Karen Barnes is an expert at identifying and interpreting key seasonal trends and translating them into commercial opportunities for florists. Jump to: Karen's Hand Tied Summer Design in a Wicker Basket Asymmetrical Tropical Design Staying ahead of seasonal trends is essential for any successful florist, and Summer 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet. Karen Barnes from the Interflora Floristry Trade Club explores the emerging “Wild Poise” trend, a beautiful

Learn how ethical banking can benefit your small business. Discover responsible banking options, key considerations, and how to switch to an ethical bank. Where you choose to bank can have a bigger impact than you might think. Ethical banking ensures that your business finances align with your values, supporting sustainability, social responsibility, and transparency. For small businesses, ethical banking is about more than just avoiding harmful investments - it’s about activ

It may have been the middle of a heatwave, but that didn’t stop crowds of people attending the RHS’s new flower show at Badminton. This large country estate in South Gloucestershire is famous for its horse trials, but its grounds were filled this time with show gardens, trade stands and some fabulous florals. Floral Horse Jumps In recognition of Badminton’s equine credentials, the floristry students at City of Bristol College had lavishly decorated five full size horse jumps.

For many of us florists, the floral calendar is built around the familiar occasions and peaks such as: Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Easter, weddings, funerals, Christmas and yet between the Spring season and the Summer wedding season, we have one of the most rewarding opportunities for our businesses: Teacher Thank You Week. This is a chance for us to showcase small, suitable gifts for a pupil to say thank you to their teachers. As florists, we're not simply selling flowers

The 'Campanulove' campaign helps florists to shift the whole mood of an arrangement. Some flowers are loved because they shout. Campanula is loved because it knows exactly where to sit in a design. With its bell-shaped flowers, long stems, and soft but clear presence, Campanula can do a lot more than many florists expect at first glance. It can bring height to a bouquet, soften bridal work, stand beautifully on its own, and help colour combinations feel more natural. It is a

Have you ever thought about expanding your love and passion for flowers in a way that will bring joy to your local community? Hosting a floral design workshop is an excellent opportunity to gain new floral fans for your business, build relationships with future clients, venue networking opportunities, and ability to share your unique design style with your community. In this article, you'll find: Essential elements to consider How to host a successful workshop Building connec

Nothing says summer more than the industrious buzzing of bees as they harvest the rich pollen of Lavender. This highly scented evergreen is not just for pollinators though, as a fresh cut or dried flower it has a myriad of uses in floristry too. Fresh Lavender Fresh Lavender is generally sold by weight and can be bought in bunches wholesale from March onwards (depending on the weather). In the garden, Lavender flowers naturally from June to September when it can be cut and

These floral arrangements are not merely spring bouquets with different flowers dropped in. The season has its own palette, and the flowers that belong to it tend to echo that. Summer has a way of making flowers and their colours generous. The season runs long, the light stays warm and the range of what is available at any given time is wider than at any other point in the year. Regardless of whether you are cutting from a garden, shopping at a farmers' market, or working wit

Looking to improve your business credit score? Here are eight ways you can keep on top of your score and put yourself in the best position possible for business funding applications. Your business credit score is a measurement used to represent the status of your business’ financial health. Having a good business credit score will signify financial stability and creditworthiness to existing and potential customers, partners, suppliers and lenders. This means that whether you’

Five of our seven flower farms in Kenya have recently achieved KFC Gold certification. It is a milestone we are incredibly proud of, and an important one for the future of our flowers. But what does KFC Gold actually stand for, and why does it matter? What is KFC certification? The Kenya Flower Council (KFC) is the national body that represents and supports the floriculture sector in Kenya. Their certification programme, the Flowers and Ornamentals Sustainability Standard (F.

What is Plastic Free July? It is shared global movement helping millions of people reduce their reliance on single use plastic. The initiative was founded in 2011 by local government officials in Western Australia, where it was originally a simple idea that involved around 40 people. From this humble beginning it developed into the Plastic Free Foundation and from this comes Plastic Free July which is the biggest waste avoidance campaign on the planet. What is single use pla

High summer means flower growers across the UK are in full production. Su Whale guides you through the best UK-grown flowers available now.

Wednesday 1st July 2026, marks an important milestone under the Employment Rights Act 2025. From the first of January 2027, the qualifying service requirement for unfair dismissal claims will reduce from two years to six months, meaning employees will gain protection much earlier in their employment. This will impact anyone hired from Wednesday 1st July 2026 onwards. Previously, an employee had to be employed by you for 2 years before being able to claim unfair dismissal. To

Love your houseplants? Need to know what’s trending? Chelsea Flower Show’s popular Houseplant Studios were the place to head for everything new and innovative in the world of indoor gardening. Now a permanent feature at the event, the plants are displayed in attractive wooden summer houses in a leafy corner of the showground. The six studios are practically gardens in their own right, as they take over not just the interior but the exterior too, allowing visitors to get the f

Paulina Nieliwocki of Blue Jasmine Floral in the USA shares her ......... When designing in an analogous fashion, I like to vary the tones within each hue to create depth and movement. The beauty of the transition lies in its subtlety. The colours flow from one to the next, guiding the eye without abrupt contrast. In this ombre-style arrangement, the palette moves from saturated orange with yellow undertones, to a warmer orange touched with pink, then softens into cream befor