I don’t know a single florist who doesn’t work incredibly hard, so it is really galling to fall victim to a scam of any kind.  I know because I was a victim myself a few years ago when someone phoned at Valentine’s Day for a bouquet of white roses, teddy bear and chocolates total cost £160.  Just before the 120-day limit expired, I received notice of a chargeback and even though I had all of the evidence of the order, signature for delivery etc the bank found in the (dodgy) c

Water conservation requires forethought and effort, but every little bit helps. Don't think that what you do does not matter. We can all...

Creating trend directions in the floral industry — which includes fresh flowers, floral design, home décor, fashion, and event styling —...

To help you adapt to these changes the Floristry Trade Club have teamed up with Key Partner Croner to offer a free webinar, open to everyone.

Learn how to stay compliant as a start-up business. From tax to health and safety, our legal experts share four areas of business where you need to have legal documents in place. Learn how to stay compliant as a start-up business. From tax to health and safety, our legal experts share four areas of business where you need to have legal documents in place.  Setting up your own small business is exciting, but organising the paperwork is a time-consuming job as a new business o

New polling from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) shows significant concern among retail finance chiefs, who say government policy is driving up inflation and job losses. A survey of CFOs (Chief Financial Officers) and Finance Directors at retailers together representing over 9,000 stores comes as the Chancellor is preparing for the next Budget.  Given concerns about potential tax rises on the horizon, 56% of CFOs described their feelings about trading conditions over the

Our guide covers the common causes of employment trials and what your first steps should be if you find yourself faced with one. Running your own team is rewarding, but if you find yourself being taken to an employment tribunal, it can be daunting, stressful and costly. Our legal experts from FSB Legal Protection Scheme explain what is involved in an employment tribunal, the issues that could cause one and the added protection available for FSB members at no extra cost.

Running an independent retail business is great, but it comes with challenges — especially now, with many of us feeling the effects of a weak economy, ongoing cost of living increases and geopolitical upheaval. You’re not alone though. A 2024 survey from the ONS (Office of National Statistics) showed that more than 22% of businesses reported decreased turnover , naming financial volatility as the biggest culprit. And let’s not overlook the likes of inflation, fluctuating cons

The UK’s high streets have faced significant challenges in recent years, with 2024 seeing over 13,000 stores closing their doors for good. Rising costs, reduced financial support, and shifting consumer behaviours have created a difficult landscape for independent businesses. The pressure on small retailers shows no sign of easing, but with the right strategies, there is opportunity for growth and success. From diversifying revenue streams to leveraging technology, small retai

The costs involved in setting up a business depend on a huge variety of factors, from your location, to the originality of your product and from the state of your industry to the wider state of the economy. For aspiring shop owners, the cost to cover the first year of a retail store’s life are estimated to be, on average, around £172,000 according to research by quotemyenergy.co.uk . Because of the variables at play, it is impossible to say definitively how much it costs t

For many of us, especially those running our own ventures, it might feel as though we’ve been speeding along since January. So I want to share some time management tips for small business owners. This will hopefully help to manage the hectic pace without losing sight of our goals. Here are five tips for the small business owner: 1.  Embracing the Essence of Being Organised

Get your invoices right from day one with our guide to how to write an invoice for sole traders and limited companies. From one-off freelance jobs to regular contracted work, invoicing is part and parcel of business life and ensuring you get paid on time. When you’ve just launched a new business, finance can seem like the least fun side of your business but knowing how to write a professional invoice correctly means you’ll get paid for all your hard work. What is an invoice?

Promoting your floral business online will benefit you in the long run. Take some time and get to grips with digital marketing.

Summer can be a tricky time; business can be slow, but there are some things you can do to keep business going strong over the summer months

Protect your data, your business, and your bottom line with these key documents, templates and guides for cyber security and data protection. Being your own boss means you’re responsible for protecting your business against the threat of cyber-attacks and data breaches. With seven million cyber-crimes targeted at small businesses in the UK every year, these incidents can happen to any business, no matter how small. It’s vital to put measures in place to safeguard your busines