Six steps to opening your own floral store
Who doesn’t love flowers? They liven up any space and can communicate so many emotions. They can be gifted during life’s most beautiful and challenging moments; to say I love you, or to say please forgive me. Floral shops are quickly regaining popularity all across the country, so if you consider yourself to have a bit of a green thumb, this may be the perfect business opportunity for you!
Set your budget
Before you can start dreaming up your ideal floral store, you’ll need to think about your budget and evaluate your finances. If you’re working with a limited budget, start off small and watch your business grow. The good news is that the start-up cost for a floral business is relatively modest in comparison with other industries.
Write a business plan
Perhaps the most crucial step when opening any kind of company is writing up a business plan. This will be the blueprint of your business, outlining your goals and how you plan to achieve them. Think about what your brand represents, who your customers are, and what competitors you may have. Other crucial components include financial planning, product or service development, and information about your operations.
Cover the logistics
When you’re working with a product as delicate and fragile as flowers you need to account for the logistics. For example, you’ll need to offer same day delivery to customers so that they can receive them whilst they are fresh and in perfect condition. You can choose to outsource your delivery or hire a member of staff to take over.
Find local suppliers
It’s always important to liaise with your local suppliers and source flora that is unique or prominent in your region. Not only will you enrichen your local community, but you’ll also be able to cut down on transportation and delivery costs. Make sure to build healthy relationships with your local suppliers, as you’ll never know when you’ll need to call them in case of a floral emergency.
Sell add-on items
It’s always important to think outside of the box when starting up any business. As a florist, you can sell add-on items such as garden accessories, vases, chocolates, celebration cards, etc. These will help you boost your sales whilst seemingly making the experience more convenient for your customer.
Offer special deals
Sometimes your customers need to be reminded of these special occasions and how they can celebrate them. If you create an online community, via social media or with a newsletter, you can let your customers know about your special holiday deals. For example, you can create a valentine’s day package that includes a bottle of champagne, a bouquet of roses, and a box of chocolates.
Before you start your flower shop make sure to think about every possible detail with care. When you bring an idea into fruition, it’s the little things that make the most difference. Your customers will realise the love that you’ve poured into your company and show you the same back.