A few months ago, we sat down with Vanessa Miglis from Adelaide Floristry School who was using the power of flowers to promote mental and physical wellbeing, as well as allow students to channel creativity during such a stressful time.
Just like many small businesses, Adelaide Floristry School was thrust into the unknown and had no choice but to completely adapt their services. With the world turned on its head, Adelaide Floristry School used the resources available at their fingertips and moved their classes to an online platform.
Today, Adelaide Floristry School is thrilled to announce that studio classes will be resuming for Term 3 on the 21st of July. But, having received lots of attention on social media from full time students and full time workers—online tuition is now here to stay!
We sat down with Vanessa to discuss all things small business and floristry amid the pandemic.
Everyone wants to know: many businesses were forced to adapt their business models, what was the biggest challenge?
Vanessa admitted that although we are so lucky to have the world at our fingertips, technology can certainly be difficult to navigate—especially when you are thrown into it without a choice.
“Making it easy for students to continue their course from the comfort of their homes was the biggest challenge. I had to re-implement all my courses so they were easy to follow. I filmed 20 classes—now that was challenging …. BUT all worth it, as my students are now completing each and every design with success,” Vanessa said.
When Adelaide Floristry School moved to an online platform, it was so important for Vanessa to provide the same experience for students that they would get in the studio, but from their homes during online tuition.
To do so, online students were delivered fresh flowers bright and early every Monday morning after Vanessa had attended and hand selected flowers from the flower market. Each student then had access to online tutorial videos and design information sheets to guide their at-home lesson. As Vanessa wanted to provide the same level of care and attention to her students as they would receive in the studio, each week, students logged into a Zoom call with Vanessa to be provided with feedback and advice on their designs and ask any questions that they had.
As we continue to grapple with the economic devastation of the pandemic, for many small businesses—the next few months are crucial.
Having managed and directed floristry businesses for 24 years, Vanessa’s key piece of advice is: “Don’t give up. This is the time that your business will shine and you will develop new skills. Business goes up and down but what makes small businesses grow is your drive, determination and skills.”
As Adelaide Floristry School learnt through the forced transition to online learning—“there is always an alternative. Be creative and focus on where you want to drive the business,” Vanessa said.
In keeping with the spirits of ceasing opportunities that come your way, online floristry tuition has proven itself to be an opportunity that was worth the learning curve. Adelaide Floristry School will now be offering three different online short courses that each run for ten weeks: Seed, Bud and Pod, which have all been individualised to cater for different needs.
But, after a couple of months of hard work, juggle and stressful nights, Adelaide Floristry School is now—socially distantly—back in the studio for Term 3. “I am looking forward to meeting all our new enrollments, and seeing our students who could not continue their online training. I can’t wait to share my skills and new designs with them.”
As classes are only limited to ten students to adhere to social distancing guidelines, you will want to get in quickly!
You can find out more about Adelaide Floristry School here.
FURTHER INFORMATION
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