespans, and trim flowers to a suitable length, strengthening them with wire if necessary
  • Arrange flowers and greenery in vases, or secure them to a wire or plastic base, and finish the arrangement with ribbons or other trimmings
  • Ensure flowers remain in good condition by taking into account the temperature, watering requirements and storage needs
  • Arrange local delivery of flowers, and relay interstate and overseas orders
  • Arrange dried, paper, silk or latex flowers and fruits, and other materials
  • Decorate churches and other venues for weddings and other special occasions
  • Rotate inventory and manage stock for in-store displays, preorders and daily sales
  • Take part in management and administration, such as working out costs and pricing of floral arrangements, maintaining financial records and supervising staff.

Tasks

  • Arranging supply and storage of flowers, greenery, decorations and other items
  • Advising customers on the selection of flowers and floral arrangements
  • May decorate hotels, churches, halls and other facilities for special events
  • Treating flowers to extend their life
  • Serving customers and accepting payments
  • Selecting, trimming and arranging flowers and other materials
  • Planning and designing floral arrangements
  • Packing, wrapping, and attaching message cards to, and organising delivery of, completed arrangements

Working conditions for a Florist

Florists may need to attend flower markets early in the morning. They have a high level of contact with the public.


Employment Opportunities for a Florist

Florists mainly work for small retail outlets in metropolitan areas and large country towns. Many are self-employed. Some may be employed on a part-time basis.Florists usually begin their careers as florists' assistants, which mainly involves serving customers. They then move on to wiring flowers or making up sprays, and eventually to working unsupervised in all areas. The demand for flowers tends to be seasonal, with peak periods being Christmas, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. Advancement opportunities for florists are mainly to supervisory positions and self-employment.


Specializations

Florist

Florists prepare floral arrangements such as bouquets, sprays, wreaths and vases of flowers. They also organise the storage, sale and delivery of floral arrangements.

  • Average age
    Average age
    40 years
  • Future Growth
    Future Growth
    Stable
  • Gender Share
    Gender Share
    92% female
  • Average full-time
    Average full-time
    46 hours
  • Weekly Pay
    Weekly Pay
    Unavailable
  • Skill level rating
    Skill level rating
    Medium skill
  • Unemployment
    Unemployment
    Lower unemployment
  • Full-Time Share
    Full-Time Share
    48% Full-Time
  • Employment Size
    Employment Size
    7,800 workers
  • Employment Size
    Employment by state
    ACT: 1.4%
    NSW: 34.0%
    NT: 0.3%
    QLD: 18.2%
    SA: 7.3%
    TAS: 1.9%
    VIC: 26.5%
    WA: 10.6%
  • Employment Size
    Age brackets
    15-19: 4%
    20-24: 8.8%
    25-34: 23.8%
    35-44: 25.1%
    45-54: 21.8%
    55-59: 7.4%
    60-64: 4.7%
    65 and Over: 4.4%
  • Employment Size
    Education level
    Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 11.7%
    Bachelor degree: 12%
    Below Year 10: 22.1%
    Certificate III/IV: 39.5%
    Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 1.9%
    Year 10 and below: 13%
    Year 11: 4.8%
    Year 12: 17.1%
    Years 11 & 10: 0%
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