Choosing the Perfect Wedding Flowers

Weddings require a lot of flowers be it for church decorations, at the reception site, for the bridal bouquet, corsages, or boutonnières, which are floral decorations worn by men.
The flowers used in the wedding will reflect your personality and taste. They bring color and a look of festivity and happiness into weddings however they are arranged, whether casual, classic, stylish or contemporary.

Picking the right kind of flowers for your wedding can be a time consuming task. The flowers must surely match your wedding theme. It will depend upon your budget, the scale of the wedding, the season when the wedding is scheduled and of course, your personal taste. Choosing seasonal flowers would help save money unless you particularly want something specific.

The initial step to selecting the best flowers would be to browse through samples of flowers and bouquets so as to get an idea of how they will look once put in place. The Internet offers a large collection of photographs that can help you with this. After choosing a style, you can decide the colors and kind of flowers to use. The flowers you choose must match the color of your wedding gown and the other decorations. The shape, size and texture of the flowers also matter.

The most popular flowers used for weddings are however roses. Lilies, tulips, zinnias, carnations, violets, daisies, orchids, peach and apple blossoms, irises and ivy are also often used. Hyacinth, tuber roses, gardenias and stargazer lilies are flowers with a heavenly fragrance. The colors can range from pure white to lavender, purple, pink, plum and so on and these suit every occasion.  For a romantic look, the wedding scene can be made up using flowers in warm and pastel shades with soft lighting. Lilac, creamy white, gold and pink would be the best tones. You can also set up a mix of flowers, herbs, and fruit blossoms to add bright vibrant colors with a light, pleasing fragrance. You must take care to choose flowers that fit into your budget too.

Flowers are also used to adorn the bride’s hair, as an unconventional veil, wrist adornment, in the groom’s lapel and for the bridesmaids and flower girls. They can be used as garlands, nosegays, table décor and as flowers for the guests. Care must be taken to find a good florist with enough experience to help you with the flowers. He is to be given a clear idea of what you want for the wedding. For traditional weddings, flowers are best arranged in conventional patterns while if you are a person with a modern outlook, an informal blend of design, style and flower aesthetics can be employed. The location, dimension, color of the wedding clothes, the details regarding the bouquets, their styles and number and the manner of conducting the ceremony must be informed beforehand.

Choosing the perfect flowers would surely make a difference in the wedding atmosphere at either the church or the reception site. They can add color and splendor and make your wedding day even more special.

Making Money From the Floral Business

Flowers have always been closely associated with our lives. We use various floral arrangements for many occasions such as weddings, funerals, birthdays, anniversaries and celebrations such as Valentines Day and Mothers day. The gift giving art of floral decorations is an age old gesture practiced all over the world. It is still a popular custom and will remain so for centuries to follow. Because flowers are a unique gift that will undoubtedly touch the heart of the receiver and make them feel special and loved.

The floral arts industry is a huge industry today. From small scale to large scale, from internet marketing to over the counter sales; the potential niche market is very high. Become a part of this popular income generating venture, start your own floral arrangement business and earn immediate profits doing what you love, making wonderful creations with these beautiful offerings of nature...

Where as a knack for the floral arts can take you places in this industry, basic skills can always be improved through experience to make your business the most unique in town. An eye for color, texture and a vivid imagination is always a plus. Master the skills of cutting and treating flowers, color coordinating them beautifully and marketing your products in the most eye catching manner, and your business is sure to succeed.

You can make various floral decors such as bouquets, centerpieces, potted flowers, corsages, garlands, boutonnieres, wreaths and posies. Different occasions call for different decorations and sometimes, different flower types. For example Valentines Day symbolizes red roses, and the variety you can create with them is endless. The trick is to make your creations unique and the most appealing to the customer. You can use various adornments such as ribbons, bows, creepers, sprigs, baskets, wrappers and various other artificial products to embellish your creations and increase the aesthetic value.

Most flowers are seasonal, so you can organize your selling themes according to their availability. But there is always more than a few varieties available at one time period, so your choice is never restricted to few. Most popular flowers used in the floral design industry that brings in high revenue are roses, tulips, lilies, orchids, daisies and gerberas. You can also sell gift baskets arrangements of fruits and chocolates along with your floral designs and expand your venture into other avenues.

The corporate world also makes a significant contribution towards income generation in this industry, with many companies ordering floral décor for special events such as meetings and conferences, as well as on a more regular basis to decorate their offices. Arrangements they require include decorations for entryways, reception areas, working desks and lounging areas. Commercial buildings, offices, shops, malls, hotels, hospitals, clubs and restaurants are a few such places that use floral décor on a daily basis.

Although most floral businesses run on a large scale, many small scale entrepreneurs run very successful ventures that are almost as popular. It doesn\'t take much initial investment to begin your own floral design business, especially since it is a business that can easily be operated from the comforts of your own home, cutting down on expenses such as office space rentals and overheads. It is so much easier to run a flower delivery service from home, with basic equipment, on your own schedule as opposed to running a floral boutique. You will be surprised to learn how easily the money will flow and be amazed at the net profits you can make within a short period.

Based on your talents, available resources and time allocations for the business, you can choose an area of specialization. A few examples are below:

o Wedding arrangements

o Family events and functions such as funerals, christenings, baby showers and birthday parties

o Commercial or business events

o Retail florist shop

o Home floral/home decoration business

Whichever field you select, what matters is that you give it your best spirits, and success is not hard to achieve. Think about it, start today and make your floral business the best small scale décor store in town.

Summary

The floral décor business is a sure way to succeed in the home business industry by converting your artistic ability with flower arrangements into a money making venture, catering for various sectors and occasions such as weddings, family events, corporate events, office/commercial décor and home décor.

Floral Designing Supplies and Tools

Sharp tools are a must in floral designing.   A sharp knife used for cutting flowers stems will make clean cuts without crushing the stems.  A clean cut is imperative in aiding water absorption by the flower stem.  A folding pocket knife with a quality blade is the best, longest lasting knife.  Other cheaper knives with plastic handles won’t last as long nor will they cut heavy stems.

Sharp scissors are necessary to cut ribbon cleanly and neatly.  Ribbon scissors must be used only to cut ribbon and fabric.  Cutting just one wire with your ribbon scissors will ruin them.   Serrated scissors are heavy duty multipurpose scissors that can be used to cut wire and woody stems.

Wire cutters with a spring are easier to operate when cutting wire and corsage stems.  Wire cutters have a short blade and are ideal for cutting heavy materials. 

Floral tape is waxed crepe paper that will stick to its self when stretched.  It is used to cover floral wire for use in corsages and bouquets.  Waterproof tape is used to secure floral foam in a container.  It is available in green, white and clear colors in ¼ or ½ inch widths.

Florist wire is usually green and comes in precut 18 inch lengths.   Sizes vary from #16 (the heaviest gauge) to # 30 (the lightest gauge).  Several gauges are necessary in design work to make corsages and bouquets, strength stems and to bind materials together.  The most common gauges used in floral design are #18, 20, 22 and 24.  Paddle wire is on a spool in a continuous strand that may be used to create garlands and wreaths and to bind together heavy materials.  It is also available in a variety of gauges.

Greening pins are u-shaped wire, much like a hairpin, and are used to hold moss to foam.  Wooden picks have a wire attached to one end and are used to cluster dried materials together in foam, attaché bows to plants and to extend the length of a stem.  Chenille stems come in a variety of colors and are used to secure bows.  Chenille stems look like large pipe cleaners. 

Floral foam comes in heavy or light weight depending on the flowers being used.   To soak the foam place it in a sink filled with water, do not dunk it under the water.  Let the foam float and fill naturally, thus assuring you will have no dry spots in the middle of the foam.  It will sink to the bottom as it absorbs water. 

Ribbon comes in a rainbow of colors and a variety of widths.  The bigger the number the wider the ribbon will be.  # 3 ribbon is generally used in corsages and bud vases.  Plants are usually dressed with #9 as are most pew bows.  Funeral work requires a wider width such as a #40.   The most commonly used ribbon is satin, however, there is a great variety of ribbon available today.  Wired ribbon holds its shape for use in decorations, wreaths and Christmas trees.  Printed ribbon has a wide range of uses in decorating.  Lacey, silky ribbon is available for use in wedding bouquets and corsages.  

Tools and supplies may be purchased at crafts stores, fabric shops and department stores as well as your local florists. With the variety of tools and supplies readily available today you are limited only by your imagination.  So imagine away!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/floral-designing-supplies-and-tools-680326.html

Elements of Basic Floral Design

 
1.       Line creates the line of movement for the eye to follow when looking at a flower arrangement.  Lines in floral design are not necessarily straight or uninterrupted.  Lines may be: vertical, horizontal, s-curve, zigzag, or diagonal.  An s-curve design may need to be wired to allow the flower stems to maintain a lazy s.  In the zigzag the flowers radiate back and forth from the center line of the arrangement with the flowers getting smaller as you near the top.  The diagonal lines radiate out from the vertical and horizontal lines at 45 degree angles.


2.       Form may be one sided or all the way around in floral design.  The three basic forms are circle, square and triangle.  The square is not often used in floral design because it lacks movement in its shape.  The circle is used more often as it is found in nature and has a pleasing movement.  The crescent is a section of the circle that lends grace and beauty to an arrangement.  The oval is another variation of the circle which can be used in floral designing. However, the most often used form in flower arranging is the triangle.  The triangle can be used in a symmetrical fashion or to add more interest to a design it may be asymmetrical. 


3.       Texture includes the physical and visual feel of the components comprising your flower arrangement.  Texture is often used to create gender appeal in a design.  Hard, rough, woodsy textures are popular for men, while women may prefer softer, airier textures.  Texture is important in creating interest, but be careful not to overdo it and disturb the unity of the design. 


4.       Color may be the most important element in floral design.  Humans respond to the colors around us in a variety of ways.  Soothing greens and blues can make us happy and relaxed, while bright yellows and reds can excite and stir up emotions.  Color is light and we need light with which to see color.  When we see all the colors reflected on an object we see white and when an object absorbs all the colors we see black.  Being familiar with the color wheel will help you as you coordinate color harmonies for that perfect eye pleasing design.  

                  
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/elements-of-basic-floral-design-680332.html About the Author: Ellen Skiles

Wedding Flower Designs

Wedding flower designs is always been the symbol of beauty and happiness. The normal concise explanation flower is life. It's extensively useful for decorations. Different flower designs convey different moods and emotions. Each flower specifies certain meaning. Perfect flower designs can speak volumes after we lose words.

Wedding flower designs on a wedding is actually a milestone in everyone's life. We use flowers to exchange joy happiness and wishes on such occasions. Wedding ceremony tradition the truth is today have their own roots in ancient civilization thin wedding flower ideas even offers ancient basis. Greeks were the first to possess the wedding flower ideas per records. Flowers represent the bride to be, beauty, youth, freshness and also fertility are when compared to those of a flower. The young bride is known as like a beautiful rose. Roses would be the most expressive symbol of love. The beautiful wedding flower bouquets in bride's hand speak the deep and fragile emotions, wishes and desires.

Wedding flower designs for decorations needs to be chosen according to its availability, in order that we obtain fresh flowers in plenty. Areas wedding flower ideas for a summer wedding. Spring flowers offer a a feeling of gentle freshness in soft colors and pretty fragrance. Anemones, tulips, hyacinths and daffodils are perfect methods of wedding flower bouquets in spring. Tulips are beautiful plus they come in different colors and shapes. They offer a contemporary feeling towards the wedding, but they wilt easily so watch out for it with all the in bouquets.

Flowers are beautiful and add color to any occasions however it is costly and perishable too. Using some situations the location where the decorations aim at a longer time the silk flower arrangements is best alternative. It's got a benefit that it are so durable without spending much on maintenance and ascend keeping. There are several floral websites from where we can easily purchase silk flower arrangements online.

If you think to deliver flowers to some friend or relative far away, to make them feel special, you need to use the net flower shops. There's a huge collection of online flower shops accessible to deliver the coffee quality flower bouquets one's wish. There are numerous online flower shops providing fresh flower arrangements or silk flower arrangements. In a few online flower shops also enable you to chose personalized decorations. Another interesting factor is always that as being the no of online services increase you will find there's competition on the market, which supplies the paramount services with the earliest. You can put and order plus the flowers might be delivered with hours to some more about 24 hrs. duration.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/wedding-flower-designs-4060394.html. Wedding flower designs">About the Author Noel McGraw

Flower Magazine

Wedding Flowers (Victoria Magazine)

Brides Magazine - Pink Flower - 40-Count Wedding Invitation Kit

Budget Weddings For Dummies

Weddings for Less: How toStylish Plan Your Dream Wedding on a Budget

The Dream of a Flower Shop

Anywhere you go in the United States you will find a lot of various flower shops which has its own banner that can help in catching a customer\'s attention. There will probably be at least one flower shop in a certain town and there will be a lot of floral shops within a particular city. You may ask why people are so into flower shops when they could easily pick flowers from their backyards. Well, the answer to that is quite simple. A flower play an important role in everyone\'s life and this is definitely a good gift for birthdays, holidays, courting, for congratulating, sympathy and is widely being used for saying sorry. Because of the different symbolic tokens that you will find in any flower shop, it is important for you to have some form of research as to what each flower means so that you can convey your feelings correctly to the person you are giving the flowers.


For most of the special occasions that people has or have attended in his or her lifetime, flower arrangement has indeed been part of someone\'s life. From simple being the centerpiece of the dining table to the wedding bouquet, flower arrangement will be known and remembered.


If you are dreaming of putting your own flower shop, there are a lot of things that you need to consider and one of those things is to how you can create peculiar and unique flower arrangement that your clients will surely love. When trying to put up a beautiful flower arrangement, you need to make sure that you are using the right kinds of flowers which have almost the same meaning and significance. Yellow roses are very beautiful and to one culture this could symbolize loyalty and friendship but this could also mean remembrance or a sign of loss and mourning to another culture.


Aside from the meaning of the flower itself, the number of flowers can also affect what the bouquet of flowers mean.Flowers –no matter what kind of flower arrangement had been use to them—can still take on different meanings that range within literature and culture. And the literature of one place can be spread to another culture and those two different traditions can become entwined with each other. It is also possible that one tradition could make another\'s tradition become discarded. You cannot combine flowers that signify love and compassion to the flowers that signifies death because it will not go hand in hand and this is definitely not good for the eye.


However, you can combine flowers with the same meaning even though they have different shades of color and most people think that those colors do not blend well. There are some people who think that orange and purple should be combined but there are certain instances wherein purple and orange can create a more attractive flower bouquet than any person can ever imagine. You can also include other materials such as artificial flowers, cute mini stuffed toys and you can place your flowers in any containers that you think is able to create a beautiful bouquet.


Article by Jules. http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/flower-shopthe-dream-of-a-flower-shop-4108418.html


Selling and Designing Wedding Flowers


Floral designs: The art of designing with flowers


Celebration Flowers: Designing and Arranging


Selling and Designing Party Flowers

The Flower, the Florist and the Flower Shop

What do these words have in common: flower, florist, flower shop? Apart from all containing the root of the word "flower", there is much more that they should share. Naturally, tied by the human force of the florist, the flowers and the flower shop are intricately connected. Beyond knowing that they're connected, it's important to ascertain that the connection is a good one that you, as a client, will want to involve yourself in. What to look for will be a combination of the three. Make sure that on top of providing the flowers you love, the flowers are also of top quality. The florist should be a willing accomplice in ensuring that you get exactly what you ask for, exceeding your own expectations. The flower shop is vital to exceed the expectations. If the flower shop is good and reliable, you will not only get a beautiful bouquet, but it will arrive extremely fresh and on time. Be sure the florist you choose works mutually well with both the flowers and the flower shop. This will ensure a happy customer with a product that is better than imagined.

Flowers, which have been and continue to be the symbol of natural beauty throughout the ages, are one realm of fashion that has not dramatically evolved. This speaks strongly in favor of flowers, indicating their timelessness and perfection that needs no improvement. Thus, when ordering flowers, what you need to consider is not the fashion of flowers, but the preference of the receiver. Once you have decided upon the type of flower, you must find a flower shop that provides your desired selection at optimal quality. A flower's quality depends very much on the care the florist gives, but beyond the florist's care, it is optimal that the flowers come straight from the growers or from a flower auction. This ensures their freshness, as the time spent in travel is diminished when flowers make fewer trips to reach their flower shop destination. Flowers are known to positively influence the human psyche, so be sure to go all the way with this positive influence by buying the freshest flowers you can find on the market.

Knowing of this positive effect of flowers on people, you should expect your florist to be an optimistic and friendly person - in short, the positive effect of the flowers should not be lost in the worries of their job. A talented florist is not only capable of creating a beautiful arrangement, but also willing and interested in making arrangements with you to ensure the arrival of the bouquet you envision. While the florist is an artist, who must use creativity as a tool of the job, the florist has many more roles to fulfill.

One of the most important of these additional roles is the sensitivity of the florist: the florist is not merely putting flowers together, but understanding what event you need the flowers for, what type of person the flowers are directed to - the florist must have the capacity to understand and sympathize with the difficulties and joys in life of every occasion, demonstrating this capacity in the end result: the flower arrangement. If the florist deals directly with the grower, either at the grower's location or through a flower auction, this is a good indicator of the florist, showing someone who cuts the chase directly to the source, lowering prices for himself and his client, by being more direct. The florist, as aforementioned, is a person who creates the connection between flowers and flower shop, between grower and consumer. A person of vital importance, the florist is a person who is impressive and establishes a good rapport with you, his client.

The flower shop is the last, but not the least important, of our floral trinity. The flower shop completes the picture. The flower shop is the entity which makes the talent and efficiency of the florist possible; it is the florist's workshop and tool bench, if you will, while also serving to keep the flowers in fresh and good condition. It is the flower shop that ensures delivery of flowers to their final destination not merely as a beautiful bouquet, but as fresh, lush, and blooming living creations - as alive as a rainforest. In addition, the flower shop plays a role in influencing the consumer and shaping his judgment as regards the whole package of the shop. Online photographs of available bouquets do more than indicate the variety of flowers and caliber of the florist. The photographs, as well as the whole website, are indicators of the organization and professionalism of the company. The self-expression of a company speaks loudly. Reading testimonials on websites is also an indicator of the combination of the flowers, the florist, and the flower shop. It takes a strong performance from each of the participants to make a client happy.

Flowers are, without doubt, a classic, and yet exquisite gift. Unique and living, they are different from all other gifts, and manage to convey emotions at the same time as they are serving a role as a present. Thus, to optimize and reach this potential of emotion that flowers can induce, it is important that you buy your flowers from a flower shop that is professional and serious, with a staff of florists who love their work and consider their flowers as alive as we are, and lastly, with flowers that are as fresh and expressive as you are, to share exactly your thoughts through their understated and clear beauty.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/the-flower-the-florist-and-the-flower-shop-28722.html

 Education is the Key to Success!!

Read!!Learn!!

Study Flower Shops!!

Be Fearless and Listen to Your Heart!!

Gather Your Ideas and Go For IT!!

Good Luck and Have Fun!!

 Here are Some Resources to

 Learn the Flower Business!!

Start Your Own Florist Shop and Other Floral Businesses (Start Your Own Florist Shop & Other Floral Businesses)


How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Florist and Floral Business Both Online and Off: With Companion CD - ROM


Flower Shop Florist Start Up Business Plan NEW


One Hundred Flowers


The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers (American Horticultural Society Practical Guides


The Reason for a Flower (World of Nature) 


Microwave Flower Press Is Fast And Easy To Use!

Rachel Schartz:

The Story of My Flower  Shop Success

As a kid, I loved to go to the beach, go hiking, fishing and camping. Those were on top of my vacation list. The wonderful views of nature never fail to amaze me. So when I grew up, I wanted to work with something that has to do with nature. After I graduated from college, I took a few more courses on botany, flower arranging and farming. Then it was time to apply what I learned. As a fresh graduate, I had no capital to start my flower business. So just like any entrepreneur, I resorted to loaning the capital. Because of my knowledge and expertise, I was able to start my mini flower garden. I also put up a flower shop in one of the busy streets in our city. Before I knew it, I was delivering flowers all over town and getting orders from other places, too.


After a year of business operations, I had to put up another flower shop and hire more employees. The truck I was using for flower deliveries started to have engine problems. Probably just normal wear and tear since I had that truck for 5 years already. It was a gift from my dad, just so I had something to use when driving around town. It was really helpful when I started my business. Anyway, adding another shop meant shelling out money, I had to also set aside a budget for my truck.


I went online one day to check for truck financing options and I came across a website of a bad credit company. It\'s been awhile since I applied for a loan and through this site, I found out that there are now more specialized kinds of loans. There were home loans, car title loans, auto loans, payday loans and truck loans – just what I needed. Over the years, I managed my finances pretty well and I had no problems getting loans. So I read further and found out that it was really easy to get approved for a truck loan.


I went ahead and applied for a truck loan and got my money the next day. That was fast! In the next few days, I went around town to look for brand new trucks. Once I found the truck of my choice, I drove away with it on my way home. It was another great investment to keep my business running, making sure that my clients got fresh flowers when they needed it. Thanks to financing via loans, I wasn\'t pressured to pay the whole amount upon acquisition of my truck.


So basically, my flower business worked this way:


-          I studied additional courses on what I was passionate about


-          I started my garden and flower shop with the help of loans


-          I acquired a new truck using a truck loan


-          I am still enjoying the benefits of my flower business and have countless satisfied customers

-          With the profits I have, I make sure to budget it so I can pay my loans on time and keep a good credit history

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/agriculture-articles/the-story-of-my-flower-business-5177438.html

About the Author

Rachel Schwartz is the Marketing Manager of BHM Financial - one of the most trusted names in the bad credit loan industry. This company may be able to help you reach your financial goals. Please visit our Bad Credit Loan website or our Blog and find out today.

The Art of Floral Design - for those who need to learn everything!!

"This is the BIBLE OF THE FLORAL INDUSTRY! " That is the exact words my instructor used five years ago when I attended design school. Since that day, I still refer back to it again and again. The techniques and illustrations are wonderfully formatted in such a way that is easy to understand. Everything from the history of floral design up to todays job opportunities within floristry are covered. If you strive to be a knowledgable designer in all areas, this book will surely lead the way. More examples of topics covered are; wiring techniques for corsages, proper care and handling of flowers, understanding color, design principles, controlling cost, holidays, funeral arrangements, the list goes on and on. This is a must have book for any designers library. -Julie-

The Art of Floral Design 

Floral Designing Supplies and Tools

Sharp tools are a must in floral designing.   A sharp knife used for cutting flowers stems will make clean cuts without crushing the stems.  A clean cut is imperative in aiding water absorption by the flower stem.  A folding pocket knife with a quality blade is the best, longest lasting knife.  Other cheaper knives with plastic handles won’t last as long nor will they cut heavy stems.
Sharp scissors are necessary to cut ribbon cleanly and neatly.  Ribbon scissors must be used only to cut ribbon and fabric.  Cutting just one wire with your ribbon scissors will ruin them.   Serrated scissors are heavy duty multipurpose scissors that can be used to cut wire and woody stems.

Wire cutters with a spring are easier to operate when cutting wire and corsage stems.  Wire cutters have a short blade and are ideal for cutting heavy materials. 

Floral tape is waxed crepe paper that will stick to its self when stretched.  It is used to cover floral wire for use in corsages and bouquets.  Waterproof tape is used to secure floral foam in a container.  It is available in green, white and clear colors in ¼ or ½ inch widths.

Florist wire is usually green and comes in precut 18 inch lengths.   Sizes vary from #16 (the heaviest gauge) to # 30 (the lightest gauge).  Several gauges are necessary in design work to make corsages and bouquets, strength stems and to bind materials together.  The most common gauges used in floral design are #18, 20, 22 and 24.  Paddle wire is on a spool in a continuous strand that may be used to create garlands and wreaths and to bind together heavy materials.  It is also available in a variety of gauges.

Greening pins are u-shaped wire, much like a hairpin, and are used to hold moss to foam.  Wooden picks have a wire attached to one end and are used to cluster dried materials together in foam, attaché bows to plants and to extend the length of a stem.  Chenille stems come in a variety of colors and are used to secure bows.  Chenille stems look like large pipe cleaners. 

Floral foam comes in heavy or light weight depending on the flowers being used.   To soak the foam place it in a sink filled with water, do not dunk it under the water.  Let the foam float and fill naturally, thus assuring you will have no dry spots in the middle of the foam.  It will sink to the bottom as it absorbs water. 

Ribbon comes in a rainbow of colors and a variety of widths.  The bigger the number the wider the ribbon will be.  # 3 ribbon is generally used in corsages and bud vases.  Plants are usually dressed with #9 as are most pew bows.  Funeral work requires a wider width such as a #40.   The most commonly used ribbon is satin, however, there is a great variety of ribbon available today.  Wired ribbon holds its shape for use in decorations, wreaths and Christmas trees.  Printed ribbon has a wide range of uses in decorating.  Lacey, silky ribbon is available for use in wedding bouquets and corsages.  

Tools and supplies may be purchased at crafts stores, fabric shops and department stores as well as your local florists. With the variety of tools and supplies readily available today you are limited only by your imagination.  So imagine away!
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/floral-designing-supplies-and-tools-680326.html
About the AuthorAuthor Ellen Skiles was twelve years experience in the floral industry including three years in a greenhouse, four years designing in a shop, and seven years as head designer and manager of a second flower shop. She provides content for www.arrangefreshflowers.com.

Start Your Own Florist Shop and Other Floral Businesses (Start Your Own Florist Shop & Other Floral Businesses) 

The Frugal Florist: Do-it-Yourself Flowers on a Budget 

Fiskars 9820 1/2-Inch Cutting Capacity Florist Bypass Pruner 

Cut Flowers of the World: A Complete Reference for Growers and Florists 

Elements of Basic Floral Design

Line, form, texture and color are the four basic elements in any floral arrangement.

1.       Line creates the line of movement for the eye to follow when looking at a flower arrangement.  Lines in floral design are not necessarily straight or uninterrupted.  Lines may be: vertical, horizontal, s-curve, zigzag, or diagonal.  An s-curve design may need to be wired to allow the flower stems to maintain a lazy s.  In the zigzag the flowers radiate back and forth from the center line of the arrangement with the flowers getting smaller as you near the top.  The diagonal lines radiate out from the vertical and horizontal lines at 45 degree angles.

2.       Form may be one sided or all the way around in floral design.  The three basic forms are circle, square and triangle.  The square is not often used in floral design because it lacks movement in its shape.  The circle is used more often as it is found in nature and has a pleasing movement.  The crescent is a section of the circle that lends grace and beauty to an arrangement.  The oval is another variation of the circle which can be used in floral designing. However, the most often used form in flower arranging is the triangle.  The triangle can be used in a symmetrical fashion or to add more interest to a design it may be asymmetrical. 

3.       Texture includes the physical and visual feel of the components comprising your flower arrangement.  Texture is often used to create gender appeal in a design.  Hard, rough, woodsy textures are popular for men, while women may prefer softer, airier textures.  Texture is important in creating interest, but be careful not to overdo it and disturb the unity of the design. 

4.       Color may be the most important element in floral design.  Humans respond to the colors around us in a variety of ways.  Soothing greens and blues can make us happy and relaxed, while bright yellows and reds can excite and stir up emotions.  Color is light and we need light with which to see color.  When we see all the colors reflected on an object we see white and when an object absorbs all the colors we see black.  Being familiar with the color wheel will help you as you coordinate color harmonies for that perfect eye pleasing design.                    
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/elements-of-basic-floral-design-680332.html
About the Author
Author Ellen Skiles was twelve years experience in the floral industry including three years in a greenhouse, four years designing in a shop, and seven years as head designer and manager of a second flower shop. She provides content for www.arrangefreshflowers.com.

Flowers that Wow: Inspired Arrangements for the Floral-Impaired

Art of Floral Arranging, The: Learning from the Master Florists at Flower School New York

Paula Pryke's Flower School: Mastering the Art of Floral Design

A Master Guide to the Art of Floral Design

Wedding Bouquets: Over 300 Designs for Every Bride

How to Start Your Own Floral Design Business

Floral arrangements and delivery service is in demand year round. I guess you could say they are seasonal products for all seasons. This makes floral design a profitable business to get into. Yet, if you don\'t have the funds or desire to open a shop, but still like working with plants and have a creative flair, you have options. You even can work out of your home! For example, you could offer a floral arranging service for flower shops, grow the flowers at home selling to stores or produce and sell floral arrangement accessories such as vases, cards or other trimmings. If you decide not to have a storefront, you may be able to cheaply lease outdoor space in a popular downtown area with lots of traffic. You can also work from home. With a delivery service, you can easily operate out of your house with a vehicle. To get started, you\'ll need the items used to create your arrangements and a few basic tools.
With events and holidays happening throughout the year, the opportunities to make money are all around you. You can work with individuals to provide arrangements for holidays, birthdays, special events like weddings and graduations, etc. In addition, you can look for longer-term contracts with churches, hotels, restaurants and other businesses who need flowers delivered or arranged on a regular basis. These clients can provide a more stable and consistent income flow. It\'s also an easy way to showcase your designs to other prospective flower-buyers (for free!).
As a floral designer, you can charge a certain hourly rate, and also have established prices for certain arrangements or orders that clients place. What you charge will depend on how much you pay for your wholesale supplies and also what other flower shops are charging, so you can stay competitive with the market yet still remain profitable.
Finding customers: Whether you are working from home or out of a shop, start with people who know and trust you. Offer special discounts for free flowers in exchange for referrals, and you\'ll be surprised at how your prospect list will grow. If you really want to make a statement, create mini-arrangements and deliver them free-of-charge to local businesses you think could be interested your service (i.e. wedding planners, funeral homes, party supply stores). Attach a business card with a simple brochure of your services and rates. Make sure you include a coupon or special introductory price to have them like you even more. Don\'t forget the advertising opportunities you have in the yellow pages, local newspapers and radio stations
Donating a flower arrangement for a large event is another inexpensive way to get your business name out there - in front of lots of people. Submitting a press release is a great example - the media will promote you for free if you send them a great news story about your business. This could be as simple is having your friend write a review about your 'Store Opening' and sending it to your local paper.
So how do you actually start your floral business?
1. Learn your business. If you don\'t have experience arranging flowers, get some! Take a flower arranging class, learn about plants - you want to know a lot more about your product than your customer does. Get an inexpensive start-up guide on how to start a floral business or interview a floral designer or flower shop owner who can give you helpful advice.
2. Find out who your customers are. Who is buying flowers in your community - and what for? What extra service can you provide that they are not already getting, and how much is it worth to your potential customers (what are they willing to pay)? What are other flower shops charging for their designs? As long as you offer more value (i.e. unique products, faster service, weekend or evening hours, etc), you don\'t necessarily need the lowest price to gain market share.
3. Find out which licenses or permits you need from your local government office. Talk with an accountant, insurance agent and banker (you can get referrals from other local business owners or friends) to get helpful tips on financing, tax issues, insurance and business management that will save you time, money and hassles in the long run.
Get Started!
Owning a floral business can be very rewarding. Working directly with customers will help you learn the ropes faster and grow your company. Use your creativity to offer a truly unique service that you really enjoy - after all, it\'s YOUR business.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/entrepreneurship-articles/how-to-start-your-own-floral-design-business-989839.html
About the Author
Sue Barrett has been the Director of Business Solutions at Home Business Center, Inc. for over 10 years. Specializing in small and home business issues, she can provide quality insight and reputable resources for those wanting to start, manage and grow their own home-based businesses. Find out more about how to start your own Floral Design Business or Flower Shop

Art of Floral Arranging, The: Learning from the Master Florists at Flower School New York

Paula Pryke's Flower School: Mastering the Art of Floral Design

The Art of Floral Design

Magnificent Learning Manual and CD

 

The dream of starting a floral business can easily become a reality. Florist shop owners enjoy creating beautiful floral arrangements for individuals or special occasions. According to the customer s order, they cut and arrange live, dried, or artificial flowers and foliage. They design arrangements by trimming flowers and arranging bouquets, sprays, wreaths, dish gardens, and terrariums. This new book will teach you all you need to know about getting started in your own florist business in the minimum amount of time. Here is the manual you need to cash in on this highly profitable, quickly growing segment of the retail industry. This new book is a comprehensive and detailed study of the business side of a floral shop. This superb manual should be studied by anyone investigating the opportunities of opening a store. If you enjoy meeting people, this may be the perfect business for you. This complete manual will arm you with everything you need, including sample business forms, leases, and contracts; worksheets and checklists for planning, opening, and running day-to-day operations; plans and layouts; and dozens of other valuable, time-saving tools of the trade that no entrepreneur should be without. While providing detailed instructions and examples, the author leads you through finding a location that will bring success, drawing up a winning business plan (the companion CD-ROM has the actual business plan that can be used in Microsoft Word), buying (and selling) a floral store, pricing formulas, sales planning, tracking competitors, bookkeeping, media planning, pricing, copy writing, distribution channel planning, hiring and firing employees, motivating workers, managing and training employees, accounting procedures, auditing, successful budgeting, and profit planning development.  Show More By reading this book you will become knowledgeable about basic cost control systems, retail math and pricing issues, floor plans and diagrams, equipment layout and planning, legal concerns, sales and marketing techniques, IRS reporting requirements, customer service, direct sales, monthly profit and loss statements, tax preparation, low cost internal marketing ideas, management skills, low and no cost ways to satisfy customers and build sales, as well as thousands of great tips and useful guidelines. In addition, you will learn how to set up computer systems to save time and money, how to hire and keep qualified professional staff, how to generate high profile public relations and publicity, and how to keep bringing customers back. The manual delivers literally hundreds of innovative ways to streamline your business. Learn new ways to make your operation run smoother and increase performance. Shut down waste, reduce costs, and increase profits. Store owners will appreciate this valuable resource and reference it in their daily activities as a source for ready-to-use forms, Web sites, operating and cost cutting ideas, and mathematical formulas that can be easily applied. The Companion CD-ROM contains all the forms in the book, as well as a sample business plan you can adapt for your own use.florists business forms, learn the floral business.

How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Florist and Floral Business Both Online and Off 

What Inventory to Carry in a Flower Shop

It is always a wonder to enter a flower shop that is well stocked, fragrant, and with attention-grabbing inventory. People associate flower shops with beauty, calmness, and serenity; along with the services a person uses a flower shop. This is because of the inventory floral shops carries lend to this mind-set. The inventory automatically gives the flower shop the ambiance we all love. I have had a couple of terminal cancer patients come into my shop only to enjoy the atmosphere, quietness, and peace. The shop was a tranquil place that made the ladies joyful.  I will always remember those two ladies and the conversations we had.

Thus, we need to carry well-intentioned, inspiring inventory.  We cannot forget that first and foremost a flower shop carries fresh flowers. That is our main inventory and where we begin. Be sure to always have a nice selection of fresh flowers and foliage. Remember that your fresh flower inventory is perishable. There is a fine line between carrying enough perishable inventories and too much where you have waste.  

Next, you will want to have a line of baskets and novelty containers, the more the better. Clay pots are good. A florist has a lot of the inventory they use out on the floor for people to buy until they need to use something for an order. So stock your show floor well. Customers want a varied selection from which to choose.

Your shop will have to have a jungle of plants of all varieties. Offer all the basic plants and then strive to find exotic plants, herbs, blooming plants, tropical plants, and cacti. Just fill you flower shop full of all sizes and types of plants. Also, offer baskets gardens, dish gardens, novelty baby planters and such. Have plants dressed up with bows and accessories and ready to go. 

Balloons are a very nice add-on sale. Have a large selection of unusual and exciting balloons. You will want to carry latex and mylar balloons. Do not forget that you can stuff balloons with all sorts of stuff. Talk to your balloon wholesaler and learn all the fun and extraordinary things you can do with balloons. Balloons can help your shop stand out.

Silk and dried flowers all over your shop will add color and distinctiveness. Offer the best silk flowers, not the stuff you can buy at the dollar store. Buy upscale florals. Hang dried flowers such as statice, baby’s breath, eucalyptus, yarrow, from flower racks. Dried flowers will add visual interest and extra sales. 

For variety, you may want to offer candles, lotions, jewelry, mediation cd’s, and candy. Country gift items are popular. Wooden and tin signs in particular sell well and are visually exciting. Candles will offer a marvelous aroma to your shop. You can get private label lotions and soaps and such. Having cd’s for background music is fun. It gets the customers in a good mood. A good mood can equate to more sales. You can buy whatever types of music you think your customer base will purchase. They hear the music, like it and want to take it home. I bought a Smoky Mountain folk music cd from a shop because they were playing the cd and I heard it. The extra inventory around the shop can be used in gift baskets as well.

You can offer fruit baskets, but that inventory will be bought on an as needed basis. Fruit baskets can be quite showy and impressive, which is good promotion for your store. You might want to offer greeting cards. They go nicely with flowers and gifts. There are many unique card companies around so you can propose a different card line from what most see. Exclusive wind chimes will go nicely with your inventory.

Explore online all the gift shows around the country. You really need to attend at least one gift show in your life. They are inspirational, educational, and you will learn all the latest trends for the time. You will find products that you cannot wait to bring back to your shop. You will be captivated, fascinated, and charmed. Maybe even a little mesmerized and spellbound! Just have fun. What you learn, you can take back to your flower shop and help to make it improved and revitalized. Remember the gift shows in the summer are for Christmas. You have to plan ahead for the seasons. 

These are some basic ideas for inventory for your shop. I have learned that people will buy anything if it is displayed well. You must present your inventory to your customers in a fresh, simple manner, but yet make them feel like there is so much to look at. You do not want the bare look, but you do not want cluttered as well. Happy hunting for your exclusive inventory that will set your flower shop apart from the others!

 

 

 

The Merry Month of May in a Flower Shop

May is a very busy month for a flower shop. All month long there are floral occasions.  The busiest occasions are Mother’s Day, graduations, Memorial Day, schools are ending their school year, there seems to be a lot of birthdays in May, and it is the beginning of summer. All and everyone are coming to life. Memorial Day usually is seen as the first major leisure time of summer. 

For florists, Memorial Day is a time for their customers to remember their loved ones that have passed.  Florists get many orders for memorial pieces to be placed on the graves of the people requested. Florists should plan ahead and get maps of the local graveyards either from the local courthouse or the city offices of their town. Florists will be placing their floral pieces on the actual graves and the graves must be located. You will be walking the cemetery. Many memorial orders will come from out of town and called into the floral shop. Florists should stock up on memorial type containers of all kinds. Be prepared for all kinds of memorial pieces to be ordered. Memorial Day can be an occasion to make repeat customers. If you do a good job on the customer’s memorial flowers, they will call you year after year. They will be using a debit card, credit card, or check by phone, so it is instant cash. In addition, the customer whom placed the order will more than likely get some feedback on the floral arrangement from a friend or relative.

I used to get an order from out of town. The customer always had a friend photograph the memorial piece she ordered every year and send it to her. She was always pleased. These out of town customers may have more relatives nearby and will use you more than once a year on different occasions. Build a relationship with these customers. Let them know that they can trust you to fill their orders as requested.  Assure them their flowers will be on the grave as requested.

Mother’s Day is a busy holiday for florists. It is always the second Sunday in May, so the date of Mother’s Day varies. This is a time for a lot of wire orders from out of town; people wanting to remember their mother. Orders for floral arrangements, corsages, blooming plants, and green and blooming plants are common Mother’s Day requests. It would be wise to stock up on these items as well as balloons, candy, and gift items, such as wind chimes, jewelry, and garden items. Most of Mother’s Day orders come ahead of time, but there will be two or three chaotic days which will be very demanding. You may want to give all mothers that come in your shop a free carnation as a token of appreciation and to honor her. It is good public relations. You can probably count on working on Mother’s Day at least some of the day.  That is each individual flower shops’ decision to make. Advertising you will be open on that Sunday. You may get many extra walk in sales or last minute call in orders.

In between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day there are many graduations from highs schools and colleges that will need floral goods. Also, there are the seemingly many birthdays in May. Furthermore, the schools are ending their school year. People like to give teachers flowers and plants as a token of their appreciation.

So stock up on your inventory and be happy. You are in the merry month of May. Be thankful your shop is busy. Be happy you are in warm weather. And start dreaming of the weddings you will do next month in June!