Florist-turned-designer?

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Victoria said:
Do you folks not have a probationary period of three months? You really should by the sounds of it.

V
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This is true. The trouble in my shop comes from me. I have a penchant for attracting and then hiring the mentally ill. I have employed a psycho diva, two drivers with drinking issues, and an Eyeore type who when she wasn't complaining or forcasting the end of the world she bossed me. Sometimes this hiring comes from desperation, sometimes I am just too easy. I actually cut the want ads out for one driver as soon as he mentioned needing more hours.(Since you mentioned needing full time...I happen to see this....) I have learned though that when you carry your own "designs" to the van so as they aren't broken before they get there it's time to say your fired!
 
ivygreen said:
This is true. The trouble in my shop comes from me. I have a penchant for attracting and then hiring the mentally ill. I have employed a psycho diva, two drivers with drinking issues, and an Eyeore type who when she wasn't complaining or forcasting the end of the world she bossed me. Sometimes this hiring comes from desperation, sometimes I am just too easy. I actually cut the want ads out for one driver as soon as he mentioned needing more hours.(Since you mentioned needing full time...I happen to see this....) I have learned though that when you carry your own "designs" to the van so as they aren't broken before they get there it's time to say your fired!
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Hiring out of desperation is one of the best ways to get these types...
 
Random thoughts on this topic: It's too early to make things flow so I'll just put em down:

1. Is it the older designers who are mainly primadonnas? It seems to me that the more experience they have, the less they want to listen. Unfortunately, they only know the way it was, not the way it is.
2. Our unstated personnel policy in the shop is that very talented people with issues are better than model employees with no talent. What happens is that we get tired of the issues and stray from the policy.
3. One of the best ways to calm down a prima donna, in any department, is to bring in another person, usually young and not too experienced, who really wants to work (extra points if this person is a recent immigrant). At first the prima will do nothing but gripe about the newby, but eventually, the threat of being replaced takes over.
 
Victoria said:
Do you folks not have a probationary period of three months? You really should by the sounds of it.

V
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I tried to talk the manager into this, but the woman quit two jobs to work for us and she wouldn't do it to her. We also tried talking her out of hiring her to begin with, but she wouldn't listen, she was getting desperate to hire someone, apparently anyone.

I've worked with too many gifted designers that had "issues", you couldn't pay me enough to go through that again, they always end up screaming and yelling at people. I know I'm not perfect, but just slap me if I ever get to the point where I have issues with a capital "B".
 
IVY With ya Chic!!

No I have had the same issue as you as well, but hey they have all been with me for 17 years, no it is the new ones that think they are the DIVA, just because they took some darn class they know it all, the one today, was, I would never put the name of the deceased on the envelope, the shop I was at before never did that, Well darn it, maybe that is why they are no longer in business,

So least to say, 3 month probation,I can tell after a week if they will work out. So on back to the big guy sent him home for his big attitude this morning, The Queen can't take it no morrrrre....
 
Lady Biker Florist said:
we do all and I mean ALL!

In one day one single person in a small shop might clean buckets, process flowers, take an order, make the order, sweep the floor, hang up new mylars, print out postcards for the next holiday, price something, order something, update delivery prices which in turn means to update all the price sheets and place them all where they go, wash the cooler doors, sort through catalogues to keep them current, do some billing, and on and on and on and way too many various things to even list if you tried.

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This is true with my shop and almost ever shop I have ever worked in........but I have worked with other designers that thought they shouldn't wash buckets, or deliver or etc. THEY didn't last very long at those shops either!
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FlowerGirl1972 said:
Lady Biker Florist said:
we do all and I mean ALL!

In one day one single person in a small shop might clean buckets, process flowers, take an order, make the order, sweep the floor, hang up new mylars, print out postcards for the next holiday, price something, order something, update delivery prices which in turn means to update all the price sheets and place them all where they go, wash the cooler doors, sort through catalogues to keep them current, do some billing, and on and on and on and way too many various things to even list if you tried.

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This is true with my shop and almost ever shop I have ever worked in........but I have worked with other designers that thought they shouldn't wash buckets, or deliver or etc. THEY didn't last very long at those shops either!
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I only worked in one high output shop where I only designed...I liked the job but there was too much designing...I like to change it up with paperwork, cleaning, window display etc...It makes for a more interesting day...My day flew by too fast just cranking out orders, but what I wouldn't give to just have a 1/4 of his business....
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I don't think it's an efficient use of a designer's skills to wash buckets or deliver. Those tasks are best handled by people who cannot produce arrangements. (Not that they are 'above the tasks', just that designer's wages are not best used doing things that can be accomplished by others.)

In a small shop, I realize multi-tasking is status quo, which is why designer's wages there are often lower than in larger stores. Less time is spent actually producing measurable results (salable arrangements.)
 
CHR said:
I don't think it's an efficient use of a designer's skills to wash buckets or deliver. Those tasks are best handled by people who cannot produce arrangements. (Not that they are 'above the tasks', just that designer's wages are not best used doing things that can be accomplished by others.)

In a small shop, I realize multi-tasking is status quo, which is why designer's wages there are often lower than in larger stores. Less time is spent actually producing measurable results (salable arrangements.)
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This was why I designed only...The wages he was paying me were much needed producing the 3-4k in funeral work and stock arrangements in the cooler....It was nice for a while to do nothing but crank, but it lost its novelty after about a year...then they let me sell funerals and analyze recipes for maximum profit on occasion to keep me happy....
 
I think sometimes it comes down to work ethic as well. Designers are important in big shops, but the attitude that something is beneath you is toxic and effects moral. When we are slammin' busy, I may not move from my spot, cranking out order after order. Asking for whatever I need to get the work down, no phone calls, whatever. But there are plenty of times this is not the case and refusing to do a simple chore or pitch in with other work is petty, and I can't see where it is for the greater good of the store, or the staff. I'm not a prima donna and I don't want to pay one.
Years ago, when I was working for a florist who was pretty big in town, the "designers" separated themselves from the "greeners" and sales staff. Then they fought among themselves and roped off their work areas. This spread thru the store as people took sides, or were offended. I was 15 or 16 yrs old and it made an impression then and still turns me off today. Hard work is hard work, and since a shop can't exist without both design and prep, personal glory is what's at stake.
 
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ivygreen said:
I think sometimes it comes down to work ethic as well. Designers are important in big shops, but the attitude that something is beneath you is toxic and effects moral. When we are slammin' busy, I may not move from my spot, cranking out order after order. Asking for whatever I need to get the work down, no phone calls, whatever. But there are plenty of times this is not the case and refusing to do a simple chore or pitch in with other work is petty, and I can't see where it is for the greater good of the store, or the staff. I'm not a prima donna and I don't want to pay one.
Years ago, when I was working for a florist who was pretty big in town, the "designers" separated themselves from the "greeners" and sales staff. Then they fought among themselves and roped off their work areas. This spread thru the store as people took sides, or were offended. I was 15 or 16 yrs old and it made an impression then and still turns me off today. Hard work is hard work, and since a shop can't exist without both design and prep, personal glory is what's at stake.
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Sometimes having just one employee prima donna or not with a bad attitude in general can be poisonous...It is awful when management anywhere small or large shop lets that kind of segregation happen(and this is truely a mangement situation) When and if my company gets to the point of multiple employees, I will have a seriuos zero toleration for this kind of nonsense...It is not good for the employees nor the business and does not foster good morale at all.
 
lori042499 said:
Sometimes having just one employee prima donna or not with a bad attitude in general can be poisonous...It is awful when management anywhere small or large shop lets that kind of segregation happen(and this is truely a mangement situation) When and if my company gets to the point of multiple employees, I will have a seriuos zero toleration for this kind of nonsense...It is not good for the employees nor the business and does not foster good morale at all.
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when we had 16 employees, 2 of them went "funny" and became such a pain that, that I went through ALL the steps of "attitude adjustment", and team parlayed activities, and when I couldn't stand anymore bullcrap.....I started to threaten that ALL their jobs were on the line.....one decide to "test my resolve".
I didn't argue...just walked away..then a strange thing happened...
Within about 3 days....6 decided to test my will, and ALL threatened to quit, if I didn't change ALL their job descriptions, and offer up "incentives".
"There's the door"...........the 6 walked out, 1 from this shop, 2 from the other shop, and 3 from the catalogue store.
We went from 16 to 10 in 1 day...the rest worked their butts off, and made up the shortage of help with no effort.
I divided up the salaries I was paying the 6 that left, amongst the rest...cost me the same..and when the "losers" got wind of the huge "raises" they wanted back in!
"Nope"...you're done.
They went to the labour board, they lost!
2 months later, buyers came in and bought the other shop & catalogue store, and we went to 4 and I'm happy as a lark!!
I WILL NOT TOLERATE hollering & screaming PD's and NONE of them ever worked in the industry again!!
 
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Mikey the Flower Guy said:
when we had 16 employees, 2 of them went "funny" and became such a pain that, that I went through ALL the steps of "attitude adjustment", and team parlayed activities, and when I couldn't stand anymore bullcrap.....I started to threaten that ALL their jobs were on the line.....one decide to "test my resolve".
I didn't argue...just walked away..then a strange thing happened...
Within about 3 days....6 decided to test my will, and ALL threatened to quit, if I didn't change ALL their job descriptions, and offer up "incentives".
"There's the door"...........the 6 walked out, 1 from this shop, 2 from the other shop, and 3 from the catalogue store.
We went from 16 to 10 in 1 day...the rest worked their butts off, and made up the shortage of help with no effort.
I divided up the salaries I was paying the 6 that left, amongst the rest...cost me the same..and when the "losers" got wind of the huge "raises" they wanted back in!
"Nope"...you're done.
They went to the labour board, they lost!
2 months later, buyers came in and bought the other shop & catalogue store, and we went to 4 and I'm happy as a lark!!
I WILL NOT TOLERATE hollering & screaming PD's and NONE of them ever worked in the industry again!!
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When I am all done here, can I come work for you..Sounds like you run a tight ship without being a crazy looney...I like that...
 
I'm with you Lori, I just want a fair wage, fair treatment and a place to park my tools.
 
Mikey the Flower Guy said:
I WILL NOT TOLERATE hollering & screaming PD's
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Am I ever with you on this one, Mikey! I also will not tolerate back-stabbing and malicious gossip. And while I agree wholeheartedly with Cathy that we pay our designer too much for them to scrub buckets, if it needs to be done, it had better be done. I do not tolerate, "It's not my job." :fdevil:
 
As an employee, I've worked for the odd Diva owner.

I'm not predisposed to being a Diva in any aspect of my life at home, work or play. As a result I don't tolerate that behaviour in anyone else very well. So, if you're a boss who screams, rants, throws things (including a fit), belittles (in public), bemoans, and other offensive acts of stupidity towards the people in your employ (and have the ability to recognise and acknowledge these acts), stop and think about how bad you really look to those around you.

Much like having a child who has a lousy attitude, he or she needs to be dealt with immediately and with consistency, conviction and calm... a team is only as strong and cohesive as the leader.

V
 
Victoria said:
As an employee, I've worked for the odd Diva owner.

I'm not predisposed to being a Diva in any aspect of my life at home, work or play. As a result I don't tolerate that behaviour in anyone else very well. So, if you're a boss who screams, rants, throws things (including a fit), belittles (in public), bemoans, and other offensive acts of stupidity towards the people in your employ (and have the ability to recognize and acknowledge these acts), stop and think about how bad you really look to those around you.

Much like having a child who has a lousy attitude, he or she needs to be dealt with immediately and with consistency, conviction and calm... a team is only as strong and cohesive as the leader.

V
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Agreed...it IS a two way street, HOWEVER, even I can only stand so much bickering for supremacy in the ranks, and it's NOT ALWAYS apparent who the culprit, or devil employee IS, and a good "rant" on the part of the EMPLOYER, can often "draw out" the "infection" like a mustard plaster.
 
Well, Let me toss my 2 cents in this one. Being a designer/employee who has won his fair share of competitions and with 20 plus years of experience....it come down to this. I may be AIFD, but I ain't above scrubbing a bucket. I might be a two time designer of the year, but I'll grab up arrangements and help the driver load a van. In short, my job as a designer/employee is to give the shop and the owner/manager by best work....whether that be at the design bench, waiting on a grieving family, processing flowers, or whatever needs to be done.
And I am not a clock-watcher........I worked with one of those and it was a constant irritation....here I am scrambling to put up the flowers into the cooler and she is putting on makeup getting ready to go home. You work till the work is done regardless of that clock.
In short......This designer ain't afraid of hard work and is not above doing just that......and oh yes, I can wield a mean toilet brush too.
 
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Rick King AIFD said:
Well, Let me toss my 2 cents in this one. Being a designer/employee who has won his fair share of competitions and with 20 plus years of experience....it come down to this. I may be AIFD, but I ain't above scrubbing a bucket. I might be a two time designer of the year, but I'll grab up arrangements and help the driver load a van. In short, my job as a designer/employee is to give the shop and the owner/manager by best work....whether that be at the design bench, waiting on a grieving family, processing flowers, or whatever needs to be done.
And I am not a clock-watcher........I worked with one of those and it was a constant irritation....here I am scrambling to put up the flowers into the cooler and she is putting on makeup getting ready to go home. You work till the work is done regardless of that clock.
In short......This designer ain't afraid of hard work and is not above doing just that......and oh yes, I can wield a mean toilet brush too.
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Your two cents are worth a nickle and then some. :)

V
 
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