Yesterday morning, I went to New Covent Garden Flower Market in London to do research for my March Flower Market Report.
And whilst I was chatting to the traders about which new seasonal flowers they have in at the moment, the topic of Twitter came up…again and again!
Florists & Market Traders
It’s wonderful that florists and market traders are embracing this social media tool.
For florists, Twitter is the perfect way of showing photos of their floral creations to their followers.
And by tweeting images of their flowers, it’s a great way for market traders to show florists what they have on sale each day.
Twitter Usernames
Here’s a list of some of the London florists and market traders who I currently follow on Twitter, together with their Twitter usernames, in alphabetical order:
London Florists
- Bloomsbury Flowers : @londonflorists
- Blue Sky Flowers : @blueskyflowers
- By Appointment Only Design : @baodesign
- Elizabeth Marsh : @ElizabethMarsh3
- Euphoric Flowers : @euphoricflowers
- Hayford & Rhodes : @HayfordRhodes
- Jens Jakobsen : @JakobsenJens
- Karen Woolven : @karenwoolven
- Linda Cottee Flowers : @LCotteeFlowers
- Mary Jane Vaughan : @maryjanevaughan
- McQueens : @mcqueensflowers
- Melissa Riva Flowers : @MelissaRiva
- Moyses Stevens : @moysesstevens
- Neill Strain : @neillstrain
- OnlyRoses : @OnlyRoses
- Paula Pryke : @PaulaPryke
- Rebel Rebel : @RebelRebelE8
- Robbie Honey : @RobbieHoney
- Simon Lycett : @SimonLycett
- Sophie Hanna : @sophiehanna1
- That Flower Shop : @thatflowershop
- Wild at Heart : @realwildatheart
- WildAbout : @wildaboutflower
- William Clarke Flowers : @WClarkeFlowers
New Additions – London Florists
- Hybrid Floral Design : @HybridFlowerCo
- Kensington Flowers : @bespokeflowers
- Pinstripes & Peonies : @PandPflowers
Market Traders at New Covent Garden Flower Market
- Alagar : @Alagarltd
- Dennis Edwards : @DennisEdwards69
And of course, there’s the wonderful @MarketFlowers.
Twitter Benefits
So, why do I love Twitter so much? And if you’re not using it, why should you consider setting up an account?
It feels like I’m going back to my corporate world with what I’m about to write next. But it’s all about actions and benefits.
Point 1
Action
Each day, I put links to my new blog posts on Twitter.
Benefit
This leads to more people reading my blog posts. Often people retweet the blog post to their followers, which means that it’s also potentially read by new readers, who then may become new followers.
Point 2
Action
When I meet a new person (especially a flower-related one) at an event, I’ll check afterwards to see if they’re on Twitter. And then I’ll follow them.
Benefit
It’s a great way of networking. It’s a less intrusive way of keeping in contact, compared to email. And you can keep up-to-date with someone’s news, which means you have ready-made conversation topics up your sleeve when you next see them!
Point 3
Action
I consistently share links relating to flowers and the flower industry.
Benefit
It helps to build the Flowerona brand…a go-to place for floral inspiration.
Summing up…
There are lots more benefits. These are just for starters…
And there are lots of regional florists on Twitter who I follow. But I’m afraid I’ll have to write another blog post or two to feature them all!
So, if you’re a London florist or market trader at New Covent Garden Flower Market not mentioned here today, please do add your Twitter Username to the ‘Leave a Reply’ section below…so that we can follow you too.
And if you love flowers, you may like to start following all the London florists listed above…
P.S. The image at the start of today’s blog post is of some stunning pink ranunculus from Alagar, which I posted on Twitter and Facebook, using the Instagram app on my iPhone.
(Image : Rona Wheeldon for Flowerona)
Great little article and tips for twitter which I am very new too…but learning..followed all those listed, beautiful florists @floralelements1
Thank you very much Kim 🙂
We need someone like you in the United States! The smaller, local places to get unique bouquets and flowers to do your own arranging seem to be dwindling while the big, boring and expensive florists who only do large events are flourishing. I love reading about all that is going on with floristry in the U.K. though your blog. Wish you could send some of that creativity and local action across the pond 🙂
Thank you so much for your lovely comment Elizabeth! You have made my day :-).
We seem to be missing from your London List! :-)x
Thank you…is your Twitter username @bespokeflowers? 🙂 x
Hi Rona,
Started following you a few weeks ago, love your tweets & blog. I have a small florist business, London based, which I set up in 2009, having worked at John Carter Flowers @floristtothefew for 8 years.
Thanks
Billy
Hi Billy
Thank you very much for your lovely comment about Flowerona :-). Are you on Twitter yet?
Best wishes
Rona
Yes we are @bespokeflowers – Do you find florists getting customers by Tweeting or is it more connecting with the greater Floral Family?
Hi. I’ve not done any market research, but I would definitely think that florists could get customers by tweeting.
It’s also a great way to not only connect with other florists, but also complementary services such as on the wedding-side…photographers, venues, event planners, caterers, cake designers and dress designers etc, which could potentially lead to referrals :-).
What has your experience been on Twitter?
Just to say as florists in Berkshire, we do get customers through twitter and our facebook page, they are building up all the time. Also people like to see what we are up to on our blog, I think you have to do everything, especially outside the capital to get noticed these days. x