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

A florist’s workroom can be an Aladdin’s cave…. it can be untidy, it can be small, it can be a health & safety nightmare, it can work on a day to day basis but if it’s all of the above, then it’s not being used to its full potential. So, let’s start at the beginning… Imagine you have a long weekend, when you have the flexibility, the capability and the opportunity to re hash your important workspace of your florist business.

Doesn’t everyone love a festival? So, why would we not take the opportunity to promote a festival in our creative business? Festivals are a day or period of celebration, typically for religious reasons, but are also extremely popular in the world of music and song and celebration. Festivals are generally full of life, colour and joy and create a unity between people, bringing us together. Which is why they are so very popular around the world. Some of the words I associat

Karen Barnes suggests an innovative way to stand out from the competition.

Karen Barnes reports on new sustainable practices emerging in the industry.

Karen Barnes offers some sage advice on setting up your own floristry business.

Make Christmas a successful and fun seasonal peak with Karen Barnes' top tips for planning and preparation.

Karen Barnes offers advice on how to look for your first job in floristry after you've completed your college training.

Leading floral industry consultant Karen Barnes shares her tips on capturing a share of the festive home decor market.

In a world where we all need to look after our beautiful planet, the floristry industry must play its part . Karen Barnes suggests how.

Top UK floristry judge Karen Barnes explains more about the knowledge and skills a judge must bring to the judging process.

Taking part in floristry competitions is incredible and results in so many positive learnings, opportunities and friendships.