How do I train a buyer to order flowers for Valentine’s week at my shop?

Valentine’s week is the one order that is hard to learn from a description. Begin with your own records. Show the buyer which products sold, which days were busiest, what ran out and what you were left with. Include notes on what you would change. Those notes are often more useful than the numbers.

Next, explain the timing. Suppliers have deadlines, and the order must be placed well before the rush. Share your usual calendar: when you confirm quantities, when deliveries arrive, when staff start extra hours and when you stop taking orders. Introduce the buyer to your main suppliers so that they have a relationship with them before the first big order.

Finally, plan the teaching. If the sale closes before the season, offer to sit with the buyer while they place the order, and review it together. If you are leaving before then, put your notes in writing and make yourself reachable for questions. Leave guidance on how to handle a shortage, since supply problems are the most common surprise. A modest first order is a sensible lesson in itself. Ask the buyer to take notes during each step and read them back to you. Anything they cannot repeat is something they have not yet learned. Offer to answer questions by phone during the week itself, since problems tend to come up at the worst moment.

Key takeaways

• Share past Valentine’s week sales, sell-outs and leftovers, with your own notes.
• Introduce the buyer to suppliers and the order calendar before the season.
• Offer to review the first order together, or stay reachable if you leave.