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consumer curriculum first class A step-by-step guide to teaching a class for consumers. by Kelsey E. Smith A growing segment of consumers is seeking opportunities in the “do-it-yourself” (DIY) arena, and retail florists across the country are embracing this trend, offering floral design classes that not only allow consumers to learn new skills but also foster customer loyalty to the flower shops and increased consumption. (See our January issue, Page 109, for the stories of several florists who offer classes.) For this inaugural “Consumer Curriculum” column, we present three charming tulip designs, each demonstrating fun ways to support the flowers in the vase. Present them in your own “Tulip Time” class in your shop. If you are new to teaching or are looking for ways to help the process go more smoothly, Teresa P. Lanker offers the following step-by-step plan for working with consumers. She is assistant professor and interim chair for the division of horticultural technologies and technology coordinator of floral design and marketing at The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute. 1 Prepare each work station ahead of students’ arrival. Make sure each person has a bucket of flowers needed to create the arrangement. Measure and cut ribbon, count out wood picks, etc., and put materials into bags so they are ready for participants to use. This helps eliminate waste and saves valuable time during the class. Reserve a few “extras” in your demonstration area, in case someone says he or she did not receive a particular supply. Ms. Lanker also advises buying inexpensive paring knives for participants to use, to help avoid injury to those who are not accustomed to working with bunch cutters or florists’ knives. “Paring knives are sharp enough to cut the stems but not sharp enough for people to hurt themselves,” she explains. 2 Introduce yourself, and let them know what to expect. Break the ice by welcoming students and telling them a little bit about your shop and your background. Then show them a sample of the arrangement they will create, letting them know that they will follow along, in step-by-step fashion, as you demonstrate how to create the design. Ms. Lanker advises also having samples of larger and more complicated designs on display so that participants can see not only what they can aspire to create in a more advanced class in your shop but also the many beautiful arrangement styles your designers are capable of creating for them. Barbara Frye, mmfd, owner of Chapel Hill Floral in Bangor, Maine, says that in addition to the arrangement the students will make the night of the class, the shop also shows an example of the next month’s class design. A sign-up sheet is available, and more than half of the students register for the next class on the spot. Chapel Hill Floral has been conducting classes for four years. Also during the introduction, be sure to let students know that they are welcome to take their creations home, and tell them about any handouts they will receive once they have completed their designs. Be sure also to point out the restroom as well as refreshments to which they can help themselves. Ms. Lanker cautions to keep the introduction brief—no more than 10 minutes—but also to be specific so that everyone knows what to expect, which helps reduce the possibility of repeated questions. If you plan to have a break, let the group know, up front, approximately when it will occur. Ms. Lanker says two to three hours is a good length of time to conduct a class, depending on whether the group will work on one or two projects. If participants are making only one arrangement, she relates that a break is not necessary, but a two-arrangement class should have one break between the projects.
3 Create the arrangement.
After you demonstrate each step of the arrangement, allow a few
minutes for everyone to follow your instructions. Use this time
to mention a few interesting facts about the design style or the
flowers used. Although a bit of improvisational speaking is
fine, Ms. Lanker suggests planning ahead of time—while you are
putting together the sample arrangement—the types of things you
could note during each step. For example, when designing with
tulips, be sure to mention that these favored bulb flowers
continue to grow after they are cut. (See the sidebar on Page 34
for more suggestions on topics you could discuss during your
“Tulip Time” class.)
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