The wholesale flower market is where florists, stylists, and designers buy their flowers and plants at a wildly reduced price. It’s a huge building (or three, but I just go to my go-to’s in one of them) of flower vendors in downtown LA (and yes, most major cities have them in the sketchy party of town). A lot of them sell the same sort of deli/grocery store flowers, but many specialize in branches or succulents or just BETTER flowers. The prices are basically the same throughout, but the selection can be better based on the vendor.
The wholesale flower market is where florists, stylists, and designers buy their flowers and plants at a wildly reduced price. It’s a huge building (or three, but I just go to my go-to’s in one of them) of flower vendors in downtown LA (and yes, most major cities have them in the sketchy party of town). A lot of them sell the same sort of deli/grocery store flowers, but many specialize in branches or succulents or just BETTER flowers. The prices are basically the same throughout, but the selection can be better based on the vendor.
In a survey of 358 retail florists conducted by the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association, retail florists ranked wholesale florists as the best source of high quality
cut flowers, as the most reliable supplier, and as the best value for their money. More than
90 percent of those surveyed praised wholesale florists for their courteous and professional
salespeople and the long-term relationships that have emerged between retailers and wholesalers as a result.
In selecting a wholesale florist, there are four things to remember:
1. Open communication retailers need to talk about their ideas and be open to wholesalers suggestions. Keeping an open mind will help the communication go smoothly.
2. Have a budget in mind the florist can then help clients stay within monetary limits. Much time can be wasted without a preliminary budget in mind.
3. Choose someone who is detail and service oriented—the wholesaler should provide both in-store shopping for perishables and hard goods, and they should have delivery capabilities.
4. Quality and best selection of products make sure the quality exceeds your expectations, and that there is a wide variety of choices.
In conclusion, keep in mind these key points when selecting a wholesale florist to build a
relationship with. Many companies claim they are service-oriented or can handle large orders. It is recommended to interview several wholesale florists in your area before deciding. It may take some time to do this upfront, but well worth it in the end. The ultimate goal is to have a long-lasting, reliable relationship with your wholesale florist.