Florist Job Description
Hire a skilled florist to design and prepare floral work for retail customers, events and weddings, manage stock and present attractive displays that drive sales and customer satisfaction.
What does a Florist professional do?
A florist designs and arranges flowers and plants for retail sales, events and bespoke commissions, combining creative technique with good stock management and customer service.
Florist job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Florist
About the role
We are seeking a creative Florist to join [Company name] in [Location]. You will design and create bouquets, hand-tied arrangements, table centrepieces and installations for retail customers, weddings and events; manage flower care and stock; advise customers and fulfil bespoke orders. This role requires strong floral design skills, good customer service, and the ability to work occasional evenings or weekends during peak periods. Salary: [competitive/insert band].
Key responsibilities
- Design and construct floral arrangements, bouquets, posies, box designs and larger event installations to brief and budget
- Provide friendly, expert customer advice on flower choice, care and product options in-store and by phone or email
- Prepare, price and pack orders for retail sales, delivery and collection, ensuring quality and presentation standards
- Manage incoming stock: check deliveries, condition-check stems, process perishable stock and rotate items to minimise waste
- Maintain displays, shop windows and plant areas to commercial standards and refresh seasonal merchandising
- Support wedding and event work: take briefs, produce quotes, prepare samples, and coordinate logistics with clients and suppliers
- Keep accurate records of orders, stock levels and supplier invoices; assist with stock ordering and supplier relationships
- Apply safe working practices for knife use, ladders, refrigerated storage and correct handling of floral preservatives
Essential skills and experience
- Practical experience working as a florist or floral designer in retail or event settings
- Good knowledge of floral mechanics, conditioning and display techniques
- Strong customer service and communication skills, including basic sales and cash handling
- Able to work flexible shifts including some weekends and occasional evenings
- Physical ability to handle frequent lifting of boxes, standing for long periods and manual tasks
- Right to work in the UK
Desirable
- Formal floristry or horticulture qualification (eg. City & Guilds or NVQ) or apprenticeship experience
- Experience creating wedding/event florals and managing larger installations
- Basic plant care and propagation knowledge
- Experience using point-of-sale systems and basic stock-control software
- Full UK driving licence for delivery or event transport duties
What we offer
- Holiday entitlement: [insert details]
- Staff discount on flowers and plants
- Opportunities for professional training and development
- Pension scheme: [details]
- Flexible shift patterns to accommodate peak seasonal demand
- Uniform or staff kit provided (if applicable)
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Florist role?
A florist plans and creates floral designs for retail customers, weddings, funerals and corporate events. The role combines hands-on craft—preparing and conditioning flowers, wiring and arranging—with commercial tasks such as customer service, stock control and merchandising. Florists must manage perishable stock, work to client briefs and deadlines, and adapt offering to seasonal availability and demand.
Creative craft
Hands-on design work using fresh flowers, foliage and accessories to produce retail and event arrangements.
Customer-facing
Advice and sales in shop, phone and email; creating bespoke orders and maintaining client relationships.
Event work
Plan and deliver wedding and corporate commissions; manage deadlines and logistics for large orders.
Stock & sourcing
Conditioning, rotating and ordering perishable stock; maintaining supplier relationships and cost control.
Typical Florist responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Design
Design and construct floral arrangements, bouquets, posies, box designs and larger event installations to brief and budget
Provide friendly
Provide friendly, expert customer advice on flower choice, care and product options in-store and by phone or email
Prepare
Prepare, price and pack orders for retail sales, delivery and collection, ensuring quality and presentation standards
Manage incoming stock: check deliveries
Manage incoming stock: check deliveries, condition-check stems, process perishable stock and rotate items to minimise waste
Maintain displays
Maintain displays, shop windows and plant areas to commercial standards and refresh seasonal merchandising
Support wedding
Support wedding and event work: take briefs, produce quotes, prepare samples, and coordinate logistics with clients and suppliers
Keep accurate records of orders
Keep accurate records of orders, stock levels and supplier invoices; assist with stock ordering and supplier relationships
Apply safe working practices for knife use
Apply safe working practices for knife use, ladders, refrigerated storage and correct handling of floral preservatives
Florist skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Practical experience working as a florist or floral designer in retail or event settings
- Good knowledge of floral mechanics, conditioning and display techniques
- Strong customer service and communication skills, including basic sales and cash handling
- Able to work flexible shifts including some weekends and occasional evenings
- Physical ability to handle frequent lifting of boxes, standing for long periods and manual tasks
- Right to work in the UK
Useful where relevant
- Formal floristry or horticulture qualification (eg. City & Guilds or NVQ) or apprenticeship experience
- Experience creating wedding/event florals and managing larger installations
- Basic plant care and propagation knowledge
- Experience using point-of-sale systems and basic stock-control software
- Full UK driving licence for delivery or event transport duties
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Florist job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Showcase visual work
Include or link to photos of recent arrangements or an online portfolio — floristry is highly visual and images improve applicant quality.
Be clear about hours
State typical shift patterns, weekend expectations and seasonal peaks (e.g. Mother’s Day, Valentine’s) so candidates understand flexibility required.
Specify responsibilities vs. perks
List day-to-day duties (stock, conditioning, merchandising) separately from benefits to set realistic expectations.
Outline progression
Note training, apprenticeship support or opportunities to move into event/manager roles to attract candidates seeking development.
Florist salary considerations
Florist pay varies widely depending on location, the role’s seniority, and the employer’s business model. When setting a salary, consider the following factors rather than relying on a single market figure.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Florist candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
Do candidates need formal qualifications?
Many florists learn on the job. Formal qualifications are useful and can be desirable for senior roles but are not always essential for entry-level positions.
What hours and seasonal peaks should I state?
Indicate typical weekly hours, weekend expectations and busy seasons (Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas) so applicants can assess availability.
Is a driving licence required?
Only require a driving licence if the role includes deliveries or event transport. Otherwise list it as desirable.
Should I ask for a portfolio?
Requesting photos of past work helps evaluate a candidate’s style and technical ability; portfolios can be digital images or social profiles.
How do I assess customer-service skills?
Look for retail experience, examples of handling bespoke orders and evidence of upselling or repeat custom in references or interviews.
Where to post a Florist job
This role suits a mix of channels: use general UK job boards for retail hires, local community sites and shop-window posters to reach nearby candidates, and visual platforms (Instagram, Pinterest) or wedding/event supplier directories to attract creative florists for commissions. Consider contacting local colleges with floristry or horticulture courses and specialist trade groups to find trainees and experienced designers.
Florist job description FAQs
What should I include in the advert to attract quality florists?
Include clear examples of the work involved (retail, weddings, events), sample images or portfolio request, exact shift expectations, and any training or progression opportunities. Be transparent about weekend and seasonal commitments.
How do I evaluate floristry skill at interview?
Ask candidates to bring or show a portfolio, set a brief practical task if space allows, and probe for experience conditioning flowers, mechanics (wiring/taping), and managing client briefs under time pressure.
When should I make a driving licence essential?
Only require a licence if the role regularly includes deliveries or transporting large event pieces. If deliveries are occasional, list licence as desirable and arrange alternative logistics.
How can I manage seasonal demand without over-hiring?
Use a mix of permanent staff for core hours and reliable temporary or casual workers for peak periods; consider cross-training existing staff to handle events during busy seasons.
What health and safety should I mention?
Reference safe handling of cutting tools and ladders, manual handling for lifting boxes and displays, safe storage of floral preservatives and correct use of refrigeration where applicable.
Ready to hire a Florist?
Use this template to create a clear, visual advert and reach candidates through local and specialist channels. Tailor the responsibilities, hours and benefits to reflect your shop’s needs and seasonal pattern before publishing.
