BRANDING FOR FLORISTS
I'm starting a new blog series called "Branding for...". In these posts, I will highlight a creative industry and zero in on some key how-to's for:
Communicating your mission
Translating your passion into a unique brand identity
Inspiring your dream clients to work with you
Creating a winning website
Finding the "joy" job (you know, the client and project that ignites your passion!)
Let's dive in, shall we?!
Branding for Florists
Whether you've just launched your business or are a seasoned veteran looking for a brand refresh, there are four main ideas to help you find your focus.
1. Be distinctive
What makes you unique? What is the thing that makes your floral business stand out from all the rest. Is that you grew up in Hawaii and have a deep-rooted love for all things bright and tropical? Is it that you are a hopeless romantic at heart and derive deep joy from bringing a wedding to life through floristry? What makes your clients love you and your work?
2. Brand it, #bossbabe
How do you take your unique-ness ( see above! ), and turn it into the most fantastic florist branding ever?
Answer: Emotion. Find that emotional connection your style has with your customers. A bride-to-be has seen your whimsical hanging eucalyptus installation on Pinterest and has fallen in love. She wants that romantic feeling for her big day, too. Allow your branding to reflect that romance you bring to your floral design. Show this bride-to-be and any other that when they hire you, your floral arrangements will make her swoon.
You create an emotional connection through your branding based on the patterns, colors and fonts you choose to marry into a uniquely perfect fit for your business. Done right, clients will have a sense of your style before they even chat with you.
3. Work your website
Branding doesn't stop with your business cards. Your brand needs to carry through to your website, too. Now is the time to consider your dream client's journey through your site. Yes, I said journey. Think about where they will start (homepage, blog?) and where you want them to end up (contact page, portfolio?). Continue the emotional experience by telling a fluid story to your customer. A good example may look like this:
Click ... Homepage Introduction to Sweet Pea Floral Design, where my mission is to create seasonal arrangements that are whimsical and romantic.
Click ... Portfolio A collection of gorgy examples of past work for dreamy clients.
Click ... Contact How to get in touch to book my unique and valuable services.
Thinking about how a potential customer will wander through your website will allow you to create the right structure, content and navigation.
4. One step further
As the savvy floral business owner you are, you know there's more to consider. Social media ( header images, profile pictures, behind the scenes Instagram shoots ), advertisements and media kits are all places to carry over your branding. Think about each client's experience from beginning to end. From ribbons to store front signs to thank you stationary, pull everything together and review what you have. Make sure to ask yourself if it sends the signals to the right kind of clients. In the end, it should all be in line with your vision, mission and style.
