| The flower industry, or floriculture, is a dynamic, | | | | through mail. Some flowers are sent to a packing |
| fast-growing industry happening on a global scale. | | | | company that grades them and organizes them |
| The countries with the biggest flower-growing | | | | into bunches to deliver through mail or to send |
| industry are The Netherlands, Kenya, Colombia, | | | | directly to supermarkets or flower shops. Some |
| and Israel, but many other nations such as The | | | | growers grade and sleeve the flowers |
| Philippines, Malaysia, South Africa, and Ecuador are | | | | themselves before selling them to wholesale |
| joining the market and investing in the industry. | | | | markets. The wholesalers then sell the flowers to |
| Although most of them grow the bestselling | | | | florists who prime and arrange the flowers for |
| flowers – roses, tulips, sunflowers, carnations, | | | | their customers. If you know where to go, you |
| iris, daisies, orchids, lilacs, and lilies – many are | | | | can buy flowers at wholesalers even if you |
| starting to explore hybrids and other indigenous | | | | aren’t a florist. |
| crops. | | | | There are different kinds of careers open in the |
| Essentially, there are three branches that make | | | | flower industry. Among the entry-level |
| up the basic structure of the flower industry. The | | | | occupations are floral shop helpers, who perform |
| grower is the one who grows the flowers; the | | | | various duties in a flower shop; delivery people, |
| wholesaler, who is the middleman between the | | | | who deliver flowers right to the home of the |
| grower and the seller; and the retailer, which is | | | | flower shop’s customers; floral designers, |
| your local flower shop. Quite often, these three | | | | who make creative arrangements out of the |
| branches are intermingled. Some retail florists such | | | | flowers for events such as weddings, birthdays, |
| as Island Rose in the Philippines grow their own | | | | or funerals; and salespersons, who sells fresh cut |
| flowers in greenhouses and sell the product | | | | flowers and other flower-related goods at the |
| straight to the market. They work as the | | | | shop. Mid-level occupations include the assistant |
| grower, the wholesaler and retailer. Major flower | | | | manager, who is responsible for coordinating sales, |
| companies sell flowers in such large quantities that | | | | design, delivery, and taking charge of the office. |
| they order directly from the grower, omitting the | | | | The owner and manager of the shop are in |
| middleman. | | | | charge of the merchandising, management, and |
| When flowers are ordered from a wholesaler or a | | | | operations area. If you intend to open your own |
| grower, they take various routes to the buyer, | | | | flower shop, it’s ideal that you start with an |
| depending on the flower type, the area where | | | | entry-level position and work your way up to the |
| they are grown, and how they will be sold. Some | | | | top so you know all the intricacies of running a |
| floriculturists cut and pack flowers right at the | | | | flower shop. |
| nurseries and send them directly to the buyer | | | | |