As a prop and floral stylist one of my favorite scenes to create on set was a tablescape. In real life, I like my tablescapes to prioritise comfort for guests, nature, and food-the entire reason we are gathering! Of course I like things to be pretty but if it feels too much like a photo shoot, people feel uncomfortable. The energy should feel flowing, casual, and provide a beautiful setting to connect. I feel ok if the linen or cotton tablecloth is a bit wrinkled, and I like the flowers to be small and an accent to the food rather than the focus. Here are a few of my favorite casual tablescapes from some of our past events.
Tablescape sources featured in these photos:
Mustard and gingham tablecloths: El Corte Ingles
Green striped napkins from European linen: JauJa Linen
Terra cotta mugs, plates, and pitchers: José Franco Museum
Checked napkins sewn from Portuguese linen fabric from: Rosa Pomar
Terra cotta bowls: Fábrica de Louça
A few more tablescape ideas:
Consider a painter’s cloth for a casual and inexpensive tablecloth.
Buy fabric and have it sewn into tablecloths or napkins.
Use a plain tablecloth and mix and match your cloth napkins for a dash of pattern.
Think about your setting and how the colors and mood of your table contrast or expand from the scene.
Consider how your tablescape will make guests feel.
Mix and match vintage candle holders.
Join us around the table next May (or earlier) for one of our flower retreats!
Terra Milo is sharing her top 3 tips for marketing your flower business today here on the blog! Terra is an expert in marketing and sustainability and I’ve worked with her on my own marketing so I trust her point of view and have seen results from her advice. I hope you find these tips helpful!
A few things set your flower business apart from others, but these tips will help you stand out and set you up for success when it comes to marketing sustainable floristry.
GOOD PHOTOS
Flowers are so visually beautiful, so you should highlight them whenever you can. That means taking compelling photos.
For your flower business, the key to great photos is lighting and angle.
Use natural light whenever possible and allow the light to really showcase the flowers. (It doesn’t always have to be bright light to be interesting.)
Take photos from different angles, some close up, and some far away. It’ll draw people in and make them want more… of your flowers!
CONSISTENCY
Like any business, you’ll want to show up consistently where your ideal client hangs out so that they are reminded that you exist and they’ll think of you when it’s time to buy flowers.
Make it easy for them to choose you by posting consistently.
Try to post on Instagram (or your chosen social media platform) a few times a week.
Test different times of day and different formats - photos vs videos, long vs short copy.
Some of my favorite topics include
- showcase the flowers
- your story
- why you’re passionate about flowers
- behind the scenes
- tips for taking good care of the flowers they buy from you
The key is to show up consistently so you remain top of mind.
TELL YOUR STORY
Sustainable flower businesses like yours need to highlight not only the benefits of their product (the beauty, inspiration, and sense of calm that comes from flowers), but also what makes your business sustainable. People want to know how and why you’re different.
- how do you choose your suppliers?
- what materials do you use that are better for the planet?
- what inspired you to prioritize sustainability?
- how can we make sustainable choices when buying flowers, whether from you or someone else?
Even if you’re not doing it perfectly, tell your sustainability story so people can get to know you and your values. Buyers these days want to know that a business has purpose, beyond profit.
These tips will give you loads of content for your website and social media. They’ll set your flower business on a strong foundation to get new and repeat customers.
Learn in person with Terra at our floral career retreat, this fall in Lisbon! Check out more details here.
3rd photo by Filipe Lucas Frazão.
Today Verity and Saffy from The Bath Flower School are sharing their top tips for sustainable floristry. As a flower school that prioritizes sustainability, The Bath Flower School offers solutions and tools for florists to practice their craft in a way that is kind to the earth. Here are their top tips for practicing sustainable floristry!
Choose flowers and foliage that are in season, have been grown locally or that you have foraged (with permission) to ensure you are creating something that has had the least travel involved in it. Use flowers that are at their peak and at their best and choose according to this rather than creating a design in your head and then seeking out the flowers. Always be season and flower led and let this dictate your design.
It’s all about the vessels! When you choose not to use flower foam, the vessels you choose to hold water are an integral part of your design. “No water no life!” You need to have vessels big enough to hold an amount of water that will keep your stems hydrated for the length of time that they need to look good. The vessel is part of your design. If you are making something to sit on a table think about the scale, shape, colour and relevance of the container that is holding the water and the flowers. The bowl, vase or trough you use is integral to the finished look and needs to tie in with your overall design.
Think about the longevity and purpose of your design. Can it be moved at an event to be re purposed to maximise its impact and to minimise the customers spend and waste. Can your designs be gifted after the event or recycled to a charity or worthy cause. Make designs that contain no single use plastics and only materials that will biodegrade easily or can be used again and again.
Create a sustainable installation with The Bath Flower School this October at our floral career retreat in Lisbon, Creating a Circular Floral Design Business. Learn more and book your spot here!
