So you want to be a florist in Singapore? If you can picture yourself surrounded by blooms every day, tending to new deliveries while simultaneously jotting down a phone order and helping a clueless guy buy birthday flowers for someone he’s dating, then a flower shop in Singapore might just be the perfect workplace for you.
We’re looking into the job description of a florist, flower arranger, or floral designer because these days it’s considered a job for employment. Many large companies, both local and international now employ floral designers for their local shops or post online florist Singapore jobs on the internet.
So what are the duties and jobs of a floral designer? Let’s take a look at each of them:
- Create Floral Arrangements
This job requires creativity and know-how in the proper presentation of flowers. You will be using a variety of accent flowers, focal flowers, fillers, and foliage. You also need a full understanding of the different designs, patterns, and arrangements. Most of the time, you will be required to create unique arrangements.
You will be selecting the right materials for your design as well. Once you have made an arrangement, you may also be in charge of pricing the flower bouquet. Many florists earn more for original arrangements.
- Customer Service
You will also act as a receptionist at a flower shop or an online express flower delivery service. Some details you will need from the client include delivery date, place of delivery, ideal delivery times, and contact details. Once you have the orders, you should organize orders by category to ensure efficiency of all deliveries and so that no order will be forgotten.
You may also need to help clients choose the right types of flowers for the right occasion, person, or message they want to convey. You may also help clients find the best flowers for their budget. If you are planning a new strategy, like flower delivery or flower subscriptions, you will need selling and convincing techniques to guide these customers into choosing the right arrangements.
To be a florist in Singapore means you need to be able to handle diversity. You will be working with colleagues of different nationalities and will also have walk-in customers who speak a different language. You may need to learn English, Mandarin, and overall be multi-linguistic to survive the flower industry in Singapore.
Finally, you will also need to keep in touch with your customers and logistics provider. You need to be able to keep track of where the orders are now in the process and how soon they can be delivered. If you are maintaining an online service, some clients want to see a photo of the arrangement before it is delivered. You have to make it happen to avoid frustrating your customers.
- Maintain Plants in the Shop
When working in a flower shop, your job will be to properly care for all the plants in storage as well as those on display. You need correct knowledge in watering and cutting plants. Different types of flowers need different levels of care. It’s not like you just make sure to fill all vases with water every other day.
You should also be knowledgeable in selecting fresh-cut flowers and knowing how to save flowers from wilting. You will be trimming hand bouquets, terrariums, and condolence funeral wreaths as well. You should have correct know-how on which tools to use like trimmers, wire, pins, shapers, foam, and floral tape, among others.
- Keep Up with the Demand
In managing a flower shop or online flower delivery service, you will also be in charge of re-stocking all plants and supplies necessary. You will need access to the cheapest wholesalers and flower farms. Not having industry knowledge on where to get the cheapest flowers and supplies will make the end cost very expensive for your customers. Also, once the flowers and supplies arrive at the shop, you will have to unpack them, store, and arrange them correctly.
- Clerical Duty
Aside from taking clients’ orders, making sure you have enough supplies, and getting the deliveries done right and on time, you will also be responsible for keeping financial records. Many florists work overtime to keep up with deliveries as well as with bookkeeping. Be prepared to serve customers, receive payments, sell items, and answer telephones to keep your job.
- Teach Others
In order for your customers to enjoy their blooms for a long time at home, you may need to teach them how to handle and maintain their bouquet and terrariums at home. You will have to teach them the do’s and don’ts and daily care necessary for indoor plants, foliage, and bouquets.
- Decorate Venues
Whether online or a physical establishment, you need to beautify the flower shop. You will be in charge of creating window displays and changing them frequently to enhance the look and feel of the shop.
If you get a large order of flowers for a grand event, you will need to supervise your team of decorators or be responsible for decorating halls, churches, and any other space for events. For this, you will need a good eye for design and leadership skills to manage your team.
- General Cleaning
Most of the time, a floral designer is a one-person job. Expect to be responsible for the general cleaning and upkeep of the flower shop. You should maintain a neat and tidy shop always. Organizing should also be one of your responsibilities. In order to fulfill all of your duties without fail, you will need a clean and organized place to work in.
- Train Other Florists
If you are working in a large company, chances are as you develop and become a well-known florist, you will also be tasked to train other workers. You may need to conduct classes and demonstrations to train new florists for other designations.
- Communicating with Your Team
If you are employed as a floral designer, you will have to keep your bosses up-to-date with in-store operations. You need to learn how to make reports and communicate with your supervisors as well as your subordinates in various ways including email, by phone, or face to face.
A floral designer’s job entails more than having good hand-eye coordination and a knack for flower arrangements. You will also need skills in selling, negotiating, organizing, decorating, communicating, teaching, managing, bookkeeping, doing cashier work, and even cleaning. If you are a natural multi-tasking pro and find fulfillment in the world of flowers, you will find a floral designer’s job description fit for you.
