Expert florist Viv Bradford shares her tips for getting the most from styled photoshoots.

In this online era, to buy successfully florists now need to learn skills that have previously belonged to wholesale flower buyers.

Small businesses have a significant role to play in building a more sustainable future, and using energy wisely is one of the most obvious places to start. By making a few smart changes, whether that’s upgrading to efficient equipment, changing everyday habits, or exploring renewable options, businesses can cut costs, reduce their carbon footprint, and contribute to a healthier planet. Sustainable energy use isn’t just good for the environment; it’s good for business, too.

Break-even analysis helps you calculate how many units you need to sell to cover fixed and variable costs. Learn how it works and how to use it in your business planning. Every business, from start-up to established enterprise, needs to answer one essential question: when will we actually start making money? That’s where break-even analysis comes in. What is a break-even analysis? A break-even analysis is a financial planning tool that identifies the exact moment your total r

Prepare your business for uncertainty with our practical scenario planning guide, designed for small business owners and decision-makers. Running a small business today means operating in a world where costs, customer behaviour, and regulations can shift quickly. For many owners, the challenge is not just reacting to change, it’s preparing for it. That’s where scenario planning comes in. At FSB, we see time and again that businesses which think ahead are better positioned to

If you’re looking for the creative inspiration and technical expertise to take your wedding floristry to the next level, then put this date in your diary.   4‑Day Wedding Floral Workshop: 8th – 11th June 2026 Led by internationally acclaimed floral designers Max van der Sluis, Per Benjamin and Vincenzo Antonuccio, this four-day training programme offers expert tuition and the insider knowledge to craft high quality wedding bouquets, centrepieces and installations with confide

With more people than ever working under non-standard contracts, it can be hard getting payslips right. Croner are here to help.

Do you know what the term ‘pro rata’ means and how to work out pro-rata pay and holidays for your employees? Croner explain.

In February the Church of England Synod passed the Diocesan Synod Motion introduced by the Diocese of Worcester, encouraging churches and cathedrals to consider creating floral arrangements without floral foam and using UK-grown flowers and foliage. It caused a wave of anxiety amongst florists thinking that there was going to be a full ban that would extend to all of us.  Luckily this motion does not introduce full bans or rules and is very much for guidance, and is advisory

Gross misconduct allows UK employers to summarily dismiss an employee without notice or pay, but only after following a fair disciplinary process (investigation, hearing, right to appeal) in line with ACAS guidelines. To minimise unfair dismissal risks, clearly define gross misconduct in contracts/handbooks, document everything thoroughly, and send a precise termination letter stating reasons, termination date, and appeal rights. What is gross misconduct? What is the best app

Easter is a growing retail opportunity for florists. Easter is not just a small seasonal event—it’s a major spring retail opportunity driven by home decorating, gifting, and family gatherings. By focusing on seasonal flowers, gift bundles, table décor, and early promotions, florists can significantly increase sales during the Easter period. I have found that over the years in retail floristry, Easter has had its highs and lows, but in recent times, especially in the UK, spend

Easter can be an unpredictable trading period for florists depending on when it falls in the calendar. Too early and business can be affected by the weather, and a late Easter may mean that the spring flowers, which are traditionally associated with this time of year, are coming to an end.  Easter puts a full stop on a busy few months, the peaks of Christmas, Valentine’s and Mother’s Day have come and gone, the days are warmer and longer and ahead is the summer. Capitalise on

Discover the best free marketing tools to support your small business, from email marketing and CRM to automation platforms and analytics tools. Marketing doesn’t need to be expensive to be effective. For small businesses with limited budgets, the right marketing tools can make a big impact, and many of them are free. Whether you're looking to automate tasks, manage customer relationships or monitor campaign performance, there are digital marketing tools available that cost n

How do you deal with a difficult bride without losing the contract? Karen Barnes shares her tips and explains why diplomacy is so important.

Su Whale shows how spring flowering bulbs can make profitable impulse purchases for Easter gifting.