Flowers are one of the most popular gifts to send through the mail. Each year, thousands of people in the UK send professionally arranged bouquets for a myriad of reasons. Whether roses for romance or lilies for sympathy, sending someone flowers is a cannot miss gift. Where is the best place to find a Winchester florist?

When it comes to having flowers delivered, there are two popular options. The first is the local flower shops and the second is the online florist. Each has its fair share of pros and cons. Allow us a moment to review them.

If quality is more important than speed of delivery, it is always best to go to a local flower shop. Not only do they have fresher flowers than the online outfits, but they also have a much larger selection. The one drawback, aside from the speed of delivery, is the price. A local flower shop will charge a bit more. Of course, they do so because they are offering a superior product. (more...)

Most people, even those who gladly participate in it, are quick to dismiss Valentine's Day as a made - up holiday. Some even claim that it was created by greeting card companies to buoy up sales after the holiday season. But the fact is that Valentine's Day is actually one of the oldest Christian holidays.

Named after St. Valentine, the patron saint of romantic love, people have been celebrating the holiday since the 5th century AD. Traditionally, lovers would exchange notes and poems, but gifts were rare. It was not until the 18th century that flowers became the traditional gift of the romantic holiday.

The sending of roses became so popular that people started planting them in their gardens. To this day, the rose is England's favorite garden flower. Of course, few people send the flowers they grow in their gardens these days. They simply stop at flowers in Southampton or buy bouquets online. (more...)

There are plenty of people running home businesses of various kinds. Running a business from home has plenty of benefits. It is flexible and can be fit around your personal life, plus it can be more satisfying to work for yourself and watch your business grow.

Take the example of a florist business. A florist shop can be managed successfully from home. There is also plenty of scope when it comes to growth. People love giving and receiving flowers on most occasions and sometimes even without reason! Whether it is a happy moment such as a wedding, or sad one like a funeral, flowers can convey feelings of love, warmth and compassion.

A small business can use its 'home run' charm to its advantage and project a more intimate image. Things like your business stationery and other signage could project this image. Always be sure to design your business card yourself rather than using template cards. (more...)

For many people, a career as a florist is one that they would love to get into but don't know how. Some people take evening classes and it starts as a hobby and others start in a casual position in a florist to see if they can make it as an international florist.

Some people do take qualifications in order to become a florist, and there are various certifications that can be taken such as City and Guilds. For the really dedicated people, who want to become a top florist, they go on to take a related degree although this is less common.

The qualities needed to become a good florist are patience and above all a flair for design and colour. You need to be able to turn single stem flowers into a work of art and you need to understand the seasonality of flowers and which ones are suitable for flower arrangements. (more...)