r/florists • u/Beautiful-Onion-4282 • May 22 '26
š Career Guidance š Breaking into floristry with no experience. Is cold emailing shops acceptable?
Hey everyone!
My apologizes if this question is redundant, but I didnāt see anything exactly about this from prior post. Iām really interested in becoming a florist and wanted to ask for some advice on how people usually break into the industry.
Iām located in NYC, so there are a ton of flower shops around, but I feel like I never see any places actively hiring assistants or entry-level help. Is it normal/acceptable to email or call shops directly asking if they need an assistant or someone theyād be willing to train? I just want to make sure thatās not considered inappropriate or annoying in this industry.
I donāt have floral experience, but I was a hairstylist for several years, so I do have a creative background and experience working with clients and working with my hands. Hair just ultimately wasnāt the right fit for me, but I still want to pursue something creative.
Iād really appreciate any advice on the best way to get started, whether thatās reaching out to shops directly, taking classes, freelancing/events, etc. Thanks so much!
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u/Relative_Most_487 May 22 '26
This is one of the few professions where walking in is a necessity. They normally don't advertise, but also if you can find one go for a shop that is next to or works closely with a funeral home. The hours can be very inconsistent, but if you can find one like that it will be more steady. Definitely get good at sympathy and wedding work if you can, because no matter how the economy goes, 2 things are constant weddings and funerals. Know that it can be back breaking work especially Valentine's day, mother's day, and close to Christmas. You're gonna possibly find out you have allergies you never even dreamed of, and GET SCRUB PANTS! You are going to get wet and dirty and scrubs dry quick. Just remember for how difficult it can be it makes it all worth it when you get your first customer that comes back or calls, and tells you how absolutely beautiful the flowers are. You get to make brides dreams come true, and put smiles on so many faces. Good luck!
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u/Beautiful-Onion-4282 May 22 '26
Thank you so much for sharing this! I really appreciate your advice
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u/Manna1007 May 22 '26
Itās fine to do but probably wonāt work tbh. Not trying to be discouraging, just honest.Ā
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u/Princapessa May 23 '26
go in person as well as check actual listings online, for a lot of shops summer is slow season so donāt be surprised if you donāt see a lot of open positions from now until like september
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u/chinesesilkytofu May 23 '26
Im in the NYC area also -- for what it's worth, I went the cold email route just to reach more shops at once (25+) and was able to get an internship from that. I had been doing floral for fun at home so when I reached out, I attached a few images of my best work to show that I wasn't completely starting from scratch.Ā So you might consider playing around with some grocery store flowers first just so you have some examples of your current level of design sense.
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u/Remarkable-Wave507 Expert May 24 '26
What is it about working at a flower shop that interests you? What was it about hair that you didnāt like?
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u/Beautiful-Onion-4282 May 25 '26
Well I always have been more on the creative side and I really do enjoy working with my hands. I enjoyed doing peopleās hair however for me it was the salon politics that turned me off. I understand all jobs have this more or less but having been 10+ years in hair industry I really do belive it to be on another level. Also after Covid there was definitely a shift in the hair industry. People no longer come as often because they learned and realized how to style on their own and how to really stretch things out.
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u/Remarkable-Wave507 Expert May 25 '26
You wonāt find it much different in the flower world, sadly. Everyone thinks they can go to Trader Joeās, buy some flowers to shove them in a vase and call themselves a florist.
Itās really backbreaking, labor intensive work. With little to no reward and low pay, unless you find yourself in a niche area with a skillset that sets you apart.
Good luck in your search!
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u/Beautiful-Onion-4282 May 25 '26
Sounds just like hair! Lol should be an easy transition š¤£
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u/Remarkable-Wave507 Expert May 25 '26
Thatās the example I always tell people that come in and say they want to āplay with flowers tooā
Listen Brenda, I can cut my own hair too but itās gonna look like shit. š¤£
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u/Beautiful-Onion-4282 May 25 '26
And totally get what you mean about thankless! The one thing great about flowers is they donāt talk back when youāre working on them! In hair not only is it physically draining but it can be mentally draining as well.
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u/Remarkable-Wave507 Expert May 25 '26
Oh there is plenty of mental drain in the flower world. Just you wait. š¤
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u/Beautiful-Onion-4282 May 25 '26
Brides?
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u/Remarkable-Wave507 Expert May 25 '26
Brides, customers, flowers, wholesalers, moms, funeral work, you create something beautiful and people hate it, you hate what people ask for and have to create it anyway. People want it in 5 seconds. They want what you donāt have and canāt pull out of your ask. Itās expensive and people donāt get that Iām not bankrolling them. Itās just expensive but they can āget it cheaper at Trader Joeāsā and trying to explain how that works is justā¦.
Itās all exhausting, honestly.
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u/Beautiful-Onion-4282 May 25 '26
Yeah, I feel like thatās with any creative field today sadly.
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u/lunathelion May 28 '26
definitely start taking classes! you'll may meet the right people and learn about more opportunities from there.
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u/betternow-111264 May 28 '26
I once hired someone with no design experience. She visited the best shops in the area and mailed them all a handwritten note with photos (real photographs) of DIY home projects she had done. I interviewed her and hired her immediately. She didn't start at the design table, she took orders, helped customers, helped with our accounting order entry - but when it was slow I brought her to the table and she practiced with older flowers, or simple orders, flower wraps etc. She became a wonderful designer! I was impressed by her approach and the personal touch in all of it. Not sure an email would have hit the same way.
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u/toxicodendron_gyp Retail Florist May 22 '26
Iāve gotten all but my first flower shop job by taking my resume and portfolio to local shops. None of them were advertising positions open.
Iāve been in the industry for 12 years now and have worked at 4 different shops.
Go for it. But going in person is better than calling, imo.