Signature style or design rut?!?!

[wildflowerschicago]

I know I haven't been around too much lately, but I have been keeping up with the wedding pictures thread (and Robin's thread about her love/hate relationship with weddings). While going through my wedding pictures from this spring/summer, I can't help but notice they all look remarkably similar...cookie cutter even. I know I have a very critical eye, but at what point does a signature style cross the line into being a design rut?!?!?!

Maybe it is because I am really only doing weddings and parties now, and have lost the variety of design work a retail shop faces that I am questioning this. I have gotten wonderful feedback from all my brides (knock wood) and their flowers were very pretty, so I am not looking to have my ego stroked...I am seriously asking if anyone else feels this way...and what do you do for it?!?!

I have been trying to get some brides to push the envelope a little, but with no luck. Perhaps in a more conservative economy, they are staying a little safer with design. Has anyone else noticed this?

I wondered if this "1 trick pony syndrome" happens in other professions. I mean, would it be too wierd if you went into one of Mario Batali's (the Italian chef from Food Network) restaurants and found sushi & soul food on the menu?!?!

Anyway, thank God fall is here, at least I will get some color variety!!!!aintplus

 

[Carol Bice]

There are times when it is okay to have people buy from you because of your signiture style. They saw it somewhere and came to you because they liked it.

 

[Mocha Rose]

Trust me. I hear you!

Even though I think that what we do here is fairly unique to the typical florist, I'm getting into a rut myself. I feel like every wedding I do is:

A) Submerged arrangements
B) Something with branches
C) Some kind of large, rounded tall arrangement with no greenery

I do get kind of sick of doing the same thing over and over, especially when brides ask me to duplicate an exact wedding that I have already done. (I have made 6 "Chelsea Bouquets" from my website since May).

In the long run, I have to remember that trends do change and next year will keep me on my toes. I remember that people loved a look and came to me for that reason (and I got a sale because of it). It is bringing me business and the bride and guests haven't seen it in person before. If it was a hit the first time, it will surely be a hit the second and third time too...after I've had time to perfect it, order more efficently and cut down on labor.

 

[SpringCity]

I find that, too. Sometimes I wonder if I just made something crazy and took a pic of it and put it in an album, maybe a bride would go for it. They all say the want unique and sometimes that's true, often not really so much.

But maybe just maybe they have to see it first. So now you have given me the idea, I'm gonna come up with some crazy new ideas and try 'em out. I have a ton of inspiration photos, I think I'll look thru them while I'm slow and see what I can come up with.

I have a niece getting married next spring, I know she will give me carte blanche to be creative. So that's who I'll have in mind when I'm concocting this stuff.

 

[CHR]

We sell what we're confident about - and we're confident about our own styles. Pushing the envelope takes passion on both the customer's and our parts.

These days, folks are more likely to pick 'safe' than 'edgy' so plan a few shots of your next style and enjoy the safe brides with cash in hand today.

 

[rewolf]

In the wedding business, we do get a lot of repetition. I find that I need to push myself to continually come up with new designs so that I do not get bored.

I'll have a bride with tattoos and a nose earring and she will pull out a picture of her gown which is totally Cinderella, romantic and traditional. Then I sigh knowing that it's going to be another blue hydrangea wedding. So now I challenge myself to how can I make that blue fluff ball appeal to my artistic side while still delivering a Cinderella wedding. It's become a game for me and at the same time the bride listens because I am working within her parameters.

Remember to pat yourself on the back for a job well done -- flowers that are fresh, designs with good balance, mechanics that will last forever -- and a very happy bride.

 

[TGDragonfly]

Amy
I hear you too. I think we all go through these spells once in awhile, even in other professions. Carol and Cathy hit on a true note, people buy from us because of our signature styles but mostly because it's what we are confident in selling.

I don't know about you but it all lies in the consultation. I went through this last year, it seems like the batteries were low and I stumbled to grab sparks when meeting clients. Like you I made the transition from commercial space to private and it took awhile to recharge and gain confidence partly because I've learned that no one is going to get it done but me, thankfully I have Marcy, but she is like me too.

I learned one thing a few years back, a brief comment from a speaker at the ISES Eventworld when it was held in Miami, he said that if you are feeling this way, the best way to counter it is to step away. Creative people need time away from creation to be inspired. Whether it is a walk in the woods, a trip to a city to see a exhibit, or take up painting, or whatever. If I feel stumped when creating proposals, I pick up my flyrod, through on my waiters, and hash out details with the trout, or I head out to the gardens and fight it out with weeds, sometimes we need to just shut it off.

One thing I recommend is to buy a sample piece from someone like Accent Decor. A piece that is totally not what your used to dealing with. I bought one of the large black polished candelabras. It's beautiful in itself. I would just stare at it, and think about it and fell love with it. It became an easy sell and I have to buy twenty next spring, but I will have them paid for free and clear for the next sell. You mentioned color change, I sold a all black wedding finally, black linens, chairs, tableware, centerpieces.

Hang in there, fall brings that new feeling of change, grab it.

 

[RWK]

"Signature style" - is that style of design for which you or your shop is known for.

Take Cathy's husband Phil - We know he is incredibly skilled.....but when you think of Phil Rulloda....You think of incredible tropical designs......His 'signature style'

Or Hitomi Gilliam - We know she can rock the tried and true - but she is known for incredible uses of line......armatures.....and that is her 'signature style'

Once you develop your signature, then it does become a design rut......because that signature is what you do most often.

Another example - A good friend of mine and a fellow AIFD member has the phoenix style as his shop's signature. I would venture that a good 80 percent of his daily work is in the phoenix style.

 

[cherrie]

This is funny.
I just emailed to my web designer that everything I do looks the same and I suck. I get so frustrated sometimes.
I've been stretching my creative energy to photos and the web and neglecting floral design skills. I haven't had the luxury of time to do anything different or anything that would take extra time. Sad.
I went through Mandy Majerik AIFD album on facebook and was so impressed not only with her great design work, but the versatility of her work. I wanna do that??
Last week, I finally hired a designer that I think will work.
I've been doing the design work at my shop entirely by myself since June.
A little help before then. I'm a toasted puppy.
Maybe, I'll now have a little time to get creative.

 

[master J]

This is funny.
I just emailed to my web designer that everything I do looks the same and I suck. I get so frustrated sometimes.
I've been stretching my creative energy to photos and the web and neglecting floral design skills. I haven't had the luxury of time to do anything different or anything that would take extra time. Sad.
I went through Mandy Majerik AIFD album on facebook and was so impressed not only with her great design work, but the versatility of her work. I wanna do that??
Last week, I finally hired a designer that I think will work.
I've been doing the design work at my shop entirely by myself since June.
A little help before then. I'm a toasted puppy.
Maybe, I'll now have a little time to get creative.

Ditto that, I get down on myself a lot for eveything looking the same. A lot of my weddings have been very similar in style, so I need to try and change it up, we are starting to do some different ideas for centerpieces and bouquets.

I noticed Sprout does some really cool garden style bouquets, even the bouts are unique too! I usually get inspired when I see other peoples ideas too, so it helps seeing all the pics posted on here, facebook, twitter, etc.

A lot of the times we all fall into the trap of everything looking the same because we are comfortable with doing it that way.

Good thread Amy, and your are not alone in thinking this way. It's always good to stay on your toes and change things up!

Maybe a nice friendly design competition would help us all be more creative?! Hint Hint!

 

[Mocha Rose]

Maybe a nice friendly design competition would help us all be more creative?! Hint Hint!

I'm game! I think someone should list a past challenging wedding scenario and budget. Something like (just using my wedding for Saturday as an example which is the first unique wedding I have had in awhile):

Sept date
Colors: All bright, tropical, dresses are aqua
Flower requests: tropical only, the more unique the better, NO green cyms or dendro
Centerpiece requests: cocktail only style reception with (8) 72" tables and (6) high tops. Only wants low, simple centerpieces that focus on unique blooms
Budget for 1 bridal, 2 BM, 10 personal flowers (bouts/ corsage), 2 altars, 8 72" tables, 6 high tops= $2500-3000
Notes: bride was married last week in the Bahamas and wants to bring the feel of the tropics to a nontropical area. Reception is inside the aquarium at the zoo.

Just an example of a challenge and we don't have to use it. I personally had a lot of fun with this one and it was a nice break from my hydrangea/ rose rut.

 

[wildflowerschicago]

Maybe a nice friendly design competition would help us all be more creative?! Hint Hint!

I also love this idea!!! Bring it on Adam! :>

I keep thinking of the way our careers are similar to that of a chef. I was wondering today what Wolfgang Puck does when he gets bored with his style. He can't change too much or he will lose his core clientele...but if you get stagnant, you risk not drawing any new clientele. It is a fine line!!!!

I loved Tom's idea about seeking inspiration elsewhere (recharginy my batteries). I know that when I am in the stores, I am drawn to the bold graphic retro patterns that they are showing in home furnishings...perhaps I will try to incorporate something little like a bold accent ribbon color or something small (as to not freak out any already booked brides).

A bride from 2 weeks ago called me today to thank me for everything. She was so cute, telling me how she was passing out my name to all her friends. She told me that the flowers were such a huge hit that 2 of her friends at the wedding wanted the exact same thing for their upcoming weddings. All I could do was laugh!!! :tread:

I am very glad I am not alone in feeling this way!!!! One thought I find reassuring is that if we are keen enough to notice the rut, we acknowledge the artist within us is crying for more...and we are not content to just fall into a habit. We should be proud of that!

 

[lizzie ann]

Just my opinion here..but...I am working on our state assoc. convention. I hear over and over again,Oh I don't need to go,(translation: I know it all)I find that every program I see my view changes a bit,or I see a new way or technique I can use. My style grows and changes when I am exposed to different ideas and style. I attend as many programs as my budget allows. A good and inexpensive place to go is your state convention

 

[concord]

Last weekend I had a cascade for a bride which i haven't done in years. Everyone wants the tight hand tieds and I am very bored with them. Trends come and go but this one has over stayed it's welcome IMO! I think it is a rut but not of our making.

 

[Rhonda]

bride this weekend wanted cascade - not hand tied. Definitely knew what she wanted. Next bride (in two weeks) left it all in my hands, round - with colors of white, hot pink, and teal. Budget only, I fill in the blanks (after we looked at ideas).

 

[Tuberose]

I'm finding that a refreshing change from the usual tight round thing is that they are actually starting to add more texture, some are loosening and opening that up a bit as well. Well, not much of a change, but I'll take it. The other gal I work with only likes cascades and seems to sell quite a few of them, guess I just don't try, I'm used to round now, takes less thought. With a cascade you actually have to THINK more, good grief.

 

[Johan]

Brides are abit like sheep when it comes to flowers. (If you're not sure what sheep do. Think flock, one moves the rest follow). I have 2 or 3 designs in my portfolio that everyone are drawn to. So to make it 'bespoke' I just change things slightly to fit. It's like buying this years must have dress. We may buy the same dress but what we do with it creates our own personal look. Different colour/print, different shoes, handbag, jewelery etc. And hay presto your own look. Flowers are just the same. Change the colour and accessories/foliage and there you have it, a whole NEW look. It is our job to create that NEW design for them. I don't think you should feel guilty unless you don't offer the opportunity to make the design 'bespoke'. Then you our stuck in a rut. Start small to make changes if you feel this way with your work. Bring in one or two new varieties of flowers to start with and different containers and accessories then start showcasing alternatives be it on your website in your shop or portfolio and go from there.