Karen Barnes is an expert at identifying and interpreting key seasonal trends and translating them into commercial opportunities for florists. Jump to: Christmas and Winter Trends Christmas Garland Watch how Karen brings popular winter & Christmas trends to life. Discussing colours, designs and packaging to inspire your winter & Christmas range. Showcasing three designs that will be featured in future videos. Karen shares expert insights on creating luxurious yet rustic des

When it comes to reaching your customers, email still beats social media hands down. 90% of emails land directly in inboxes, compared with just 2% of Facebook posts being seen in the News Feed. On top of that, email campaigns enjoy an average click-through rate of 3%, while tweets sit at just 0.5%. And it’s not just about click-throughs, email converts. 4.24% of visitors from email marketing go on to buy something, compared to 2.49% from search engines and just 0.59% from soc

Karen Barnes give some timely advice about the benefits and legality of foraging for foliage and other plant material.

Selling Houseplants for Christmas? Now’s the time to give them a seasonal shine. If you’re experiencing a bit of a lull, this is the ideal moment to sort out, tidy up and organise your houseplant displays ready for the festive season.  How to revamp your houseplants display  Work in sections: a shop with a lot of plants can be a bit daunting to tackle, also, you don’t want to have a counter strewn with plants and pots just when a customer comes in, so go through them methodi

The Details Support team recently hosted an exciting webinar to introduce Details Direct, our newest platform that simplifies floral purchasing into your Details experience. The session guided attendees through the story behind Details Direct, a live demo of how it works, and a look at what’s coming next. If you could not join us live, here is a full recap. Why Details Direct Was Created For years, we’ve listened to florists share their challenges when sourcing product — espe

Su Whale sings the praises of native South African flowers that become the stars of the show at this time of year.

As more customers look for businesses with sustainable values, green pledges have swept across the world of marketing. Yet almost 40% of businesses that set green targets in 2020 either haven’t hit them or have stopped reporting. So, how do consumers know who to trust, and who’s guilty of greenwashing for quick gains? This is where business owners need to turn pledges into actionable green retail strategies. Use your eco-conscious mindset to prove your commitment and create

Make the most of this fabulous seasonal favourite. Su Whale advises how to condition and use hyacinths in floral work.

More flexibility, longer shopping hours, and faster delivery… sounds like a dream, right? With our UK Stock, it’s possible for UK based florists. Whether you’re a busy florist looking to top up orders at the end of the day or need local British-grown flowers for your designs, our UK Stock is here to make your life easier. What is the UK Stock? Our UK Stock is a separate stock option on the Hoek flowers web shop, located directly in the UK. That means quicker access, local ava

Su Whale helps you choose the best blue-grey foliage for all your floristry work.

Dealing with customer complaints during the busy Christmas season always feels challenging, but it is understandable that with increased demand for a perishable product that there are inevitably going to be a few hiccups. However, responding calmly, thoughtfully and with professionalism can turn a negative situation into a positive experience for both parties. Here are few of my top tips for handling complaints: 1. “Two ears one mouth”, was always a favourite saying of the la

It’s been a long journey to today, with an extended BRC campaign that included extensive engagement with Ministers, MPs and wide-ranging media and broadcast coverage. While she namechecked the BRC in her speech, the Chancellor presented a Budget that was a mixed bag for retail. While some shops will receive new support, costs have been brought in for others. The announced permanent reduction in retail business rates is an important step to reduce the industry’s burden. Howeve

Now is the perfect time to prepare and stock up on the right products for the Christmas season. Classic must-haves in festive shades are essential, but you can also enrich your arrangements with other atmospheric elements. From deep blue to pastel, from moss to ribbon: discover how our ambassadors bring Christmas 2025 to life. Deep blue and candle wax 'Masterpieces by Sam' ambassador Samantha Wilhelm shows a striking shift for Christmas 2025: deep blue hues take centre stage.

Su Whale shares her secrets to success with Schlumbergera, the Christmas cactus.

Here's a great marketing opportunity to promote your business locally and for free.