For many florists, real estate used to be a simple choice: rent if you must, buy if you can. But in today’s high-interest, high-cost market, shop owners are approaching property with a much more strategic mindset — treating square footage not just as overhead, but as a powerful business asset.
From creative leasing partnerships to building equity outside the flower industry, florists across the country are rethinking what the “right space” really means for growth, profitability and eventual exit strategies.
“It’s personal and not one-size-fits-all,” says John Kobylinski of The Floral Consultants and former owner of In Bloom Florist, in the March/April issue of Floral Management. “You have to weigh your specific business model — whether you’re wedding-heavy or retail-focused — against the footprint.”
That careful calculation is shaping decisions across the industry. In Charleston, South Carolina, Lisa Hays Holmes of Tiger Lily Florist recently walked away from purchasing a multimillion-dollar building and instead chose to lease space in a busy retail center — a move that reduced risk while opening the door to subleasing opportunities with complementary businesses.
Others, like Christine Guenther, AAF, PFCI, of Wildflower Stem + Sundry in Glen Burnie, Maryland, are doubling down on visibility. High-traffic retail centers, especially those anchored by major brands like Starbucks, can deliver powerful exposure that drives walk-in traffic and brand recognition. For Guenther, that built-in marketing makes premium rent worthwhile.
Read “Room to Grow” in the March/April issue of Floral Management to learn how florists are aligning real estate decisions with their business models, exploring creative leasing strategies and turning physical space into a long-term competitive advantage.
For floral professionals who want to think intentionally about property and long-term wealth, SAF has launched a new micro-course, “Building Wealth Through Real Estate,” designed specifically for the industry. Led by Diana Culver, a floral professional turned real estate expert, the course explores how property ownership can build equity and financial security over time, outlines financing paths tailored to self-employed professionals, and helps participants develop a vision for financial growth that supports succession and legacy planning. The course is free for members and $12.95 for non-members.
Editor’s note: Floral Management is now on a new, more interactive platform designed to make reading, saving and sharing insights from the magazine easier than ever. Share articles, save favorites, highlight text, add notes, draw on pages and download select pages as PDFs — all in one place. To view the digital issue, go to the archive and use your email address as both your username and password. Need help logging in? Use LiveChat or email info@safnow.org.
Amanda Jedlinsky is the senior director of content and communications for the Society of American Florists.
