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Freshly Bloomed Insights on Being a Florist in Berlin
In the bustling city of Berlin, Manuela König-Bär, dubbed the "Flower Queen," is nearing the end of her ten-year journey as a florist. But for Manuela, her floral career was a chance encounter that turned into a labor of love.
The Reality Behind the Dream Job
Despite customers viewing the job as creative and rewarding, the floristry industry is anything but a walk in the park. As Berlin's floristry scene is teeming with over 880 employees, with more than half being self-employed, the industry presents a challenging landscape.
Thomas Hentschel, the Berlin district chairman of the florists' union IG BAU, states matter-of-factly, "Florists do a tough job, many work long hours." In fact, they often stand in their stores for up to six days a week, with significantly fewer vacation days than other professions.
Saying Goodbye to the "Flower Queen"
Manuela König-Bär (53) has been running her "Flower Queen" boutique on Florastraße for a decade. Before that, she worked in several flower shops for 27 years. "I chose floristry indirectly," she recalls. "At 16, I wanted to do a housekeeping apprenticeship but ended up choosing floristry after seeing an ad." Since then, she's been pouring her heart into her work.
Her secret to success? Making her customers happy by focusing on service and customer interactions. However, being on duty six days a week and receiving only seven days of vacation a year is a tough price to pay, even for someone who loves her job so much.
A Grueling Grind
Manuela's typical day begins by setting her alarm for 2:30 a.m. so she can buy fresh flowers at the wholesale market on Beusselstraße (Moabit) by 4 a.m. Before her store opens, she must cut, tie, and display the flowers, all before her actual workday begins at 9 a.m. Even after closing at 6 p.m., she still tends to the cash register, does bookkeeping, and takes care of the plants, all by herself.
A Bittersweet Farewell
Now, however, the demands of the job are taking a toll on her health, and she's fighting a blood clot. Additionally, the ever-increasing costs have become unmanageable, leading Manuela to make the difficult decision to close her boutique.
As for the future, Manuela wants to stay in sales but is aiming for a change of scene: "I need to learn to set boundaries. I'm wearing myself out in the world of flowers because I love it so much with all my heart."
Running a floristry business in Berlin is not for the faint of heart. To thrive in this competitive industry, self-employed florists must navigate high competition, market saturation, logistical challenges, regulatory requirements, marketing and branding hurdles, seasonal fluctuations, sustainability issues, and customer expectations. Despite these challenges, the joy of making customers happy and transforming individual flowers into works of art keeps many devoted florists like Manuela going strong.
- The science of floristry, while often overlooked, plays a crucial role in ensuring the longevity of the flowers, especially in the health-and-wellness aspect of maintaining healthy plants.
- Manuela's floral journey illustrates a significant shift in lifestyle preferences, with many people now valuing mental health and the tranquility that flowers can provide, making floristry a blend of art, fashion-and-beauty, and home-and-garden décor.
- As more people focus on well-being and sustainable living, there's a growing interest in horticulture and home gardening, possibly leading to a reduction in the demand for self-employed florists like Manuela, thereby reshaping the future of the floristry industry.
