In this episode, Debra chats with Franceska McCaughan, founder of The Hotel Florist®, about turning your floristry skills into steady, contract-based income with hotels and other corporate clients.

Franceska shares how she went from Googling “how to be a florist” to building a subscription-style business working with hotels, long-term care facilities, retail stores and more. She explains what hotels are actually looking for in a florist, how to confidently ask for budgets, why you need contracts in place, and how to stop giving away free flowers in the hope of ‘exposure’.

If you’re running a florist shop (or dreaming of it) and want to move beyond one-off weddings and events into reliable corporate work, this one’s for you.

We chat about:

• What a hotel florist really does and how it works

• Approaching hotels and corporates without feeling salesy

• How to talk budget and stop price-shopping in its tracks

• Why contracts matter for corporate floristry and long-term accounts

• Ideas for subscription-style flowers in smaller towns (beyond hotels)

• Simple ways to track weekly/monthly orders without overcomplicating things

• Mindset shifts to start running your floristry business like a CEO

Keywords: floristry business, running a florist shop, how to make money as a florist, how to be a florist, corporate floristry, hotel florist, corporate flower contracts, subscription floristry.

A plain-speaking check on what your shopfront (and website) is saying before you’ve said a word.

Deb shares real moments—a grimy sign, staff bickering in earshot—and turns them into a simple, repeatable audit so your space feels professional, calm and clearly… a florist.

• Why street appeal and basic cleanliness set the standard

• How staff tone shapes trust (and whether people come back)

• Visual basics: tidy counters, presentable uniforms, safety (shoes on!)

• Make it obvious you sell fresh flowers (not just gifts)

• Give your website a quick zhuzh: current pics, easy to use, no clutter

• A quick monthly “walk past and walk in” audit to keep standards up

Outside

• Signage wiped (yes, including bird poo), windows clean

• Footpath swept; entry clear and inviting

• Check it from across the street: can you read it, does it look current?

Inside

• Counter clear; no boxes piled where customers stand

• Staff tone: friendly, professional; save hard chats for out back

• Appearance: neat, tidy, work-safe

• Obvious offer: fresh flowers visible (vases or a small ready-to-go range)

Website

• Updated this quarter (copy, pricing, images)

• Loads quickly, easy to navigate

• Clearly shows you sell fresh flowers right now

The Flowery Folk Podcast is your fortnightly bloom boost for florists, floral designers and flower lovers who want to grow creatively and build a successful flower business. Hosted by Debra Pemble—an award-winning florist, educator, and founder of The Posy Crew—this podcast delivers practical tips, industry insights, and inspiring stories from across Australia’s floral community. Whether you're a seasoned florist or just starting out, you’ll find tools, strategies, and real talk to help you run a business that’s as successful as it is stunning.

www.thefloweryfolk.com

insta @thefloweryfolkemail hello@theposycrew.com.au

Find more about Debra at The Posy Crew www.theposycrew.com.au

This is an independent Podcast

In today's Bonus, quick tip episode Debra explains why using negative space in your designs not only helps you create unique and striking pieces, it'll also save you heaps of Money.

Selling Air or using Negative space is how smart designers are creating more for less.

About The Flowery Folk 🌸Welcome to the fortnightly flower podcast that helps every florist shop—from out-of-the-way farm gate studios to busy Main-Street flower shops—run a smarter, more profitable Florist Business. Broadcasting from her rainforest workspace outside Port Douglas, award-winning designer & educator Debra Pemble distils over 20 years of Floristry know-how into 20-minute episodes packed with:

If you’re searching for floral design inspiration, flower arranging tutorials, wedding florals, or the latest on sustainable floristry, hit follow and binge the back catalogue—new episodes drop every second Tuesday.

Stay connected & keep learning

Instagram → ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/thefloweryfolk⁠⁠

TikTok → ⁠⁠https://tiktok.com/@thefloweryfolk⁠⁠

Website & free resources → ⁠⁠https://thefloweryfolk.com⁠⁠

Listen, implement, and watch your Florist Business thrive.

In this podcast, Debra Pemble discusses the detrimental effects of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) on business success, particularly in the context of social media. She emphasises the importance of focusing on key areas such as website optimisation, administrative efficiency, financial management, and effective marketing strategies that go beyond social media. Debra provides actionable insights and encourages listeners to prioritise their time on activities that directly contribute to their business's profitability.

Takeaways

FOMO can distract businesses from what truly matters.

Time spent on social media may not translate to sales.

Optimising your website is crucial for attracting customers.

SEO is essential for making your website visible.

Simplifying the purchasing process can increase sales.

Administrative tasks should be streamlined for efficiency.

Keeping track of finances is vital for business health.

Marketing should focus on understanding customer needs.

Social media is not the only marketing avenue available.

Clarity in customer engagement leads to better marketing strategies.The Flowery Folk Podcast, your fortnightly bloom boost for florists, floral designers and flower lovers who want to thrive creatively and build a flourishing business. With over 20 years in the industry, I’m here to share practical tips, creative insights, and inspiring stories from our incredible flower community. “Let’s shape a flower business that’s as successful as it is stunning.”

GET your FREE Focus checklist

www.thefloweryfolk.com

www.instagram.com/thefloweryfolk

Find out about Flowers Magazine Australia www.flowersmagazine.com.au

Quick Tip Episode – “Build a Stand-Out Floristry Portfolio”

In just a few minutes, Debra breaks down how to turn your student work into a polished, job-winning showcase. You’ll learn:

• Shoot Like a Pro – simple lighting and framing hacks that make every bloom pop (and why a bad photo can tank even your best design).

• Curate with Purpose – the magic number of pieces (hint: 15–20) and how to prove you’re more than a “one-bouquet pony.”

• Tell the Story – short, punchy captions that reveal technique, materials, and inspiration so viewers connect with your artistry.

• Show It Off Online – the quickest ways to launch a mini-site or Instagram grid that recruiters and clients can’t scroll past.

• Level-Up Feedback – how to use mentors and peers as your secret editing team to keep only the absolute best.

Whether you’re aiming for your first shop job or prepping for competitions, this bite-sized episode gives you the roadmap to a portfolio that says “hire me.” Hit play and start curating!

Maximise Your Florist Shop Revenue – 5 Proven Ideas | The Flowery Folk flower podcast

In this episode of The Flowery Folk, award-winning florist and educator Debra Pemble shares five practical, low-risk ways to boost takings in any florist shop this coming financial year. Drawing on two decades in Floristry, Debra dives into hosting profitable flower-arranging workshops, packaging DIY kits that ship beyond your flower shop’s postcode, developing exclusive branded gift lines, designing curated plant installations, and offering streamlined “packaged weddings” that simplify the Florist Business workload.

Listeners will learn how to price workshops , calculate kit margins, source local makers for signature candles or chocolates, create Instagram-ready kokedama and terrariums, and set clear terms for à-la-carte bridal blooms. Each idea is tailored for bricks-and-mortar florists, can be tested within months, and backed by consumer trends showing double-digit growth in experiential retail.

Whether you’re refining your existing Florist Business model or launching new revenue streams, this episode delivers actionable steps to turn extra stems and shelf space into profit. Subscribe to our flower podcast for weekly tips, real-life case studies and interviews with innovative floral entrepreneurs.

🎧 Listen now, implement today, and watch your flower shop thrive.

About The Flowery Folk 🌸
Welcome to the fortnightly flower podcast that helps every florist shop—from out-of-the-way farm gate studios to busy Main-Street flower shops—run a smarter, more profitable Florist Business. Broadcasting from her rainforest workspace outside Port Douglas, award-winning designer & educator Debra Pemble distils over 20 years of Floristry know-how into 20-minute episodes packed with:

If you’re searching for floral design inspiration, flower arranging tutorials, wedding florals, or the latest on sustainable floristry, hit follow and binge the back catalogue—new episodes drop every second Tuesday.

Stay connected & keep learning
Instagram → https://instagram.com/thefloweryfolk
TikTok → https://tiktok.com/@thefloweryfolk
Website & free resources → https://thefloweryfolk.com

Listen, implement, and watch your Florist Business thrive.

In this short and sweet bonus episode, Debra shares a timely pep talk as we approach the end of the financial year. It’s the perfect moment to pause and reflect—not just on where your business is now, but where you want it to go.

Debra dives into:

• ✨ The power of defining your “why” – understanding the deeper motivation behind your business.

• 🗺️ Setting 5-year goals – both personal and business-related (because let’s face it, they’re often intertwined).

• 📆 Breaking it down – how to create short and medium-term goals that move you toward that 5-year vision.

• 🧩 Making it achievable – examples of aligning your goals with what matters most to you, whether it’s time with family, creative freedom, or building a business you can eventually step away from.

💡 “You can probably nut this out in 10 minutes,” Debra says. Start with two simple questions:

1. Why do you do what you do?

2. Where do you want to be in five years?

Grab a notebook (or the back of a napkin) and jot down your thoughts. This might just be the moment everything becomes clearer.

Pricing your floristry work can feel like a daunting task, but getting it right is the key to making your business sustainable and profitable. In this episode, Debra dives into the nuts and bolts of pricing structures — from markups on flowers and gift lines to adding a labour component — and how small changes can make a big difference to your bottom line.