Pros and cons of being a florist?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

I’m 34 and have been a SAHM for pretty much my entire adult life. I left school with poor GCSEs and managed to improve my E grade in maths to a D at college. I had a couple of jobs from 17-19 but quit when I went on mat leave with my eldest. I’m trying to get into work now but I’m just not sure what I want to do! I’m enrolled on a couple of free courses, (functional skills in maths and IT) that I’m due to start this month that will hopefully help with the job search.

The place I’m doing the courses offers all sorts, first aid (which I’m going to do as it’s useful anywhere!) and a 20 week course in floristry level 2 which I quite fancy, but it’s a heck of a commitment if it turns out I don’t enjoy it 🤣

Good points and bad points of being a florist? I imagine it can be a lot of pressure with times and last minute orders for funerals?

It's not that much of a commitment really. If you come out of it with a profession!
I know a florist, and she earns pretty good money, running her own company and enjoys it.

Biggest con I can think of is how cold it would be tbh. As well as the fact that I have RA so my fingers are too stiff 😂 I hope your courses go well, the functional skills and IT sound well worth doing.

That’s true! The florist we used for my mum and grandmas funerals was bundled up in two jumpers, a gilet, fingerless gloves and a scarf inside her shop! It would be nice in summer though!

Cons - early starts - the wholesalers opens at 4.30am.

I used to work for a florist (as a driver) and I’ve done some floral arranging as a mostly hobby.

I think the main things are it can be quite high stress and it’s very project/client/deadline led. Your hands will be absolutely knackered, cut up but also it can be quite rough on your joints if you’re using lots of wire. And the hours can be quite unsociable. Okay if you’re more of a shop assistant working say 10-4, but if you’re at wholesalers or doing events, it can be long days, 5am to collect flowers and evenings and weekends setting up events.

And it’s very client facing and people organising weddings and funerals and events can be challenging to say the least. 😬 I’ve run a few wreath making workshops and even they were stressful because people get really twitchy about their holiday parties going off without a hitch!