Blooming Success: How to Open a Roadside Flower Stand
So you’re scrolling through Pinterest and seeing dreamy roadside stands packed full of beautiful blooms and the healthiest looking produce. And you start getting your own roadside stand ideas and imagining how to design your own.
Sound familiar?
Roadside stands can be a great, convenient way to sell your flowers on your terms. But maybe you don’t know where to start. Or maybe you already have a roadside stand, but it’s not the Pinterest-worthy stand attracting customer after customer.
This guide is meant to help you understand how to open a flower stand and ensure you’ve checked off all the boxes before opening for business.
Speaking of Pinterest, check out my page if you haven’t already!
Find the Perfect Spot
Spoiler alert: There is no single perfect spot.
The perfect spot is different for everyone. My flower stand is off the beaten path and isn’t near heavy traffic. It’s in my driveway!
Get the Price Right
Let's talk money. Even prices are simple—for you and for your customers. Think your customers want to dig around for two quarters if your bouquet is $14.50? Heck, think your customers have the right bills if your price is $17? You can’t offer change, so just keep it simple and use even, round numbers like $20. That tactic also makes it easier for you to track your profits, whether in cash or online.
Online Payments Offer Flexibility and More Sales
Cash is cool, but it's not the 1900s anymore, and plenty of people don’t carry cash around. That's why it's smart to have options. Consider offering a way to pay online. From sharing a Venmo or PayPal user name to printing a QR code that links to an online store, there are a variety of ways to offer electronic payments to your customers.
If you only take cash, there’s a good chance some people may not have any way to pay and have to pass on a purchase. Reducing cash payments also helps reduce your risk of theft at your flower stand.
If you set up an online payment account, be sure to create a business account. Payment services like PayPal and Venmo can crack down on people who take business payments on their personal accounts.
Clear Communication and Signs Keep Customers Happy
Speaking of pricing and payment options, make sure your price and directions about how to pay are clear and easy. Use a chalkboard or printed tags to give that information. If your customers aren’t clear about price or how to pay, they’re more likely to leave without buying anything. In an even worse case scenario, someone may not pay at all.
If you have different items with different prices in the stand at once, clearly communicating the difference is even more important. So be sure not to overlook how you communicate with your customers.
Shelter Your Blooms
The summer sun can be brutal and wind and rain can take a toll on your bouquets and arrangements. When designing your stand, consider how much protection your flowers will have from the elements. Ideally, anything you put in the stand will be protected from all sides (except the front).
Of course you want your stand to be pretty or trendy, but it should also be practical. You won’t care how cute your stand is if you come to find your flowers wilted from the sun or your jars blown over onto the ground.
Consistency is Key
Consistent schedules can play a huge role in creating a thriving flower stand. When you put your flowers out for sale at the same times or on the same days, you set expectations for your customers and they’ll know when to stop by to make a purchase.
I’ll admit, I’m not always the best at this, but I’ve established a pretty solid email list and social media following where I can post and let my customers know when I’m open. I’m not saying that’s right or wrong, but it works for me.
However, you definitely won’t do any harm in setting a schedule—especially if you’re just starting out and don’t have an established customer base.
Check Your Local Rules and Regulations
Before you take the time to build and/or put your stand out on the road, make sure you have the permission to do it. Some local laws require you to have a permit to have, or make sales at a roadside stand.
It’s probably the least glamorous part of opening a stand, but definitely one of the most important. Imagine starting a thriving flower stand and then getting a letter in the mail from your local government telling you that you have to stop sales until you have the proper permits. That would suck.
Do your due diligence to find out what you need to be on the up and up so you don’t have to worry about it later.
Setting up a flower stand can be a super exciting part of being in the flower business. But outside of the design of the stand and the arrangements you put in it, there are lots of logistics to consider. I hope this info will help you create a checklist and ensure you have everything you need before you’re open for sales.