Tips on Becoming a Competition Florist

Becoming a competition florist takes patience, creativity, perseverance and the ability to perform under stress. But it also comes with many rewards – not only personal, but also in the form of collaborations with floral companies.

What does participating in florist competitions bring? Read about the benefits, pitfalls, and how FleuraMetz can support you as a partner.

Benefits of participating

On a personal, artistic, and professional level, there are many advantages for florists taking part in competitions:

More recognition and opportunities

Competing – or even winning – brings prestige. It can open doors to assignments, demonstrations, or international projects.

Networking with industry leaders

During competitions, you meet colleagues, judges, coaches, and organisers from the floral design world – expanding your valuable network.

Growth through challenges

You’re tested on technique, style, vision, and time pressure. Sometimes you must do things you’ve never done before. Even without winning, you grow – both personally and artistically.

Access to new trends and techniques

Competitions inspire and expand your expertise. You can later develop and apply what you’ve learned in your career.

Strong selling points

A title as multiple champion or national finalist is a strong commercial asset that can lead to unique collaborations or projects.

Personal satisfaction and motivation

Most florists find competing gives them fulfilment and new energy.

Support from a professional team

In many countries, teams guide competition florists before, during and after the event – often former competitors who know exactly what to expect.

Drawbacks of participating

There are also challenges that can make some florists think twice:

Pressure from material choice and time

Time is limited, materials are often pre-determined, and tasks have strict rules – increasing stress.

Top quality required

Not only you, but also your technique, colour use, and products must be flawless. Every imperfection counts.

Flowers not always available

Sometimes you want to use a specific flower, but seasonal or exclusive varieties are hard to find. Having a plan B isn’t always easy.

High investment

Preparation takes time, energy, and money – without guaranteed direct returns.

Time-consuming alongside your job

Competitions require focus and preparation, often in addition to your work or business.

Strict judging

Expert juries have strict technical and creative requirements – demanding both creativity and discipline.

Voices from experience

Two experienced voices from the competition world share their insights.

Nicolaus Peters

Nicolaus Peters, Masterpieces ambassador and floral designer, won the Interflora World Cup 2023 and knows better than anyone the pros and cons. His biggest stumbling blocks are carelessness and difficulty with planning and administration.

Nicolaus: "I am a creative person. Give me a material and I will create something beautiful. But in competitions you have to think carefully in advance about planning, which flowers you need and how to prepare. That is a challenge for me."

Hanneke Frankema

Hanneke Frankema, Masterpieces ambassador, influencer, competition florist and European Floral Art Champion 2022, experiences very different challenges:

Hanneke: "One drawback is working with themes, dimensions and time pressure. This can limit your creativity, but it’s also a challenge. Especially in competitions abroad, logistics are a major challenge. How do you make sure all flowers arrive fresh and undamaged at the right place?"

That’s why having a reliable floral partner is so important.

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FleuraMetz are one of the largest and most trusted florist wholesalers in the world who deliver all year round, wherever you are in the UK or Ireland.