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Honest conversations about running a flower growing business.

This is our blog where we talk about seasonal flower businesses changing the floral industry, making flowers a force for good in the world. Tap into the minds and methods of resourceful flower business owners — so you can build a business that feels right, and truly works, without having to learn everything the hard way.

Floral Business Activator | Floral Upstart Blog

  • Thursday

What Happens When Your Daydreams and Your Day Job Meet in a Flower Field

    The thing about daydreams is that even if they don't turn out how you expect them to, they point to a deep want within you that can be hard to ignore. And what difference would it make if you allowed those daydreams, work experience and other roles you live with to breathe a bigger life into your business?
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    • Jul 3

    Why your business plan needs a resourcefulness plan too

      Time, money and kit are only half of what builds a business. Here's the other half most business plans forget to budget for.
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      Floral Business Activator | Floral Upstart Blog

      • Jun 25

      The winter retreat worth running - alone or with others

        The word retreat tends to conjure something formal - enforced time with colleagues, an away-day with a facilitator and whiteboards to fill. But a retreat can be as simple as a leisurely lunch, a walk on the beach, or a wander through the garden. The key is comfort.
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        Floral Business Activator | Floral Upstart Blog

        • Jun 18

        What wintering means for a flower farmer

          The daylight hours are as important to flower farmers as the nutrients in the soil. It’s the fuel for photosynthesis essential for plant growth. So the winter solstice this coming weekend is a welcome turning point towards the light for next season.
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          Floral Upstart Blog | Floral Business Activator

          • Jun 11

          The case for growing something just because you want to

            There's a version of good business advice that goes: focus on what sells, cut what doesn't, grow a few varieties really well. That advice isn't wrong. But applied too rigidly to a growing practice, it can slowly drain the life out of it.
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            Floral Business Activator | Floral Upstart Blog

            • Jun 4

            What kind of florist are you?

              Most of us, if pressed, would say we're not florists. Florists have shops. Florists source from markets and wholesalers. Florists do weddings and events and walk-in customers on a Tuesday afternoon. We grow things. We're growers first, and sellers somewhere after that. But here's what's true at the same time.
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              Floral Business Activator | Floral Upstart Blog

              • May 28

              Flower farming is a small business, and that's worth remembering.

                We've been discussing our recent Floral Upstart blog posts in our membership community, and one especially insightful comment pointed out something important: flower farmers aren't special in the way people sometimes think they are. We do not have a monopoly on the struggles of building a viable business.
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                Floral Upstart Blog | Floral Business Activator

                • May 21

                It’s worth remembering that we’ve only just begun

                  In my opinion, the seasonal flower industry in New Zealand and Australia has a brighter future than most people might think. Our work as floral upstarts is just beginning. We are only just claiming our place in the flower world - legitimately, deliberately, and on our own terms.
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                  Floral Business Activator | Floral Upstart Blog

                  • May 14

                  Are flower farmers being delusional?

                    The more we talk about the future of the seasonal flower industry, the more the question of viability comes up. Is it possible to make a living from growing and selling cut flowers?
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                    The Floral Business Activator | Floral Startup

                    • May 7

                    Flower Farmer. Farmer Florist. Growers - what’s in a name?

                      There is nothing worse than being tongue-tied because you’re not quite sure how you should talk about yourself and your work. Unless we offer a clear identity to people they will make their own judgements.
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                      Floral Business Activator | Floral Startup

                      • Apr 30

                      What shapes the future of the Seasonal Flower Industry?

                        I heard the word "closing" but not the rest of the sentence, and it took me a few minutes to realise that my friend wasn't talking about shutting up for the season. She was stepping away from her flower business for good after many years.
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                        Floral Business Activator | Floral Startup

                        • Nov 27, 2025

                        Provenance Is Your Power: How to Share the True Story Behind Your Flowers Without Dressing It Up

                          In a global floral industry dominated by anonymous supply chains, provenance is how we bring meaning back to flowers. It's the thread that connects your blooms to your land, your climate, your craft, your values, your story.
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