The Bloom Show Takeover with Tim Huckabee, founder of The Profitable Florist and now an official Bloom Show Correspondent, delivered a powerful message for every retail florist: many of the challenges holding flower shops back are self-inflicted.
With over 26 years of coaching experience, 6,000+ flower shop visits, and 7,000+ florists trained worldwide, Tim has seen the same costly habits repeated across the industry. He calls them the Seven Deadly Sins of the Floral Industry—and shared practical solutions any florist can apply today.
Sin #1: Asking “How Much Do You Want to Spend?”
Tim shared how most florists open sales calls by asking for a budget instead of focusing on the reason behind the order. He recalled calling 20 shops and, in 18 of them, being asked that question immediately. It’s an approach that turns an emotional purchase into a transactional one.
Solution: Start with the occasion, the sentiment, or the story. Recommend a thoughtful design first, and let the customer decide whether to scale it down.
Sin #2: Talking About Specific Flowers Instead of Colors
Many customers don’t know or care about botanical names. Tim illustrated how people panic when hearing flower names like “scabiosa” but easily connect with color palettes like “bright yellows” or “soft pastels.”
Solution: Focus on color schemes and seasonal design styles, giving customers a clear visual while allowing designers creative flexibility.
Sin #3: Asking Too Many Questions
Tim pointed out that well-meaning staff often overwhelm customers with a string of questions. While intended to be helpful, it can feel like an interrogation. Customers typically seek expert guidance, not a quiz.
Solution: Keep it simple: listen to their needs, confirm key details, and confidently recommend designs without dragging out the conversation.
Sin #4: Fearing to Offer Higher Price Points
Florists often hesitate to show premium designs, worrying that customers will walk away. Tim explained that in more than 30 years of taking retail orders, he could count on one hand how many people actually hung up over price.
Solution: Confidently offer high-end options first, then adjust if necessary. Don’t “sell from your own wallet”—let customers choose what works for them.
Sin #5: Not Offering Add-Ons / Finishing Touches
Add-ons like candles, chocolates, and balloons are often skipped, yet they personalize the experience and boost revenue. Tim said, “Customers can’t buy it if they don’t hear about it…we are losing thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars because we’re not taking what amounts to 10 seconds…to offer this item to a customer.”
Solution: Stop asking “Anything else?” and instead suggest specific finishing touches for every order.
Sin #6: Ignoring Design & Color Trends
Some shops feel stuck in time, with designs that look decades old. Tim compared walking into some coolers to stepping back into 1985 instead of 2025.
Solution: Refresh design offerings regularly, integrate current color trends, and update cooler and website displays to reflect today’s floral styles.
Sin #7: Neglecting Your Website and Social Media
Tim emphasized that a website isn’t optional—it’s a revenue driver. Tim noted, “When customers shop on your website, on average, they spend 25% more money than when they call the store or when they visit the store. And this happens universally.”
Solution: Treat your website as your “second storefront” and keep it up to date. Use social media to showcase your work, share new designs, and build customer relationships.
Final Thought
Tim said, “Just because your staff is friendly doesn’t mean they’re doing a good job. Trust me, we can call your store and I can beg and beg and beg your staff to sell me a large design, and they might be friendly and bubbly, but they’re not going to listen to me.”
Friendliness is good, but training, confidence, and intentional sales habits are what truly transform a shop’s bottom line.
Watch the Full Episode: See Tim Huckabee break down all seven deadly sins—and how to fix them—in this special Bloom Show Takeover:
Stay ahead with insights from Tim Huckabee and other industry leaders in the floral sector. Subscribe to The Bloom Show YouTube channel and click the bell icon to stay up-to-date on new episodes and correspondent updates.
Bonus Opportunity: $700 Off the Floral Confidence Workshop
One of the biggest takeaways from Tim Huckabee’s episode is that training works, and his Floral Confidence Workshop is built to make selling flowers easy for every retail florist.
To support our floral community, New Bloom Solutions has partnered with Tim Huckabee to sponsor 20 florists with a $700 coupon toward this program. Normally $1,400, participating florists can attend for just $700 and immediately implement proven strategies to boost sales and customer experience.
Text 917-257-9927 or email hello@theprofitableflorist.com to claim your coupon by August 1, 2025, and take advantage of this opportunity to strengthen your shop’s profitability.
Tim Huckabee Joins The Bloom Show as a Monthly Correspondent
We’re excited to welcome Tim Huckabee as a new Bloom Show Correspondent, bringing quick, actionable training to help floral professionals thrive. His 10-minute video episodes will air every 3rd Friday of the month starting September 19, 2025, and his monthly blog posts will publish every 2nd Monday of the month starting September 8, 2025. These segments will deliver fast, practical insights to help florists rethink their sales approach, strengthen customer relationships, and boost profitability.
Upcoming Bloom Show Episodes
Join us for a special two-part episode of The Bloom Show on August 5, 2025, featuring two of the leading voices in the floral industry.
Our Message to the Community: Let’s Rethink, Rebuild, and Reconnect
At New Bloom Media, we believe that innovation, strategic communication, and real conversations are the lifeblood of a thriving floral industry.
This episode of The Bloom Show—featuring Tim Huckabee and his breakdown of the Seven Deadly Sins—was more than a training session. It was a call to rethink how we serve customers, how we structure sales conversations, and how we embrace growth opportunities within our shops.
Tim’s insights remind us that profitability isn’t about cutting corners—it’s about confidence, consistency, and customer care. Whether you’re behind the design bench, answering phones, or managing your online presence, your approach matters. And together, through shared knowledge and collaboration, our entire industry grows stronger.
Let’s continue learning from one another, embracing bold ideas, and using platforms like The Bloom Show to spark progress.
Because just like flowers, this industry blossoms best when nurtured together. 🌸
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Want to collaborate, be featured, or share your perspective in a future episode? Contact us today.
