What should I know about a florist’s reliance on a lead designer?
If customers ask for one designer by name, that person is the business. Find out how long they have worked there, whether others can match their style and what would persuade them to stay under a new owner. Treat their departure as a risk to plan for before you commit.
Start by asking the seller how the work is divided. Who designs the weddings and events, who handles everyday orders and who takes the calls from regular customers? Watch the shop for a morning if you can, and notice who the customers address.
Then ask about the designer directly, with the seller’s permission. Do they plan to stay? What do they like about the job? What would they want from a new owner? A short, honest conversation tells you more than a reference.
Look at the shop’s depth. Are there other designers who can produce the same quality, and is anything written down about styles, recipes for popular arrangements or supplier preferences? A shop that has been trained to work without one person is far safer than one that has not. If the designer is also the owner, you are looking at a succession question. Ask for a handover period and a plan for training, and discuss with your lawyer whether any commitment from the seller or the designer can be written into the deal.
Key takeaways
- Watch who customers ask for and who handles the high-value work.
- Speak with the designer, with the seller’s agreement, about staying.
- Look for a second designer who can match the shop’s style.
- Ask whether styles, supplier preferences and popular arrangements are written down.
Related reading
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- Expert answerHow do I find out how much a flower shop’s wedding bookings depend on one designer?
Succession
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Due diligence
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentAdvice for succession planning - Articles and tools
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat is succession planning?
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