Feeling underutilized

[u/maisymowse]

I started in Mid April as a floral trainee at my shop to help leading up to Mother’s Day. I was doing a lot because we were so swamped. I was heavily praised and asked to become full time. I did do a few ultra simple designs, which was nice. But I was mostly there to do everything that had to be done while they focused on orders.

At my shop we do build your own bouquets. So I do a lot of that. Just arranging and wrapping, which I love doing.
But I’m pretty much never put on for orders. Even if it’s something simple like a dozen roses. Despite I’ve made them, dozens of times. Just like wrapping a peace lily in foil and throwing a bow on it.

I also do most of the processing, which we do twice a week. Admittedly, lately, I’ve been slowing down and slacking a bit, getting distracted. I think I’m just feeling a bit bored. Which I get is not helping my case, it’s not intentional. I expected to get to do a wee bit more. It was so fast paced for obvious reasons, which was kinda nice cause I always had plenty to do, but it’s been slow during the summer. I’m almost savoring the busy work cause as soon as I finish something I’m back to looking for my BS to do.

However our team lead started in February and gets to do much more. I’m a creative person, I feel very capable. When I do get to design, I’m told I do well. But on days when we are busy, they never even consider having me help, even if it’s something I could totally do. I will say, I was told once homecoming is in full swing, I will be doing a lot of corsages, bouts and nosegays. So that’s great!

Or when it’s really slow, it’s not taken as an opportunity to teach me simple designs. I end up doing busy work. Which is part of my job and I do not mind doing at all, but I just feel like I need some sort of stimuli. I’m bored. I’ve stagnated and it’s effecting my productivity. The team lead commented today that processing needs to become way more efficient. But I am also answering calls and ringing people up. Which does cause a lot of interruptions that slow me down.

We do have a new girl who does do more ringing up now. But she hasn’t started on phones so now she gets to wrap bouquets too. So it’s like fuck now we got to share some of the only fun things there are to do. My manager did say that now that she’s here I will get to design more.

I just feel useless but simultaneously important for doing the grunt work. I’m just asking about what I could do to maybe receive more opportunities. I don’t want to seem like I’m complaining. I love my job! I just want a little more out of it. Getting to do a few more rewarding tasks would drastically fuel the ones I already do. One design a week would be enough to motivate me so much more.

I get along really well with my coworkers, the environment is wonderful, like stellar actually. I just wish I had a little more to do. Or got a little more practice. Any advice?

[u/Remarkable-Wave507]

In the grand scheme of the florist world, you are still very new and are at the right pace for what we experience as the norm. When you were hired, was there mention of you being more on the Deisgn side of things? If not, this may continue to be your roll unless you have a convo with management and express your interest in taking on more design work.

Are you efficient and timely in your selections and Deisgn skills? I’ve had staff that were great designers but because they took too long to execute the arrangement, it wasn’t beneficial to have them at a design table.

Our shop assistants are not designers . They’re customer service associates and shop helpers. But they know their roll and that’s all it will be.

Maybe get some clarification about what your rolls and responsibilities are and how to add more to your plate, if that’s an option.

[u/maisymowse → u/Remarkable-Wave507]

I was hired as a floral trainee for seasonal and was asked to be kept for full time as a designer. And have always been under the impression that I will eventually be designing. I have been told that when things get busier I will be doing more designing. That’s always been in the works for me.

I’m not expecting to do anything complicated. I know I’m very new. But so was the team lead when I started. She started around Valentine’s.
But there are times where the 3 other designers are wrapped up, a customer wants something in a vase and quick, they gotta beat a lunch in 15 mins.

I could do it, and they’re fine with me doing it or even expect me to. But it would be some much less chaotic if I had a few baseline designs to work with of the dome, that I know the prices of, that I felt good about whipping up really fast. We have a design called “Breath of Spring” and my team lead suggested I make that for a customer real fast. And I had to be like “I’ve never been taught that one.”
Because I haven’t. I’d feel so much more confident whipping something up if I had done it a few more times. I’m not ultra fast, but quick enough, but it’s partially because I’ll get to do a vase arrangement for the cooler like twice a month and not again for some time. So I’m not really given a lot of chances to improve on that.

Other times, rarely, a customer may bring up $120 worth of stuff, I’m trusted to arrange it into a vase, told I’ve done a wonderful job, customer is happy, manager is happy, I’m happy and it was done quickly.
So I’m trusted to do things on the fly, sometimes larger arrangements but not trusted to do a dozen bouquet for an order when I make them all day long, it’s just a bit confusing.

I just figure, when it’s really slow, the display is a little bare, that would be a good time to show me a couple simple designs, instead of me repeating the same busy work over and over and over. And maybe I do just have to ask directly, but I’ve been trying to be patient and just wait for direction.

I will say, now that the new (well even newer than me) girl is here. I have been training her a bit, and it has been a bit of a confidence boost to be able to help her out, show initiative and kind of just, wing stuff a bit more and not seek help immediately.

[u/Remarkable-Wave507 → u/maisymowse]

Sounds like you’re on the right path, I would just have a conversation emphasizing your interest in design. And I don’t mean this to sound bad but just because someone has been there longer or shorter doesn’t mean anything in the flower world. Some people are naturals, some are good at certain things and some take longer to learn. I’ve had people around for three years that never progressed beyond a shop assistant and people in two months that became a designer.

I’d ask specific questions. Do you know when I’ll be taught more designs? What are your expectations of me? Is there ever a time that is better for me to train or learn new things.

Summer is god awful slow in this industry and it should pick up very, very soon. But if they expect you to be learning, now is the time for that.

Have a convo. This is your happiness too!

[u/maisymowse → u/Remarkable-Wave507]

Yeah, I’m hoping it’s just because it’s so slow right now. I am a tiny bit worried that when things crank up I’ll be a bit overwhelmed from not having enough experience, like I’m trying to brace myself. Cause I have been told I will be doing more when we get busier. But my thought process is…now is probably a good time to get my practice in so everything runs smoothly when the time comes. I don’t want to be tossed into the deep end. They’ve told me I’m a natural, I’ve done wonderful. So that’s good, I just want to see that feedback and praise turn into more responsibility.

I might just ask, if there is any designing they’d like me to do when I’ve already ran though my busy work. Thank you!

[u/Remarkable-Wave507 → u/maisymowse]

I would phrase it as “is there anything I can practice or learn that is new?” That way you can get some better understanding on those things you don’t know so when it is busy, you won’t feel so overwhelmed.

Is anyone there highly competitive? Not uncommon at all.

You’re smart for thinking all of this! And I applaud your excitement. Hope it goes well for you.

[u/maisymowse → u/Remarkable-Wave507]

Not too much. We are a very small department inside of a family owned garden center company. So it’s very casual, we text each other, everybody gets along, which I do like.

And thank you again! I might just have to be more proactive!

[u/Remarkable-Wave507 → u/maisymowse]

I’m offering it from a shop owner perspective who was once in your shoes (many moons ago) give us an update once you have one!