Wholesale florists supply flowers to designers, retail stores, and hotels, and may grow their own flowers. They organize and package orders, and may provide arrangements and seasonal promotions. Working conditions can include refrigerated environments and long hours.
A wholesale florist supplies flowers to floral designers, retail stores, and facilities such as hotels. Wholesalers do not work directly with the public, instead focusing on high-volume orders for private and retail customers. This job can include a variety of skills, including flower growing and handling, locating rare flowers, and meeting tight and sensitive deadlines. Employers can provide on-the-job training and people can also pursue formal education to prepare for work as a wholesale florist.
In some cases, wholesale florists may use a variety of greenhouses and nurseries as a source for their flowers; in that case, personnel need to place orders in a timely manner. They review customer needs, anticipate potential requests, and communicate with suppliers to find out what’s available. A wholesale florist can also grow their own flowers for more control; in that case, staff can work in greenhouses and other facilities to grow, monitor, and harvest flowers as needed.
Once the flowers are in stock, the staff organizes them so they can fill orders. The florist trade is time sensitive, as flowers can quickly begin to brown and wither; therefore, orders must be filled with this in mind. Flowers need to be carefully packaged to reduce the risk of injury and other damage on the way to their destinations. Large wholesalers may have their own fleet of delivery trucks, while others may contract this out to another service that uses refrigerated delivery trucks.
In addition to fulfilling orders for cut and potted flowers, bulbs and related products, a wholesale florist can provide flower arrangements. This can include flower vases and baskets, wreaths and seasonal promotions. Floral designers work the floor to fill customer orders, which can include orders from retailers who want generic bouquets for customers, as well as customers such as hotels and hospitals. Wedding planners and other event organizers can also work with a wholesale florist to fill flower orders for a large event at a reasonable price.
Working conditions in a wholesale florist can include large cold rooms and other refrigerated environments, as well as long hours to process flowers. For urgent orders, staff may need to work overtime in tight, hurried conditions. Other people can work in the offices to place orders in the field, interact with customers and place orders with suppliers, which may be more comfortable. For people who drive flower delivery trucks, night and long routes may be required to pick up flowers from vendors and deliver products to customers.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
