Join the BFA Skills Academy

The British Florist Association in partnership with Country Baskets invites you to a highly innovative and interactive seminar.

If your marketing is tired, your website not working and your promotions lack sparkle – then spend 3 hours learning how you can change all that…and leave with loads of ideas that will make your profits shine!

What’s more you also get a huge boost of floral inspiration from award winning Florist Ian Lloyd who will demonstrate some stunning, yet profitable designs for you to create in your business.

If your website embarrasses you or worst still you don’t have one, you apologise for the state of your brochure or you need to know how to save money in your business and benefit from the new areas of growth that are out there, then the 3 hours with the experts from the BFA Academy is exactly what you need.

In 3 hours we uncover how you can make your florist business more profitable without breaking the bank.

• How to set your marketing on autopilot and create a marketing system that produces better results than you’re getting right now – with less effort and less stress.
• How to get lots more visitors to your website – the right kind. Its priceless information yet so simple to apply.
• How to get far more enquires and how to convert them into sales.
• How to make designs that appeal to new markets
• How to use your busy periods to bring new customers on board for the traditionally quite times.
• How to generate a constant flow of new customers who want to buy what you sell
• How to set yourself apart from the competition especially the supermarkets.
• Creating inspiring designs that sell and are profitable
• The emerging growth areas for your business & how to capitalise on them

Featuring four expert speakers and ample opportunity to network with other ambitious florists as well as gaining inspiration and motivation this is set to be a great event. 

Who are the experts?

Ian Lloyd is no ordinary florist and has been voted one of the country’s top 10 florists by The Independent newspaper. His wedding work has been featured in many national magazines and television programmes and he has demonstrated in 15 countries. Ian will demonstrate designs to help engage customers whilst still being profitable and time effective. Ian will dazzle you with creative bridal, corporate and gift designs, which are inspirational and very saleable.

Paul Drabble has spent over 20 years creating business growth worldwide, he has partnered many of today’s most recognised brands and companies. Paul takes a view of future business performance and the key issues and opportunities facing the UK Florist Industry and your business. He will be discussing the very latest Florist market trends, also what your customers are saying about their future floristry needs. He will find free cash-flow in your business to fund future marketing initiatives. All designed to move your business forward in the next decade and make your business more profitable. 

Tim Teasel has over 15 year’s experience in developing websites and ecommerce solutions. He was born in a flower shop, well almost! His family still own an independent florist business.  The Power of the Online Store Session is a must for anyone wanting to be in business for the long term. Online shopping continues to grow and for you as a florist this is an area that you can’t ignore. With more and more flower purchases being online a good quality website, that is optimised to get visitors, and then convert them into paying customers is a must. Tim shows you how.

Marianne Cowdery has over 20 years marketing experience and has started, built and sold two flower related businesses in the last 10 years. This Step by Step Marketing and Promotions Session will provide you with dozens of different marketing examples and case studies designed to get more customers and make more profit from those customers. It provides a structured approach to marketing your business with and you can get access to 100’s of ready to go tried, tested and proven marketing templates so you never need stare at a blank sheet of paper again .

What’s more you can enjoy a sandwich and chip supper during the evening all for the bargain price of only £18.00!

The following Skills Academy venues are now available: 

Monday 10^th October 2011 - The Greyhound Hotel, Warrington Road, Leigh, WN7 3XQ

Now fully booked. Further dates and venues will be announced when available.

All Skills Academies commence at 6pm and will end around 9pm.

Tickets should be booked through the online shop.