Floricon 2023
As you know, we recently had the pleasure of attending the Floricon, in Loughborough, England - Floricon is delivered and presented by The British Florist Association.
One of the most exciting part of this journey is meeting and networking with some of the finest flower growers and flower suppliers in the industry. From discussing the latest trends in floral cultivation to learning about innovative techniques for extending the longevity of blooms, every interaction was a valuable learning experience.
Networking with fellow florists was like hanging out with long time pals. Engaging in lively discussions about the challenges and triumphs in our shared profession fostered a sense of camaraderie and solidarity, We all speak the same language - the language of flowers, of course! Exchanging tips, griping about the occasional stubborn flowers, and laughing over our shared feck up, made for some unforgettable moments. Its incredible how all of us have the same types of issues in business.
The exchange of ideas and techniques among us is a true testament to the collaborative spirit that makes the floristry community so remarkable.
Detail Flowers
We had the pleasure of meeting some fabulous suppliers of the flower industry. We were blown away by Detail Flowers Software, Corrine explained the system, wow , if you don’t get the wedding booking at the end of the consultation, we would be shocked, not only did it produce beautiful proposals, it reduces the florist over-buying, provides an easy pricing structure and also inspiration and colour trends, we so look forward to chatting more with Corrine in the future and have a webinar where she will demonstrate how the software can benefit wedding florists
Floral Box & Oasis Floral Products
Stephanie from Oasis Floral Products, put Janette on the spot and asked her to use their new Terra Brick which is a compostable alternative to floral foam. Deirdre will be doing a full blog on this soon so watch this space.
Michael & Caroline from Floral Box gave us a full run down of their best selling boxes, their new products coming very soon and of course their amazing line of Ribbons that they are introducing very soon, see the interview with Janette, Michael & Caroline here.
Hoek Flowers
Finally, after many years we finally met Heidi & the team from Hoek Flowers, her reputation proceeded her and all our trainee florists, particularly those in the UK rave about her support and service to them when they start their first account and order. See Janette’s Chat with Heidi Here
Merel and Ronald from Florissmart Direct had the most incredible stand and learning how their process works when buying is so very interesting. We are looking forward to setting up our own account and trying them out. We met and chatted with Dekker Chrysanthemums who really impressed us with their colour options and we plan to work with these growers and breeders very soon. Meijer Roses are definitely our go too Avalanche grower and Rene chatted about longevity and why their roses need to be ordered in much sooner that other varieties in order to allow them to bloom to their fullest for weddings and events.
Fionnuala and the Van der Plas Lads were so much fun, their stand had been designed by the incredible florist Amy Bone, and it did not disappoint. We were all delighted to hop onto their 3d Video Station and have some dancing fun. Those of you on M3 know Fionnuala well and again the support and advice Fionnuala has to offer is second to none.
Su Whale - Cut Flower Books
As always Su and Bret Whale were on hand with their Cut Flower Books, but also they had a fabulous collection of Vintage Flower Books for sale, which are well worth a read as many of those old techniques and skills are what many florists particularly those working foam free and moving back to.
The Queen Bees
There were workshops throughout both days, we only managed to get to see two of them, but both were so educational and motivating. The Queen Bees who are a marketing company focused entirely on working with florists in both retail and studio. They alleviated a lot of fear of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and explained how using it within your business and your social media can infact save you a huge amount of time.
Perennial Funding
Funding for our UK trainee florists has always been difficult to source, Deirdre had a chat with Perennial who are a charity in the UK that fund those wishing to move their career in another direction to suit their lifestyle or family situation. Deirdre has a full blog coming soon with more details about UK funding.
We have to congratulations to all the competition entries at Floricon. Your exceptional talent and dedication to the craft is truly commendable. Your creations serve as a source of inspiration for all of us, reminding us of the limitless potential that lies within the realm of floristry.
Beyond the professional benefits, attending these type of events also results in personal motivation and rejuvenation. The energy and enthusiasm generated from the collective of those attending is infectious and revitalizing. We shared stories, challenges, and triumphs with fellow florists reminding us all the time that we are blessed to be part of a vibrant community dedicated to spreading smiles and happiness as a result of our craft & skills.
While the costs associated with attending conferences and events may seem daunting to some, the investment in our professional development and business growth is immeasurable. These opportunities serve as the lifeblood of innovation, collaboration, and inspiration in the floral industry. So, let's seize every chance to immerse ourselves in this enriching experience and continue blooming together as a flourishing community of floral enthusiasts.
Here's to the beauty of flowers and unending growth.
Janette & Deirdre xx