Job opportunities in the retail
flower shop
 Present in nearly all towns of any size
throughout the United States.
Working with in the retail florist
industry enables people to
 work with flowers as well as the emotions
that they represent.
Flowers add a feeling of warmth
and welcome to any room.
Most are individually owned or
family operated employing fewer
than ten people.
Each flower shop has six distinct
roles and responsibilities
Owner
Manager
Sales
Design- Design Assistant
Delivery
Accounting
1. Owner manager –
 responsibilities will include hiring, training,
supervising designer, salespersons, and
delivery personnel.
 Managers may also plan work schedules,
order supplies and flowers, coordinate sales
promotion and advertising, and supervise or
maintain shop records.
 Pricing of product and profit control is also
a responsibility of the owner – manager.
 Owner – managers must have a good
business background.
 They may also work as a designer and
salesperson.
 Some managers may not take care of routine
sales but may be responsible for pricing of
weddings, receptions and large parties.
2. Designer – arranges floral and
plant material in an artistic manner.
 Must also have an understanding of basic
design principles with some artistic/
creative ability.
 Knowledge of flowers, their care and the
needed supplies.
Designer
Most shops designate one person
as the head designer.

That individual is responsible for
assigning specific work to other
designers.
 The head designer will also be responsible
for making sales that involve special work
such as weddings or large parties, order
flowers and supplies.
 This is a difficult task, as the designer must
estimate the amount of materials needed. If
too few are ordered the shop will lose sales, if
there are too many flowers on hand they
must be thrown away.
 Must have a thorough knowledge
of flowers, flower care, plant care,
and floral designs. Must be able to
offer
customers
appropriate
suggestions.
Designers are critical to the retail
business.
 The quality of their work will determine
customer satisfaction.
mean repeat business.
Happy customers
Showroom Layout
3. Designer’s Assistant – a person
training to become a designer.
 Work with and observe the construction of a
variety of floral designs.
 Usually coordinate the designer’s orders
and keep all needed materials on hand.
 May prepare containers, select and wire
flowers,
and
construct
bows
for
arrangements.
 After the arrangement is complete
the assistant may fill out the card
and delivery tag and prepare the
product for delivery.
As the assistant gains experience
they will be responsible for simple
arrangements.

Difficulty of orders will increase with the
amount of experience.
4. Salesperson – must deal in
telephone and direct face to face
sales.
 Effective
salespersons
friendly attitude.
have
a
5. Delivery Person –
 This
service is a convenience to the
customer. It distinguishes full service florists
from mass-market florists such as those in
some grocery or drug stores.
Duties involved
 packaging orders and loading flowers into
the delivery vehicle.
Delivery people
 should
be able to repair
arrangements if necessary.
damaged
How do you prepare for a job in a
retail shop?
Training for a job in the retail
flower shop:
 On the job training
 Designer schools and workshops provided
by the state florist association or wholesale
florists.
Necessary skills
 for a career in the floriculture industry include

artistic ability, business background, and a
love for working with flowers.
Many designers
 begin their training in high school or post
secondary vocational technical programs.
There are a number of floral design schools
throughout the nation.
C. Careers Opportunities…(copy list)
 Flower Grader
 Plant Breeder
 Horticulturist
 Pest Control Technician
 Plant Taxonomist
 Certified Seed Grower
 Floral Shop
 Agricultural Journalist
Operator
 Plant Geneticist
 Plant Nutritionist
 Plant Pathologist
 Plant Scientist
 Greenhouse
Manager
 Magazine Writer
 Beekeeper
 Marketing/Advertising
Manager
 Purchasing Manager
D. FFA Opportunities
 Floriculture Career Development Event (CDE)
 Landscape CDE
 Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) project
involved with flower shops (such as employment
or observation) and bedding plants (such as
planting flower beds for homes).
 Annual Greenbrier FFA Plant Sale
 Decorations for the Annual FFA Banquet
TEST REVIEW
Flowers add a feeling of _______
and welcome to any room.
 warmth
Name two FFA opportunities related to
floriculture
 Floriculture CDE
 Nursery/Landscape CDE
 SAE at a florist shop
 SAE planting and maintaining bedding plants
List some necessary skills for a career
in the floriculture industry
 artistic
ability,
business
background,
knowledge of flowers and plants, and a love
for working with flowers.
What type of Training is needed
for a job in the retail flower shop?
 On the job training
 Designer schools and workshops provided
by the state florist association or wholesale
florists.
4. Salesperson – must deal in
__________and direct _______ to
________sales.
 Telephone
 Face to face