Floristry Trade Club

20/12/2024

At the Floristry Trade Club we appreciate just what a tough peak season (and year) this has been. Thank you for supporting The Club and we hope The Club has supported you too, with lots of inspiration, advice and perks to see you through.

✨ Working with a Winter Palette - Su Whale - https://www.floristrytradeclub.co.uk/post/working-with-a-winter-palette

✨ Bare Essentials - Su Whale -
https://www.floristrytradeclub.co.uk/post/bare-essentials

📧 To get these updates, direct to your inbox, make sure you’re subscribed to our email newsletter: www.floristrytradeclub.co.uk/jointheclub/membership-options

Merry Christmas, from your Floristry Trade Club 🎄

19/12/2024

POINSETTIA - notoriously hard to care for. But Caroline Marshall-Foster shares with us some tips on how to keep these beauties alive. The trick apparently is to think of Champagne! 🍾

🌡️ Always use room-temperature water. If you're using a watering can, fill it up and let it sit until it reaches room temperature before using.

💧 They prefer soft water to hard water. Rainwater is the easiest option here as it's naturally soft. Or in hard water areas you can reduce the mineral content of tap water by boiling it and leaving it to cool or letting it stand in an open container for a day.

🌱 Water only when the soil has dried out. Poinsettias much prefer to be too dry than sitting in wet soil.

🥂Water regularly but moderately - a champagne flute is perfect. We told you Champagne would come in handy here! For a standard-sized poinsettia in a pot of about 13cm, use around 100 millilitres of water per session - about as much as you’d fit in a champagne flute.

🚮 Discard excess water. About 15 minutes after watering, any excess water should be removed from the saucer or planter that the pot is sitting in because as with the above point - they don't like being too wet.

🪣 Dunk it, don’t pour. As an alternative to watering regularly, the entire root ball can be dunked in room-temperature water for a few minutes once a week.

For full details on each of these tips, read the full article over at The Club:
👉 https://www.floristrytradeclub.co.uk/post/champagne-care-for-poinsettia

📸's courtesy of: Stars for Europe

17/12/2024

Christmas inspo and these are just some of the 30 ways you can use Poinsettia (don't just think Red!) from Stars Unite Europe, shared in an article from last year by Marshall-Foster.

Plus there's instructions on two ways to use Poinsettia as a cut flower.

🔗 https://www.floristrytradeclub.co.uk/post/30-ways-to-use-a-poinsettia

📸 credit Stars Unite Europe.

16/12/2024

Is it too late to be talking about wreaths? 🫣

This clip is taken from the full wreath video we shared with members a few weeks back in our newsletter - Su talks you through a wreath from start to finish and shared lots of great tips along the way.

Full video 🔗 https://www.floristrytradeclub.co.uk/post/watch-su-whale-create-a-traditional-christmas-door-wreath

15/12/2024

How is the Christmas section on your website looking?

With a simplified product range your website should be a slick sales machine. Ensure all your products all up-to-date with accurate details and prices, delivery options and extras. And importantly, don't forget about it during the Christmas period. Keep it up-to-date and if anything sells out, remove it as soon as possible to avoid over-selling. Removing sold out items will keep customers focussed on what you do have and avoid disappointment.

Also this is a reminder to update your Google Business Account, if there are any changes to opening hours and days you will be closed. Updating these will be helpful to anyone looking for you on Google.

For more ideas on how to help make Christmas even better, check out the article over at the Club available to Individual and Business members:
https://www.floristrytradeclub.co.uk/post/ideas-to-help-make-christmas-even-better

14/12/2024

Fresh berries are perfect if you want to give seasonal arrangements a natural, festive feel. Fortunately, there is a great selection to choose from at this time of year in a whole range of colours, heights, and sizes to suit all budgets and any style of design.
Here are the Floristry Trade Club's top five and their Latin names:

- Holly (Ilex verticillata)
- Mistletoe (Viscum album)
- Common Ivy (Hedera helix)
- Skimmia (Skimmia rubella)
- Christmas Peppers (Capsicum annuum)

Find out more about vase life and care in the full article by Su Whale

Fresh berries are perfect if you want to give seasonal arrangements a natural, festive feel, says Su Whale.

12/12/2024

There’s one flower that is synonymous with Christmas…and it’s not even an actual flower!

To celebrate you can find out more about the history of this festive plant: https://www.floristrytradeclub.co.uk/post/the-history-of-poinsettia-national-poinsettia-day

11/12/2024

It’s that time of year when florists are up to their ears in spruce, pine and dried oranges, creating Christmas wreaths for sale while many are also simultaneously running wreath workshops. But how can we ensure that our Christmas wreaths are as eco-friendly as possible?

Regular contributor Su Whale takes a look at Christmas Wreaths and their sustainable credentials. 👇

Follow Su Whale's guide to making environmentally friendly Christmas wreaths.

10/12/2024

Sick of seeing Christmas Wreaths yet? 🫣

Joseph Massie shares with us how to make this gorgeous bright wreath which is just exploding with fresh florals and not a spruce branch in sight. Phew!

Watch the step-by-step tutorial of how you can create this, over at The Club 👇

Join Joseph Massie for the Exploding Wreath - a firework of a floral display, just perfect for this time of year. Built on an AgraWool form, and utilising the very best seasonal product, this design is sure to create a real statement this season.The Exploding Wreath (A Flower Class Preview for Flori...

08/12/2024

The UK Employment Rights Bill 2024, introduced by the Labour government, significantly enhances workers' protections, including stricter rules against unfair dismissal. This has left a lot of employers asking what this change means for them, and how it will affect their existing procedures and policies.

In basic terms it heavily restricts "fire and rehire" practices, making it unfair to dismiss employees who refuse contractual changes unless the business faces severe financial threats. Protections against unfair dismissal also start earlier for certain cases, such as spent convictions, pregnancy, or political opinions. Redundancy processes require more robust consultation, applying collective obligations across an entire organisation for 20 or more redundancies.

For employers, this means stricter procedural compliance when managing dismissals, redundancies, and contract changes. Flexible working becomes a default right from day one, requiring reasonable explanations for refusals. Zero-hours contracts will also face tighter regulations, mandating guaranteed hours based on actual work patterns.

Find out more from this article from Employment Law experts Croner, over at The Club 👇

On the announcement of the Employment Rights Bill, the government stated they were planning to make changes to unfair dismissal and introduce day one rights to employees. This has left a lot of employers asking what this change means for them, and how it will affect their existing procedures and pol...

07/12/2024

Happy Small Business Saturday to all the Small Business Florist Shops out there 💐❤️

06/12/2024

If you can’t see the wood for the (Christmas) trees this week, don’t worry; we’ve got floral inspiration to help you create festive products your customers will love in our latest newsletter. If you're not subscribed, you can find links to the four videos we shared here:

🎄Stylish Christmas hand-tied by karenbarnesconsultancyltd
🔗 https://www.floristrytradeclub.co.uk/post/watch-karen-barnes-create-a-stylish-christmas-hand-tied

⭕ The Exploding Wreath by Joseph Massie
🔗 https://www.floristrytradeclub.co.uk/post/the-exploding-wreath-by-joseph-massie

❄️ Winter-inspired table centre by Karen Barnes
🔗 https://www.floristrytradeclub.co.uk/post/watch-karen-barnes-bring-a-christmas-table-centre-to-life

🪴Perfect Poinsettia by Su Whale
🔗 https://www.floristrytradeclub.co.uk/post/seasonal-houseplant

Make sure you don't miss out on news and inspiration from The Trade Club - sign-up to be a member today to get these emails direct to your inbox: https://www.floristrytradeclub.co.uk/jointheclub/membership-options

05/12/2024

Now is the busiest time for Christmas Wreath ordering (and Christmas wreath making courses!). What style options are you offering your customers this year?....

04/12/2024

Running a festive wreath workshop this year? Su Whale has recently run her own and is sharing her tips for success and answers to all your questions 🎄

Running a festive wreath workshop can be great fun and very rewarding, the key to success is to be organised and prepared. So how to go about it? Here are some answers to commonly asked questions.

03/12/2024

Corporate Christmas work that’s fun and original, even the receptionist will love it 😍Karen is sharing some more of her Christmas tips with Floristry Trade Club members - see the full video process from start to finish over at the link in our bio 🔗

28/11/2024

📢 Calling all Business and Individual members 📢
Black Friday is here and your Club Perks savings are about to get even bigger!

Through Club Perks, we're running a range of special offers with big brands including Dell, Hotpoint, Virgin Experience Days, Garmin (available through MyActiveDiscounts) and much more. We're also running a deal with TOTUM, the definitive discount card which gives you discounts on 400+ brands including ASOS, Boots, Samsung, Ray Bans, Adidas and so much more.

Check out Club Perks, and make sure you're logged in to access, these plus many more fantastic savings 👉 https://www.floristrytradeclub.co.uk/clubhouse/clubperks

Not a Club member? Membership starts at just £5 a month. You could get back the money you spend on membership in money-off savings on your everyday or business spending! 🤑

27/11/2024

Freelancing for another florist's business - the pros and cons from Viv Bradford's perspective...
✅ You get to work on huge events and large installations and flex your creative talents that you may not otherwise have a chance to experience.
❌ The way another florist does something may not be the way you do and you need to be okay with that. They are the boss in this situation.

Read more in the full article to work out if Freelancing would work for you 👇

Last week I spent two days freelancing for another florist, even after three decades in the industry, I still find freelancing a refreshing change. It always seems to recharge my very jaded batteries at the end of a long wedding season and fires me up with renewed passion for my art.Its such a good....

23/11/2024

📢 Reminder: The Self Assessment Tax Return Deadline is Approaching! 🕒

HMRC urges customers to file their tax returns before the 31 January deadline. Starting early has its perks:

✅ Avoid last-minute stress
✅ Ensure accuracy
✅ Know what you owe and budget ahead

More than 3.5 million have already submitted their returns. Need guidance? Check out online resources, step-by-step guides, and even helpful YouTube videos!

🔗 Learn more and get started today – full details on the blog!

Self Assessment customers are encouraged to prepare and file their tax return early as 31 January deadline is in sight.The countdown clock has begun as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) reminds customers they have to file and pay their Self Assessment tax return before the 31 January deadline. Anyone wh...