Photography courtesy of Film & Foliage

Listen in floral lovers – interested in starting your floristry business? Ready to take the next step in understanding the industry? Or are you looking for an informative floral community to be a part of? Look no further than the just launched Wildflower Academy.

Brought to us by long-time florist and Newcastle local, Ashlee Wheelhouse of Film & Foliage, her newest venture, Wildflower Academy is all about supplying up-and-coming florists with the skills, education, and creativity to help grow their business.

Launching just last week, the online forum is currently offering three formats for aspiring florists to elevate their floral knowledge: an E-Book guide to sourcing local and seasonal blooms, one-on-one mentoring, and our personal favourite, The Wildflower Academy membership.

The 30-page in-depth guide to sourcing local and seasonal blooms is delivered in an e-book format and is filled with knowledge, resources, and steps to make the shift to source, order, and design with local and seasonal flowers.

“Perfect for florists who are wanting to align their business with sustainable and ethical values, increase their design skills, new florists looking for guidance in creating recipes and buying blooms and any flower lovers stuck in a creative rut.”

If you’re after mentoring, join Ash in a 1-hour one-on-one meeting to gain guidance in all things floral design. Whether its techniques to become more sustainable, social media guidance, content creation, brainstorming revenue ideas, as well as anything and everything in between; Ash will walk you through it all.

The unique and new concept that is The Wildflower Academy membership provides an easy-to-digest online learning platform that delivers rich, knowledge-filled weekly content that breaks down the challenges in the Floral Design Industry. Focussing on weddings, events, sustainability, running a floral business, and optimisation and automation, all whilst connecting you with a supportive floral community.

“The floral industry has many challenges and finding your community and accessing information can be really difficult. I faced these barriers when I started out which is why I’m so passionate about supplying affordable and accessible knowledge and education to my fellow flower lovers.”

At just $17 a week, The Wildflower Academy Membership offers a unique online learning experience where you can cultivate your own creative flair and learn to grow your business. With easy to digest content primarily delivered in video format, accompanied with detailed documents, the ongoing membership is accessible from a laptop, iPad, or smartphone and will encourage you to flex those creative muscles, develop your style, elevate your portfolio, all whilst learning at your own pace and your own schedule.

Being incredibly passionate about sustainability, Ash explains why it is such an important aspect of the platform’s offering.

“Incorporating sustainable practices into your business is so important right now, especially because more and more people are spending their money where their values align and seeking out more eco businesses. It can be overwhelming knowing where to start and how to go about it. This platform will provide step-by-step, actionable answers.”

Whether you’re a complete newbie to the world of floral design, need some inspiration and guidance, looking for that creative boost to take your business to the next level, expanding your floral design horizons, or even just needing a supportive like-minded community, the opportunities at The Wildflower Academy might just be for you.

“Investing in yourself and leveling up your business means you are always staying ahead of the curve and optimising your career. Now, while weddings can’t happen due to restrictions, it is the perfect time to be doing this, and having a community and consistent weekly content keeps you accountable.

“There will always be new techniques, information, and technology coming out and always something new to learn, putting aside a small amount of time each week will make huge differences in your career.”

So, what are you waiting for? Check out The Wildflower Academy online, get following on Instagram, email your questions through to Ash, and get moving towards your Floral Design goals!