Find out how one North Carolina florist makes sure seasonal help is a good fit for the task, in the January issue of Floral Management.
When recruiting holiday helpers, Dana Cook, AAF, doesn’t sugarcoat the job description.
“Our Craiglist ad reads, ‘You will NOT be designing,'” said the owner of Julia’s Florist in Wilmington, North Carolina. (That opener immediately weeds out people who romanticize the idea of playing with flowers, she explained.) “This is about very long hours and very hard work,” the ad continues, “but if you want to try something different, this may be for you.”
She gathers all the applicants for a group interview, where she again emphasizes the hectic nature of the job and the importance of teamwork. Usually, a few people remove themselves from consideration at the word “overwhelming.” Once she’s whittled the contenders down to those truly ready to roll up their shirtsleeves, Cook starts training them — for everything.
For details on Cook’s system and its success, check out the Hands On column in this month’s Floral Management. There, you’ll also learn:
- A plan that puts the right people in the right positions for maximum Valentine’s Day efficiency
- Simple visual tactics to keep your shop top of mind
- A slew of strategies to secure orders well before February 14
