Thinking about turning your passion for growing flowers into a business? It’s important to learn the basics of how to sell cut flowers to increase your chances of success in your new venture. There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing your flowers bloom beautifully.
There are a lot of ways in which you can sell your flowers. You can either choose to be a supplier for flower shops, sell at the farmer’s market, or even at a Christmas market. In this guide, we’ll help newbie growers learn how to sell their freshly harvested flowers so they can achieve success in their new venture.
Tips on Selling Cut Flowers
Flowers are always on demand and it can be priced quite steeply, especially during Valentines, Mother’s Day, and other special events. If you want to make some good money out of your efforts, here are some tips that will help you sell your cut flowers in the market:
Tip #1. Sell specific flowers
As you start your venture, don’t forget to do research, too. Go around the town and ask florists what flowers they need more stocks in or if they’re having trouble finding a specific type of flower. Think about specializing in growing those types of flowers and become their most valuable suppliers.
Tip #2. Set competitive and reasonable prices
When creating the price list of your flowers, you must take into consideration the materials you used in growing your blooms, including fertilizers, pots, soil, bulbs, water, and others. Ideally, you should come up with a price that will get you to gain a profit that is twice as much as your expenses.
It’s also helpful to look at the USDA Cut Flower Wholesale Price Report to compare your prices to other sellers. You can set your prices per their suggestions. This is one way to set competitive prices.
Tip #3. Try your luck on the farmer’s market
Among the best places to sell your cut flowers is the farmer’s market as this usually results in a higher profit margin than selling to florists or flower wholesalers directly. Setting up your store or booth on a farmer’s markets also increases your chances of gaining loyal customers like event planners.
Tip #4. Make your farmer’s market booth eye-catching
One of the best ways to attract the attention of passers-by or potential customers is to make your booth as eye-catching as possible. For starters, you can create a sign that will proudly present the name of your store or booth (preferably with a logo). Next is to think about how you can add to the aesthetic of your booth like placing flowers with similar colors together or adding a sophisticated mural on your background.
Also, don’t forget to put signage that will display the prices of your flowers to prevent having to constantly answer the same questions from your customers. Also, some people want to choose what flowers they get based on the pricing, and having price signage will make it easier for them to pick out what they want.
Tip #5. Keep your flowers fresh
One of the ways to make sure that your flower stays fresh when you sell them is to harvest them as close to the market time as possible, especially if you don’t have somewhere to store your flowers in (like a cooler). It also helps to place your flowers in water once they’re harvested to help them last longer. The fresher and more beautiful your flower will look as you sell them, the more people you will attract to your business.
Reasons Why You Need a Semi Pro Greenhouse
Quality is one of the most important things to consider when selling flowers in the market. If your flowers look weak, wilted, or unattractive, chances are, consumers will avoid your store as much as possible. When planning to open your flower shop or selling flowers to suppliers and markets, one of the most invaluable things to have is a semi-pro greenhouse.
Here are some of the reasons why:
You can extend your plants’ flowering season
One of the greatest advantages of having a semi-pro greenhouse is the ability to extend the plant’s growing period. This is important especially for growers who are selling their flowers for a living. With a greenhouse, you can manipulate the environmental conditions and tailor it according to the needs of your plants, so they can continue producing abundant flowers even if it’s not their growing season.
Keep pests and diseases away
Not only will pests destroy the blooms, but it can lead to plant death. With a greenhouse, you can have the assurance of pest control. The plastic films and glass will protect the plants inside the semi pro greenhouse from any kind of pest infestations and plant diseases.
Protection from rough weather
Aside from pest infestations, greenhouses also offer protection from strong winds and heavy rains. As long as your semi pro greenhouse is sturdy and properly fixed on the ground, you can expect an ample amount of protection from any kind of harsh weather conditions.
Final Thoughts on How to Sell Cut Flowers Successfully
Planting flowers are a great way to add beauty to a garden, farm, or greenhouse. However, it can also be a great source of income, especially if you have an idea of how to sell cut flowers on the market. If you have yet to start, keep the tips listed above to help set you off.