Donation bouquet, or floristry, an idea for your own business

During the calendar year, there are plenty of opportunities for Poles to buy cut flowers in large numbers. It is hard to imagine without these plants such occasions as Valentine's Day or Women's Day, not to mention weddings or funeral ceremonies. Not everyone, however, knows what path cut flowers have to travel before they reach the florist, as well as how difficult and demanding the flower industry is.

Where do we get our flowers from?

Currently, 95 percent of roses sold in the European Union come from the African continent. The owners of the local plantations are mainly Dutch. They were the ones who started to grow flowers in the area 30 years ago, mainly due to significantly lower production costs.

Since then, supermarkets all over Europe have started to receive flowers at a lower price, but unfortunately of a lower quality. Such flowers can also be recognized by the fact that they are devoid of a beautiful, intense fragrance.

Polish flower market

In Poland, the rapid development of the floristic industry began when our country entered the structures of the European Union. It was also then that we gained greater access to Western European markets, especially to the Dutch market, where one of the largest flower exchanges takes its place - the flower exchange in the Dutch city of Aalsmeer. It is also one of the stops on the journey of flowers, which later reach the Polish market.

The rapid development of the flower industry in Poland was also influenced by our country's accession to the Union. Poles then gained access to EU funds, which enabled many people to set up their own businesses. Therefore, as a result of these changes, florists started to appear in Poland en masse, the number of importers and wholesalers of flowers also increased.

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Difficult business

Deciding to run a business in the floristic industry is worth knowing all the difficulties that will have to be faced, because hardly anyone realizes how difficult and demanding this industry is.

The sale of flowers in our country requires constant adjustment to the emerging changes in the market. High competition and seasonality of flower sales cause that after some time only the best will remain on the market.

The very road the flower has to travel before it reaches the shelves is complicated. In order for a flower to be beautiful and fresh it takes a lot of work. It all starts with choosing the right variety, then providing the plant with the best possible conditions for growth. In the next stage, it is necessary to take care of the appropriate phase of flower cutting, and finally, of their proper storage and transport. All these steps require due care, appropriate materials and machinery.

Market trends

In the flower industry, growers, wholesalers and small retailers have to keep their finger on the pulse at all times because trends are changing very fast. Recently, it has been particularly visible in the sale of bouquets. Although the classic round bouquets are still the most frequently ordered items for weddings, the techniques of making them and the flowers that are used for them are changing.

In 2016, such flower species as peony and kalla became fashionable. The colours of the flowers are dominated by pastel colours, as well as white and red. The approach to the issue of additives has also changed. In the past, a lot of plastic decorations were added to the bouquets, now the bouquets are supposed to be natural.

In order to meet the growing demands of the market, sellers more and more often combine their sales offer with other areas of trade, e.g. with decor. Just look at the websites of operating florists, which from afar attract the eye with their appearance. The flowers are placed in beautiful decorative vases and baskets.

Prospects

Despite many challenges, the Polish floristic industry has great prospects for development. Poles currently spend about 40 zlotys on flowers. per year. Experts forecast that the demand for flowers will continue to grow in Poland over the next few years, along with an increase in the affluence of the society.