What does it take to run a profitable flower shop in today’s economy?
In a standout episode of The Bloom Show, host Sahid Nahim sits down with Tim Huckabee, founder of The Profitable Florist, to unravel the real retail florist challenges shops face today. From pricing anxiety and customer service pitfalls to management missteps and changing buyer behavior, this episode is packed with florist tips, flower shop tips, and florist training gold—and a wake-up call for anyone in the floral business.
Tim brings more than three decades of hands-on experience in training shops across the country. His no-fluff approach centers on mindset shifts and practical systems that drive sales. “Stick to your margins. Don’t be afraid to offer those higher prices,” he says, urging florists to stop underselling themselves.
Tim makes a compelling case for revisiting how pricing is handled, especially as rising costs and tariffs continue to strain the flower industry. “Florists are going to have to increase prices. That’s just the simple math. And if they don’t… they’re not going to be in business by the end of the year.”
He also tackled one of the most common florist mistakes: confusing friendliness with effectiveness. “Just because they’re friendly doesn’t mean they’re doing a good job… I talk to friendly people all the time who undersell.” His advice? Friendly staff need training to actually convert calls and increase order values.
Perhaps the most eye-opening part of the episode was Tim’s commentary on how websites outperform humans at upselling. “The irrefutable evidence is the website. The customer is prompted to add that extra element—the box of chocolates, the teddy bear, the lavender-scented candle—and they buy it.” In fact, he points out, “There’s typically about a 25% gap between what customers spend online versus in-store—because your website isn’t afraid to offer higher prices.”
On the operations side, Tim urges shop owners to create systems that prevent chaos. He jokes—but not really—about blackout dates for staff around holidays: “Don’t tell me that you need the Friday before Mother’s Day off because you’re going to get it off forever.” Beyond that, he stresses that written expectations, handbooks, and consistency are vital to shop efficiency and profitability.
As always, The Bloom Show strives to deliver floral industry best practices that help businesses adapt and grow. This episode with Tim Huckabee is a perfect resource for improving customer service in floristry and ultimately boosting flower sales.
Watch the full episode of The Bloom Show featuring Tim Huckabee to gain expert insights and take the next step toward becoming a more profitable florist.
COMING SOON: Don’t miss The Bloom Show Takeover episode with Tim Huckabee—a deeper dive into actionable strategies florists can use to boost profitability. Stay tuned!
Upcoming episodes to watch out for:
- May 1 at 1:00 PM EST: The Bloom Show: Maximize Your Floral Potential: An Insider’s Look at Floriexpo 2025
- May 16 at 12:00 PM EST: The Bloom Show Alert: How U.S. Tariffs on China Are Reshaping Floral Transit & Trade
- May 24 at 1:00 PM EST: The Bloom Show Takeover with Melinda Knuth
Subscribe to our Youtube channel and make sure to hit the bell to be notified when we go live!
Our Message to the Industry: Let’s Bloom Together
At New Bloom Media, we believe in the power of transparency, collaboration, and storytelling. This episode of The Bloom Show—produced by New Bloom Media and powered by New Bloom Solutions—reflects our ongoing mission to uplift the floral community through meaningful content and industry-driven conversations.
Let’s continue to share knowledge, support one another, and advocate with one voice.
Because just like flowers, this industry thrives when nurtured—together. 🌸
Looking for more florist tips and flower shop insights? Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest industry updates, expert advice, and Bloom Show news.
Want to collaborate, be featured, or share your story in a future episode? Contact us today.
