Issy Watts
Which course did you study at Tallulah Rose Flower School?
I studied the two-week intensive career change course with Tallulah Rose in October 2019.
What did you enjoy most about the course?
I loved that although it was a two-week intensive course, the atmosphere was calm and relaxing, at the same time as being exciting and a little terrifying with learning so much for the first time. I really enjoyed being taught by different teachers. Each one came with different knowledge and set of skills, and I learned so much from each of them.
What was the most important thing that you learnt?
Aside from all of the techniques that were completely new to me, learning to persevere with arrangements and to keep going really made a difference to me. I’m the kind of person who would be worried if something didn’t start off looking very good, but the tutors taught us to keep calm, keep going and eventually it all starts to take shape!
What was your first big break or most memorable moments so far?
I hosted Christmas workshops which had a really great response and sold out, just a few months after completing the course which was really exciting. But I’m also really excited to have secured seven weddings for 2020 (some of which may now be postponed due to the Coronavirus) but for me that was a massive achievement and I’m sure each and every one of them is going to be totally memorable!
What are you doing now?
After completing the Tallulah Rose course, I started Wizz & Wild almost immediately. I had basically set myself up so that I could complete the course and then launch the website and socials the day after!
I am now full time flowering (which is so dreamy!) and also attempting to grow my own flowers too. I am very lucky to live on a beautiful farm, and have a little space allocated for growing flowers.
Describe a typical floristry day…
One of the things I love most about this profession is that each day is completely different. I run workshops and retreat days here on the farm, so some weeks will be preparing for those. Other days are in the cutting garden watering, planting, or in the polytunnel sowing seeds! Other weeks would be purely focused on getting ready for the next wedding or event. The rest of the time is filled with preparing wedding quotes, website work, social media management, photoshoots, content creating, accounting and general flowery admin!
We are currently preparing the outside beds ready for the flowers to go into after the last frost, so that’s keeping us super busy at the moment!
What’s been your highlight to date?
One highlight to date would have to be watching the seeds i’ve sown become little buds that then develop into beautiful flowers. I just can’t wait to use some of my own produce at my client’s weddings this year. It will be an amazing feeling to have sown these tiny seeds and use them right the way through their flower journey.
Another of the main highlights I’ve found since completing the Tallulah Rose course is the incredible community of other florists I’ve now become friends with. I moved cities from London to Bath before undergoing the course and then changing career felt rather daunting, but there is such an incredible community of women supporting one another, it is so refreshing and comforting!
What advice would you give to a new student starting out?
Go for it! No matter your experience, the school really is wonderful and you will leave with such a sense of accomplishment, ready to start your floral business.
I would say that making sure you have everything ready to launch after completing the course really helped me. It made me feel like I had the complete set of tools to hit the ground running and start a business. The website, social media, and the confidence after creating so many wonderful pieces whilst at Tallulah. Take loads of photos throughout the course and enjoy every moment! It goes so quickly and once you’ve left you’ll only want to go back again!
Click here for more information about Wizz and Wild
