A Lack of customers is not why flower farms fail….

There have been concerns expressed over all the new interest in commercial flower farming. Seasoned and new farmers are wondering: are there enough customers to go around? I say without hesitation, yes there are enough buyers out there. 

In the U.S. alone consumers spend between 7 to 8 billion dollars annually on cut flowers. BILLIONS… With 80% of those flowers being grown and imported from other countries, it looks like we have a ways to go to outpace the buyers.  (If you missed watching the documentary about the flower growing industry, you can watch it here. )

Until the tables turn back to more cut flowers being grown within 100 miles of the end user—-I see no ceiling.

True, there may not be enough farmers markets or storefront florist to cold call. But there are endless niches and opportunities beyond to be explored and redefined.

I recently received several emails asking about this very subject. They expressed concern that there are others growers in their region and would they be able to sell their flowers? 

My answer was yes! I base this on the unseen markets that are out there and unexplored. We know this because of the volume of flowers being sold annually. 

Remember this: those other growers aren’t you! We each have our own talents and ideas that we bring to the table. The difference are endless. 

You are the difference. It is your opportunity to succeed. Don’t worry about competition but explore ways to succeed and to work together to make locally grown flowers the norm once again.

I believe embracing the competition, finding common ground, educating each other leads to a better industry for customers. Better industry swells the population of buyers.  

But here’s the thing we should be concerned about: more flower farming businesses fail from mismanagement than from a lack of customers.

Managing a business can be really hard when you don’t know the right steps to focus on. We tend to think it comes naturally but that is not true. Learning how to run a business, to do it professionally, and profitability is what draws the line between success and failure. 

In Flower Farming School Online: The Basics, Annual Crops, Marketing & More!, l will walk you through building a flower farming business or tweaking an existing business. From starting to selling to collecting the payments plus a whole bunch more. If your specific question is not answered in the course, I will address in the weekly live Q & A. 

In Flower Farming School Online: Bulbs, Perennials, Woodies, and More!, Dave offers how to build the business even more by expanding the crops you offer. Tackling more advanced crops including the best selling bulbs, perennials, and woodies discussing the methods to grow, harvest, and condition them. Again if your specific question is not addressed in the course, your weekly Q and A with Dave will get answers.

We have so much work to be done to take back the local flower farming industry from imports. We need professional flower farmers to work together to make that happen!  

Learn more about Flower Farming School Online courses here. 

Dave and I hope to see you in school!

Lisa Z

Lisa Mason Ziegler is the founder of  The Gardener’s Workshop and Flower Farming School Online and the award-winning author of Vegetables Love Flowers, Cool Flowers, and The Easy Cut-Flower Garden  Connect with Lisa on Facebook  and Instagram!