Florist

Retail & Hospitality

Related Jobs or Working with these Jobs

 

Service or PersuadingPractical or MechanicalCreative or ArtisticSkill Level 2Skill Level 3

Florists design and prepare floral arrangements such as bouquets, sprays, wreaths and vases of flowers and prepare flowers for sale to the public. They also organise the storage, sale and delivery of floral arrangements. Future Growth StaticTheir tasks include arranging personalised wreaths for funerals or weddings, cutting and presenting fresh flowers (such as those native to Australia) in their store, or selecting flowers of a certain colour and appearance for an arrangement.

ANZSCO description: 3621: Prepares and sells floral arrangements.

Knowledge, skills and attributes

A florist needs:
 

  • to be artistic, with an eye for colour and design
  • to be skilled at hand-crafting techniques.
  • a good sense of colour, texture and design
  • an appreciation of different varieties of flowers, knowledge of different flowers and their maintenance requirements
  • great communication skills
  • sound business skills (if interested in operating a business)
  • an appreciation of the importance of discretion and confidentiality when dealing with personal matters.



Duties and Tasks

Florists may perform the following tasks:

  • Florist creating a bouquetdesign appropriate floral arrangements based on discussions with clients about their requirements, including type of occasion and budget
  • select flowers and greenery, taking into account their expected lifespans, and trim flowers to a suitable length, strengthening them with wire if necessary
  • arrange flowers and greenery in vases, or secure them to a wire or plastic base, finish the arrangement with ribbons or other trimmings
  • make sure that flowers remain in good condition by taking into account the temperature, watering requirements and storage needs
  • arrange local delivery of flowers, and relay interstate and overseas orders
  • arrange dried, paper, silk or latex flowers and fruits, and other materials
  • decorate churches and other venues for weddings and other special occasions
  • rotate inventory and manage stock for in-store displays, pre-orders and daily sales
  • take part in management and administration, such as working out costs and pricing of floral arrangements, maintaining financial records and supervising staff.

Working conditions

Florists need to attend flower markets early in the morning. They have a high level of contact with the public. Florists work in florist shops and might also travel to locations such as religious institutions, community events or private gatherings to design and prepare floral arrangements.  It is important that florists do not have allergies or reactions to any kinds of pollen, flowers or seeds. As florists converse frequently with the public, they must have good communication and listening skills.

Tools and technologies

When putting together floral arrangements, florists use materials such as foam boards, wire and paper. A thorough knowledge of different forms of flowers and the manner in which they should be stored and presented, is of great importance. Similarly, florists should be aware of the symbolism of different flowers and be able to pass this knowledge onto the public.

Education and training/entrance requirements

It is possible to work as a florist without any formal qualifications and get training on the job.

You can become a florist by completing a traineeship in floristry. The traineeship usually takes between 12 and 24 months to complete.

​You may also improve your employment prospects if you complete a Certificate in Floristry offered at TAFE Colleges and other registered training organisations.

Did You Know?

Australia's National Flower is ....

Golden Wattle

The golden wattle, Acacia pycnantha, is Australia's national flower.

Acacia is the largest genus in the family Mimosaceae, the Mimosa family, which is mainly tropical and sub-tropical.

Acacia pycnantha, the golden wattle, grows to about 4 to 8 metres.

In 1992, September 1 was formally declared National Wattle Day.


Australian Capital Territory's Floral emblem is.... Royal Blue Bell

Royal Blue Bell


The royal bluebell, Wahlenbergia gloriosa, is the floral emblem of the Australian Capital Territory.

Wahlenbergia gloriosa belongs to the Campanulaceae family.


New South Wales' Floral emblem is....the Waratah

Waratah


The waratah, Telopea speciosissima, is the state flower of New South Wales.

It belongs to the Proteaceae family which includes the protea or sugarbush.

The waratah is distinguished by a mass of deep red flowers grouped in rounded heads 7 to 10 centimetres in diameter surrounded by crimson bracts.

It was proclaimed the official floral emblem of New South Wales in 1962.


Name derivation: Telopea is derived from the Greek telopos, meaning "seen from afar." Speciosissima is the superlative of the Latin speciosus, meaning "beautiful" or "handsome." Waratah is the Aboriginal name for the species.

Flowering period

The waratah flowers from September to November with nectar-seeking birds acting as pollinators.

Northern Territory's Floral emblem is..... Sturt's Desert Rose

Desert Rose


Sturt's desert rose (also known as Sturt desert rose), Gossypium sturtianum, is the floral emblem of Australia's Northern Territory.

The specific and varietal names, sturtianum, honor Australian explorer Captain Charles Sturt (1795-1869) who first collected the species "in the beds of the creeks on the Barrier Range" during his journey to central Australia in 1844-45. Gossypium belongs to the hibiscus family, Malvaceae, which is widespread in tropical and temperate regions of the world.


Queensland's Floral emblem is .....Cooktown Orchid

Cook town orchid


The Cooktown orchid, Dendrobium phalaenopsis, is the state flower of Queensland.

Originally thought to be Dendrobium bigibbum, the correct botanical name for the Cooktown orchid has been the subject of speculation and debate.

In fact, when the Cooktown orchid was proclaimed the floral emblem of Queensland in 1959, it was under the botanical name of Dendrobium bigibbum var phalaenopsis. But it appeared that when British botanist John Lindley (1799-1865) named the plant, it was not to be found near Cooktown, the north Queensland town after which the orchid was named.

In 1880, New South Wales Surveyor General Robert FitzGerald described Dendrobium phalaenopsis as "obtained near Cooktown."
A color plate of the orchid, which he published in December that year, is said to clearly illustrate the plant now known as the Cooktown orchid which FitzGerald described as "obtained in northern Queensland."


South Australia's Floral emblem is.....Sturt's Desert Pea

Desert Pea

Sturt's desert pea, Swainsona formosa, is the state flower of South Australia. It was adopted as the state's floral emblem in 1961.

First discovered by the English explorer William Dampier on his 1688 visit to islands off the northwestern Australian coast, the plant's presence was noted by Australian explorer Charles Sturt in 1844 in areas between Adelaide and Central Australia. The flower was named after Sturt to commemorate his exploration of inland Australia.

Sturt's desert pea was formerly called Clianthus formosus and is also known as Willdampia formosa (named after Dampier). The specific name formosa is Latin for "beautiful."

Tasmania's Floral emblem is.....Tasmanian Blue Gum

Tasmanian Blue Gum


The Tasmanian blue gum, Eucalyptus glololus Labill, is Tasmania's floral emblem.


Found throughout the Australian island state of Tasmania, including the historic Royal Hobart Botanical Gardens, the Tasmanian blue gum grows largely in southern and eastern Tasmania and in the middle reaches of the Derwent River.

Victoria's Floral emblem is....Common Heath

Common Heath


The common heath, Epacris impressa, has the distinction of being the first flower to be officially proclaimed an Australian state floral emblem.

It was agreed at a meeting in 1951 by representatives of interested government departments, societies and individuals to name the common heath as the floral emblem of Victoria. Official proclamation of Victoria's state flower was made in 1958.

Western Australia's Floral emblem is.....Red and Green Kangaroo Paw

Kangaroo Paw


The red and green kangaroo paw, Anigozanthos manglesii, is Western Australia's floral emblem.

Plants of the genus Anigozanthos have an inflorescence bearing a resemblance to the paw of a kangaroo.

The specific name, manglesii, honors an Englishman. Robert Mangles, who raised the red and green kangaroo paw in his Berkshire garden in the 1830s from seed sent from Australia.
(Source: About.com: Australian Travel)

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