We all know the impact the current economic issues are having on our spending habits. The growing cost of living crisis in the UK is making us all step back and think again about impulse purchases, or hesitating to tying ourselves into more financial commitments. However, one particular industry is difficult to categorise as either a luxury or essential product, this is the floral industry.
Once seen as an essential part of any wedding, with couples in the UK on average allocating 15-20% of their wedding budgets to flowers, engaged couples are now looking at either scaling back floral plans or turning to alternatives instead of traditional flowers.
With the rise of online shopping, making it ever easier to access craft stores and floral wholesalers. As well as, the easy and unlimited access to 'how to' videos and tutorials on social media and youtube. It's no wonder couples are turning away for the high street florists in search of a more cost effective option, or an option where they feel they are getting more for their money.
Enter the artificial floral market, once frowed upon as 'tacky' and 'cheap', more and more couples are embracing the vast range of high quality and realistic blooms now available on the market. Even florists themselves are finding an increasing number of customers are asking for a combination of botanical and faux flowers in their wedding displays.
The reason for this is simple, artificial flowers do not wilt and wither, they do not stain outfits, they are non-allergenic, they can be colour matched perfectly and they even travel well if you are having your wedding overseas. Cost wise artificial usually always comes in either marginally cheaper or the same cost as their botanical counterparts. Let's face it why pay the same price for a product that won't last more than 10-14 days.
In addition to this, the experience aspect of wedding flowers is also another contributing factor linked to customer spending. It is here again, that artificial flowers excel over their botanical counterparts. It is far easier to hold a floral workshop with brides/grooms and their brides/groomsmaids using faux flowers, as opposed to try and teach a group to create their floral bouquets in 'real' flowers and foliage, as natural stems are far less forgiving in a novices hands.
We also have the retaining aspect too which artificial flowers allow couples, after the big day, to keep their wedding florals as a memento, or give them as a gift to relatives and friends. Couples can even have their wedding flowers repurposed into a garland, wreath, arrangement, etc. The possibilities with artificial are vast compared to botanical flowers which will envitably adorn the couples or loved ones home for a week before ending up in the trash.
In summary, if there is one thing to take away from this article its that couples are a lot more open minded now when it comes to choosing their wedding flowers, they are more willing to use alternatives, so a florist cannot rely on what has worked in the past - its best to embrace the diverse range of artificial flowers and foliage on the market, which is so much better than most people today realise. Adapting to a growing market demand is the key thing to keep your business 'fresh' and healthy and for couples getting married all that matters is the price is right and the flowers look amazing on the day.
