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Floral Trends & The Power of Permanent Botanicals
Recently, Sarah Botchick, Marketing Manager at Pioneer, spoke with industry professionals Vonda Lafever, AIFD, PFCI, and Lori Wilson, PFCI, on The Business and Pleasure of Flowers podcast. Together, they explored the dynamic and growing world of permanent botanicals, sharing valuable insights into trends, tips, and best practices. From blending faux and fresh florals to understanding the evolving demand for artificial flowers, their discussion provided an abundance of practical advice for florists like you, looking to elevate your craft. Read on to uncover the full conversation!
Crafting Trend Reports for the Floral Industry
Sarah explains that Pioneer creates trend reports by observing, researching, using online tools, watching global trend shows, and reviewing insights from forecasting companies. You’ll find that they pull all this information together into something useful for the floral industry. The reports are based on both industry trends and Pioneer’s own sales data, showing what customers are actually buying. "It’s much like translating Wall Street trends into Main Street realities," Sarah says. "In fashion, most people aren’t shopping on Rodeo Drive; they’re buying from places like Kohl’s or Macy’s." The goal is to distill high-level trends into something that is directly applicable to your industry.
The Faux and Fresh Fusion
As a florist, how do you approach a conversation with a customer who desires fresh flowers, but you believe artificial blooms would work better? Perhaps they’re requesting something out of season, or they want fresh hydrangeas, but it’s 110 degrees outside, and the flowers will likely wilt.
Vonda offers this advice: reassure your client that you appreciate their selection, and then suggest, "What I’m going to recommend is a combination of silk and fresh flowers. This blend will achieve the look you’re envisioning without compromising quality. We want the flowers to appear as fresh and beautiful as possible. If we use fresh flowers for this particular bloom, they might not hold up well, and that could affect your photos. You don’t want to risk that. By mixing the two, you’ll get the fragrance and feel of fresh flowers, and no one will ever know faux blooms were included."
How the Demand for Faux Florals Has Evolved
The demand for faux florals ebbs and flows, evolving with consumer needs. Historically popular for home décor and cemeteries, faux flowers experienced a surge in popularity during the pandemic for small events like micro-weddings. Since then, their use has grown steadily, with consumers embracing grand, immersive experiences such as flower walls, suspended installations, and elaborate floral displays. Sarah advises, "If I were a florist, I’d be talking to every local restaurant in town about these trends!"
Misconceptions About Faux Flowers
A widespread misconception is that faux flowers are outdated. However, modern applications—like striking wedding installations or prom designs—are challenging these views. Lori points to prom design rings with mini faux blooms as an example. "Design rings with mini faux flowers are absolutely gorgeous, lasting all night and serving as keepsakes for years to come." Sarah adds that additional trends, such as the purse bouquet and flower crowns, are ideal opportunities to use silk flowers—just glue your blooms to the mechanic.
Starting with Silks: Must-Have Items
For those of you new to working with silks, Sarah recommends hydrangeas, orchids, and anemones as staple items. Depending on your application, you can choose value bushes, premium bushes, or individual stems. For greenery, ruscus and smilax are invaluable due to their versatility and popularity. Vonda suggests adding poppies and curly willow as essential artificial options for florists. "Fresh smilax can be challenging to use and wilts quickly, so having faux options on hand is a game-changer," she explains.
Choosing a Wholesale Partner
Selecting the right wholesale partner is crucial. Key considerations include checking for sales tax exemption requirements (a hallmark of true wholesalers) and ensuring the supplier stocks products domestically. Be wary of shell websites that drop-ship instead of carrying inventory. A trustworthy wholesaler provides customer service representatives who are real people, capable of answering questions, assisting with orders, and advocating for cost-efficient shipping options.
At Pioneer, our customer service team goes the extra mile for you. They visit the sample room to inspect product details, match colors, and more. Additionally, they conduct a shipping review for each order to determine the most cost-effective options, whether it’s a pallet shipment via truck or a parcel shipment through carriers like FedEx, USPS, or similar services.
Avoiding Bulk Purchasing Mistakes
Common mistakes include not ordering in bulk to benefit from price breaks and skipping the step of requesting samples. Ordering a sample ensures the quality and color meet your expectations before placing a larger order.
Favorite Trends and Exciting Innovations
While suspended installations remain popular, grounded floral installations are gaining traction for their striking visual impact. Among the most exciting products is Pioneer’s smilax line, which includes cascading garlands, hanging bushes, and sprays. "These are excellent alternatives to fresh smilax, which can be challenging to work with," notes Vonda.
To wrap up, be sure to listen to the entire podcast for more valuable insights from Sarah, Vonda, and Lori. They discuss the growing role of permanent botanicals and share tips to help you stay ahead of trends. Take advantage of these long-lasting blooms to elevate your floral designs. Shop Pioneer's permanent botanicals today!
