Ralph Waldo Emerson noted that “the earth laughs in flowers“. Flowers are perfection, often in vibrant and colorful forms. Thirty years ago, I started working with flowers because I was in need of a job. What I received was a blessing. I fell in love with them and soon discovered that even the many hours of preparation required to create an arrangement can be perceived as a form of meditation. It is no wonder so many people fall in love with the joyful feeling that comes with floral arrangement. My love of flowers and my passion for sharing that joy with my clients has taken me all around the world, to places I only dreamed of going.
Throughout my travels, I have often been asked to share my opinion as to what I feel separates a good florist and a great one. I have found that all of the great florists I have worked with share these three traits:
1. They are not afraid to break the rules.
2. They respect the art of floral decoration. Instead of viewing it as just an arrangement, they work to create a piece of artwork that will send a message to their clients.
3. They take the time to get to know and connect with their clients and often know what the clients want better than the clients themselves.
As I continue my quest in highlighting the best florists in the business, I’d like to ask you to send me the name of the best florist in your area. Also, if you share these three traits, please do not be afraid to recommend yourself!
PREVIOUS
George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
Sileola
July 12, 2012
Preston I love how much you romanticize your relationship with flowers and your job.
I am an event planner in the DMV area and I am privileged to work with a lot of amazing and really talented florist. For the purpose of this blog entry since I can only select one; the florist I work with a lot that I think has these three traits is Sharone Abarjel the owner of DaVinci Florist. He is extremely passionate and talented at what he does and his work is always amazing (he has an extraordinary team of people that work with him to bring the vision to life). http://blogdavinciflorist.blogspot.com/
Zsuzsana Dunn
July 12, 2012
Hello,
I fell in love with flowers & design 9 years ago. I have this passion to learn more & see more so that I can give my clients only the best. I love to see the joy on their faces when I go beyond what they think they will see. I’m a pretty humble person so I don’t like to say I’m the best. Once you think that I think the drive to be better goes away. Everyday there’s something new and wonderful to learn. I treat my clients like they are friends. By doing so we actually become friends.My flower business is relatively new in my area & it’s a slow but steady growth process. Much like the growing of a flower from seed it takes time to nurture & grow it. Someday I hope to be as successful as yourself Preston & be an inspiration of creativity like you have been to me. But for right now every small step forward leads to a bright and beautiful future. How can it not be beautiful when I get to work with natures beautiful flowers everyday.
April Cenora
July 12, 2012
Entwined Design in Seal Beach, CA
Marci is great and communicates well with vendors (especially the planner) making the wedding day run so smoothly.
Mimi
July 12, 2012
Into The Woods, Inc. in Chicago. John Rent, the owner, is unparallelled in his passion and love of all things floral. His creativity and enthusiasm shows thru in everything he designs. http://www.intothewoodschicago.com.
Michelle VandenBosch
July 12, 2012
I also “needed a job” as a student and started helping a lady clean up her flower shop. 25 years later I am still in love with flowers and designing. I am passionate about gorgeous flowers and color combinations. I love it when clients tell me a few of the flowers they love and I show them others they likely love as well. They seem so surprised that I would know flowers that they don’t even know the names of and yet think are beautiful. Paying attention to your clients desires, not being the “Style Police” and creating something they love is an easy recipe for repeat business.
Paul lomax
July 12, 2012
Hi Preston I fell in to flowers just like you, I left school with not the best grades, I started work in my local florist where I built up my skills in floristry until I was one of the head designers, I decided to leave after 6years with them, & start my own buisness at the age of 21, I built up a very good clientele & a thriving buisness, but with the economic climate getting worse it soon finished after just 2 years, it really knocked me back I spent 6 months without work and lost all my imagination. Back in march I found a small premises that a friend rents to me, I rang my best clients and told them I was back, I have been open nearly 6months now its not as busy as I’d like but it’s getting better, but I still haven’t got all my confidence back, sometimes I do think of looking for something different to do I would love to travel like yourself but when I am not taking a wage this is hard to imagine.this is the first time I’ve written Or told this to anyone, so I do feel a bit better now its out. I always read your blogs & each time they give me a little boost & I get the urge to create something, I will carry on until Christmas and then I am going to make some decisions, if you do read this thankyou.
Paul
Sullivan
July 12, 2012
I agree with all your points and would add one more, you must be an innovator and not a follower. To be a great designer you need to create what you want to see, not what you see on someone’s site or blog. Duplication is not a way to innovate. Yes, there are trends in design styles but just being able to put pretty flowers together in a pleasing way doesn’t make you a great florist. Not every client wants you to innovate for them, most are happy with pretty comfortable designs. Every once in a while I get to do something completely new and that’s when I feel the magic, when my designs go from good to great. My singular focus as I grow my business is to attract clients that want me to innovate for them because that forces me to grow as a designer. Thanks for another though provoking blog post!
I was named Best Florist in Philadelphia, 6 months after opening my studio : )
Connie J Moore
July 12, 2012
I’m one of the best floral designers around the Monterey Bay area of California. I love my work and have been at it for over 45 years. Flowers are my paint.
Sunny Patel
July 12, 2012
Global Petals is a place where flower farmers and flower buyers can get together for their love of roses. Global Petals connects honest and creative rose growers in South America with likewise buyers and enthusiasts in the US. Your rose buying experience will be even better knowing that your seller is an honest lover of the global flower gardening trade. Our growers have decades of family experience in the trade and they grow each rose with meticulous care and affection, so you receive only the highest quality rose possible.
Nicky Goodyer
July 12, 2012
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY?
Nanette
July 13, 2012
Hi Preston,
My first floral memory is at four years old. I was pretending to be a princess by covering myself with sweet billows of peony petals from my Grandmother’s Minnesota garden. And, in turn, my Mother became an avid gardener. So, it is not surprising that I grew into a lifelong passion for anything and everything floral.
I too struggled with a direction in life and my Mom, realizing I was not going to be an art teacher and desperately wanting me out of the house, got me enrolled in the Horticulture program at SUNY Morrisville two weeks after the semester started!
The lovely Flower Shop I have owned for thirty three years is still successful. My staff and I do about one hundred events and weddings a year. There were hard times and lots of challenges but my love of flowers kept me going.
So, I have learned a thing or two in my career. And I agree with you – you must truly love flowers and ‘push the envelope’ when finding new ways to use the best and freshest. Listen to your customers, share your knowledge and don’t forget to volunteer your talents with your community.
I studied and worked alongside designers from around the world – each a towering talent in their own right. And they all share the same qualities you listed.
Floristry is hard work and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Oh, and one more thing Preston. I know you will agree – charge enough money for your services so you can pay your bills on time. Growers and wholesalers work hard too.
Nanette
Bess
July 13, 2012
Preston-
About 5 years ago you did a job on treasure island and I was hired as a local floral freelancer. I had been in the industry for a few years at that point and was gaining momentum and creativity. Working on your team for 5 days reminded me that this was the right path for me. I now live in NYC and have a small company called Celadon and Celery Events. I often tell people it was your job that saved my life and encouraged me to follow my dreams and although success will come and go in many forms my passion for flowers lives on.
I have the quote “earth laughs in flowers” on my arm to remind me everyday that the joy i get from being in this industry as a freelancer,owner,designer,producer, and artists comes at the cost of allowing myself to be free to having a floral spirit.
Thank you for being so open and wildly in love with flowers!
Kindly,
Bess Wyrick owner of Celadon Celery Events
Navjot Kaur
July 14, 2012
At a very young age, I was inspired by the art forms,colors.I recall my instructor at Art Gallery could not believe his eyes as he commented on my first painting of flowers in the wild at age of five. Now that I design the events, my client’s are those who want something different. Preston’s work has inspired me since 2001 with his detail oriented designs with focus on clarity. I really feel that design itself can not sustain without clarity and detail. I think time comes in a designer’s life that you want to do without looking at others. This only brings in more ideas of your own even though the basic is going to be the same. Preston touched the height because he followed his inspiration with passion and determination.
Mimi
July 14, 2012
I’d like to nominate our boutique flower shop, Fly Me To The Moon Florists, which I co-own in the Downtown Waterfront District of Yonkers, New York. Our goal is to create unusual, sophisticated, and affordable flowers for all. We do our share of high end events, but I also enjoy putting together a $5 bouquet for a teen wanting to bring some flowers to his mom just because.
I decorated for celebrations for friends for 10 years, but never using fresh flowers. When my mom died in 2006, I asked God to provide me with the opportunity to use my creative skills for my life’s work. Two weeks later, my business partner, who owns a building in Yonkers said he wanted to open a flower shop and he wanted me to help.. We are in the hub of this re-developing city.
I’m a self-taught florist having the time of my life. My passion is flowers. We’ve developed a great reputation and are attracting clients from all over Westchester.
Carolin
July 15, 2012
I co-sign with Sileola about Sharone from DaVinci Florist. I was a client of his a few years ago when he did my wedding flowers. Extremely talented and great to work with. I would recommend him to anyone looking for a fantastic florist.
Haleh Hekmat
July 26, 2012
Preston,
I am starting out in weddings in the DFW area. Recently I have worked with a great florist who does an amazing job creating an emotional space with flowers. Her namie is Dianne Floure and her company is Flowers de Fleur.
Florist Vancouver
November 8, 2012
I agree with a lot of your other readers/followers, passion is the most important aspect for me in my business. If I cannot reach the recipient of the floral arrangement then I feel lost. Passion allows the creativity to flow, then you could pull almost any emotion from that experience.
Flowers are not just a visual presentation, also the other senses we have come alive when flowers are delivered. Not just the excitement of receiving the order.
Rachael
November 15, 2012
Hard work, patience, creativity and personality go a long, long way.
Rachel x Vanilla Rose Florists