Today, it’s two years since I set up the Flowerona for Florists Facebook Group! And I’m thrilled at what it’s become. If you’ve not come across it before, with over 1,800 members from all over the world, it’s a place for florists and florists-to-be to meet, share ideas and seek advice.
Feedback from Members
I put a shout-out on the group yesterday and asked members what they like about it and how they feel they benefit from being a member. Here are their comments:
“Such a supportive, non-judgemental group – you can ask anything at all and get really helpful, knowledgeable advice (sometimes from my flowery heroes/heroines!). It is an amazing place where everyone just seems to love that we are all passionate about the same thing! It has to be one of the best resources for florists.” Pip Leahy | Green & Pip
“Love this group! Full of friendly advice and suggestions. So much useful information gets shared freely and I have learnt solutions to problems even before encountering them myself.” Susanne Loweth | Beamsley Blooms
“I recommend this group to all my newly trained florists – very supportive, unjudgemental and a fantastic source of information.” Georgia Miles | The Sussex Flower School
“As a florist who works from home, it’s so lovely to know you are not alone out there, and still pick up so many tips from the posts. Love it!” Nicky Pritchard | Forever Green Floral Design
“So many florists now work from studios rather than retail premises and it can be a solitary existence. The Flowerona for Florists Facebook Group feels like a real community, a flowery (mainly) sisterhood! It is now my first resource for advice on mechanics, for sourcing tricky varieties and sometimes just for letting off steam and having a laugh. I think it’s the first professional group of its kind that works like this and perhaps that is a testament to the lovely nature of the people who work in the industry – but it is also down to the administrator – Rona. It is one of the highlights of my day!” Kate Osborne | The Gorgeous Flower Company
“I always recommend this group to anyone who is training or any florists who don’t already know about it. Such a supportive group and an incredible resource ~ the amount of knowledge this group pulls together is absolutely vast… And the generosity of florists’ time and advice is fantastic. So glad it exists!” Sarah Diligent | Floribunda Rose
“The Flowerona for Florists Facebook Group is a brilliant resource for all florists – new and experienced! Love that you can ask questions, provide support and share ideas/experiences with like minded folk!” Hannah Walker | Bride and Bloom
“Love this group! People are so generous with their advice and knowledge. A melting pot of the new and the most established talent in the industry.” Joanna Everett | The Garden Room
“As a newbie to the industry, this group had been so important to me. It has encouraged me to continue my journey learning this amazing new skill. Thank you Rona for bringing together the most inspirational group of creatives who are so generous in sharing their knowledge and providing feedback, not to mention surprising me with ingenious solutions to everyday florist problems. The most incredibly helpful resource.” Leonie Watson | Florence Gray
“There is something very British/European about this group. Love it.” Michelle Biela | Pollenology
“I find this web page invaluable. I head up a small team and run a village florist. I do feel though that I have a wider virtual team to discuss issues. I try and give advice if I can and I ask for help on a regular basis. It’s my go-to for a search on any idea or issue I may have to research. I think of it as a team of ‘florist friends’. A huge thank you for creating this group.” Abigail McNiven | Petal & Stalk
“Thank you for this group Rona. Source of support, encouragement and inspiration.” Suzanne Hewer | Fig Tree Flowers
“This group is vital for me. I work from home. I am workshop based, so it can get a bit lonely sometimes! This group is a friendly and supportive group where no question goes unanswered, it has helped me massively. Thank you Rona and all members of this group.” Claire Wallace | Miss Mollie’s Flowers
“Flowerona changed my career path. It has taken me away from working for someone else in a little flower shop to starting my own wedding floristry business from home. The advice and support we all give each other is invaluable. I joined at the start and two years on I feel I have bloomed along with the beautiful, helpful Facebook page. Thank you Rona.” Jessica Naish | Jessica Rose Flowers
“I love this group, it really encompasses so many different styles of florist, abilities, from new comers to the industry to old timers, from shop owners to freelancers and event florists. But what is wonderful is I feel we can all learn from each other and this group gives a forum to express opinions, ask advice and get sometimes much needed feedback when you work for yourself.” Susanna Jarrett | Flowers by the Bridge
“So great to have this group Rona! Without a doubt there’s always views, opinions and answers within a few hours of putting a question/comment on the wall of this group! So helpful!” Jenna Ball | Ivy Florence
” I love this group! It’s so refreshing to find a group of people happy to help one another. It’s the most helpful resource and best ‘pick me up’ when you’re struggling with your flowers choices or tricky customers! Would like to thank everyone and say that I love working with you all!” Louise Lawrence | Louise Lawrence Floristry
“I’ve been a florist for 25 years and with my own shop for 15 of those years. I’m a one woman show, so it’s wonderful to have this community of flower passionate people out there. It’s such a supportive group with a wealth of knowledge because there is always more to learn. THANK YOU Rona for bringing us all together.” Sheri Linseman | Apropos Flowers
“Rona, you have managed to bring together people with a common interest, ‘the love of flowers’. Hopefully we have all managed to help someone else in some small way. This group is individual, unique, full of lovely people, helping each other regardless. Well done for creating such a useful tool for everyone to share.” Wendy Daffin | AG Flowers
“I love this group, Rona, because florists in Europe seem to truly understand the importance of traditional floristry skills and as an American designer it’s so nice to hear from florists who value the industry standards. This group is full of talented professionals and you’ve really bridged so many designers from across the world.” Alison Ellis | Floral Artistry
How to join…
If you’re a florist or florist-to-be and would like to join the Flowerona for Florists Facebook Group, simply click here when you’re signed into your personal Facebook account and then click on ‘Join Group’.
I check each individual application before approving membership. So, it really helps if in the About section of your Facebook account, it says whether you’re a florist, you work in a floristry business or that you’re currently studying floristry. Please feel free to send an email to [email protected], if it’s not obvious from your Facebook account that you’re involved in the industry.
And yes, a very many hours of my time go into the admin of this group. And if I’d let everyone join who’d requested membership, there would easily be over 20,000 members. But my goal is for it to be a place purely for florists and florists-to-be. And it’s one of my ways of giving back to the floristry community.
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