Knowing your competitors and how they operate is a vital part of running your own floristry business. Karen Barnes explains why.

‘Flowers are love's truest language’ Park Benjamin Sr Floriography, commonly called "the language of flowers", became popular in the Victorian era as a means of communication in which various flowers and floral arrangements were used to send coded messages, often of a romantic nature! Whilst the language of flowers started in Constantinople in the 1600s, it was brought to England in 1716 by Lady Mary Wortley Montague, who had spent time in Turkey with her husband. The inte

Expert florist and industry consultant Karen Barnes explains the importance of a professional wedding consultation.

Karen Barnes gives us the low-down on what it really takes to thrive in the world of freelance floristry.

Karen Barnes is an expert at identifying and interpreting key seasonal trends and translating them into commercial opportunities for florists. Watch how Karen creates a beautiful Christmas table centre reflecting the major trends for Christmas 2024. Using hippeastrum, eryngium, 'Vuvazela Rose', clematis, asparagus fern and eucalyptus all set in a beautiful silver bowl on a tray with tapered candles . With over 35 years’ experience, Karen Barnes is one of the UK’s leading co

Karen Barnes is an expert at identifying and interpreting key seasonal trends and translating them into commercial opportunities for florists.

Karen Barnes is an expert at identifying and interpreting key seasonal trends and translating them into commercial opportunities for florists.

Karen Barnes is an expert at identifying and interpreting key seasonal trends and translating them into commercial opportunities for florists. Watch how Karen creates a beautiful Christmas planted arrangement reflecting the major trends for Christmas 2024. Using hydrangea, picea, reindeer moss, eucalyptus pods, natural pine cones, variegated ivy and echeveria plants.

Karen Barnes is an expert at identifying and interpreting key seasonal trends and translating them into commercial opportunities for florists. Watch how Karen creates a beautiful winter Pick-up and Go arrangement reflecting the major trends for winter 2024. Using bear grass, Roses, clematis and a regular drinking glass.

For some florists, November can be a very hectic month, for some it’s a preparation and planning month and for quite a few, it’s very quiet.

We continue our series of videos, The Business of Floristry, bringing insight to the running of a florist business from our business guru, Karen Barnes. This video concentrates on key things you need to understand and consider around purchasing and wastage in your floristry business. Enjoy the rest of the series:

As a business you need to let your customers/clients know that you are at the top of your game, and by being aware of trends and keeping up with them, you are absolutely showcasing that you are current, showcasing your products, your styles and the ethos of your brand. Florists who consistently offer trendy and modern designs build a reputation for being creative and up-to-date. This can strengthen your brand, leading to more referrals and repeat business. Being known as a tr

Over the years I have met many florists from all around the world and I am always surprised when I hear these statements; “I love doing weddings and don’t have much funeral work, but that’s okay” “Give me a good funeral order any day, I don’t like the hassle of weddings” If I am completely honest, as a florist / floral designer, my heart has always been in weddings and events, but I also appreciate that creating funeral flower tributes is an important job that we florists do.

In my world, yes absolutely! A business coach can provide so much benefit to any business. When it comes to florists, it’s important to recognise that we can be so caught up in the day to day running of our business, that it can sometimes be difficult to "see the wood for the trees". My consultancy business has a constant flow of enquiries from florist owners who: have been in business for years but have lost sight of where they want the business to go. have staff concerns. w

In the vibrant world of floristry, inspiration often springs from unexpected sources. One such source is the world of fashion. Both fashion and floristry celebrate beauty, colour and form, making them naturally work together. What we see in floristry trends, has often derived from trend predictions in fashion and lifestyle. Equally we often see the inspiration for fabrics and style of clothing influenced by flowers and foliage. This synergy between fashion and floristry can o