A Florist

Ever thought that being surrounded by lovely-smelling flowers cool plants and beautiful ribbons sounds like a dream come true? Well it just might be! We sat down with Dee a part-time florist to see what life in petals is like.

Dee: A Florist

Can you describe a typical day on the job?

I was a florist for a Sydney hospital. It starts with a flower delivery you have to unload buckets of flowers into the shop. If it’s quiet you strip and clean the flowers and put them on your flower stand making sure it’s presentable. Throughout the day you’re serving customers making arrangements and cleaning. Lots and lots of cleaning!!!! If anything retail floristry is 60% cleaning. 

Why did you choose to become a florist?

I needed a break from my corporate job and I've always had floristry in the back of my mind.

What are three key personality aspects or skills that make for a good florist?

• Fitness - You’re on your feet all day you need to be able to carry buckets and buckets of water filled with flowers grip strength is important. If you’re an event florist you would also need to be able to carry huge branches out of trucks carry arbours and what have you. STAMINA IS IMPORTANT!!! You’re also working with time against you so there are times when you can’t even take a break. You need to get used to drinking your tea or coffee cold. 

• You need to be REALLY organised - You’ll need to prioritise what needs to go out for delivery or pick up. It’s likely that you would need to fulfill orders throughout the day but at the same time answer walk in customers fulfill online orders and answer phone calls. Hopefully you have someone that can help you at the shop. 

• Communication - You need to be able to articulate your design to those who can't see or visualise it. But it’s also handy to get returning customers by creating rapport. It’s also helpful for networking and getting freelance gigs for weddings.

What have you learned about yourself through the work that you do?

I can be really organised and multi task at a high level. I have a background in sales so building rapport with customers worked out for me. 

What’s been your best moment while doing your work?

Experiencing life through those who are so grateful from almost losing theirs. Celebrating the love and excitement of new families seeing regular patients come through healthy with good news and the gratitude to hundreds of frontline workers for all their hard work.

And a difficult moment?

I had a regular customer who would come in to see his wife in ICU he would crack dad jokes but also be so accepting about his wife leaving the hospital through level 1 (morgue). It’s was so hard to laugh with him as months went by as he was losing hope.

I was a hospital florist for a 1 and a half lockdowns. People telling me stories of loved ones trapped in hospital because of restrictions wards filling up watching burnt out nurses and doctors who are doing their best to serve the public when they were non compliant. I couldn’t do anything but try and make people feel better.

How do you keep going when things get really tough?

The adrenaline of a busy day and the satisfaction that you’re making so many people happy fills me with great joy.

Can you share a funny or weird story about something you experienced while working on a project?

I delivered flowers to the Chief Health Officer of NSW. 

What advice would you give to young people thinking of pursuing a career in this industry?

Get a drivers license! I would have more freelance work if I knew how to drive.

You still don’t get used to bugs. I have a super rational fear of cockroaches and if I’m in the shop by myself I can't work in the area. I’m not afraid of other bugs just those ones…

Want to hear more from Dee?

You can follow along with more of Dee's beautiful escapades and creations at their instagram Denny Does Flowers or on their gorgeous&nbs