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Written by Amanda Ryder
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Floral designers often spend long
hours hovering over a workbench, preparing design after design for a
big event or busy holiday. It’s important that a florist’s work area is
comfortable and set up with ergonomics in mind so the florist isn’t
adding more stress on both their bodies and their minds! We talked with
designer Louisa Lam, CPFD and asked her to describe to us her dream
workbench.
She starts by saying that florists must think location, location when it comes to positioning the designing area. The workbench has to be close to both the cooler and the back of the shop where shipments can be received and deliveries can go out with ease. A water source also has to be nearby to ease the pain of lifting heavy buckets as well as electrical sockets, so cords aren’t running throughout the entire backroom.
Lam believes the designer doesn’t need to be hidden away from customers. “For me, I prefer the customer to see me a little bit, so they know what I’m doing for them,” she says. People can watch the design work being done and in the future, maybe they’ll experiment with a new look or new flower varieties the next time they place an order.
When it comes to table height, Lam says the workbench needs to be at a comfortable level. “If the bench is too high, your hand will get tired,” she says. “At the waist is pretty comfortable.” A level that is too low will also strain the designer’s back. The width of the bench is also crucial – designers need to be able to reach around the work area to package a design. Island workbenches work well because it allows for another to assist in both the designing and packaging process.
Sometimes what you put on the table and what’s in close proximity can be just as important as the table itself. Lam says the work area has to be close to the phone and especially a calendar. “You have to have a calendar in front of you so when you’re doing the order you can confirm the date and time.” A nearby shelf or drawers can be the perfect place to put knife, cutters, tape and accessories like ribbons. Lam prefers shelves over drawers because she says “if everything is in the drawer, you forget it’s there.” The same applies to containers and vases – Lam likes to see them out on the shelves in the back room so she can see immediately what’s available and design accordingly.
To remedy the pain of being on her feet all day, Lam uses a mat to cushion her feet and help reduce the likelihood of slips or falls. Although nice shiny floors can spruce up the look of a backroom, Lam says they pose a serious hazard. “Avoid any slippery floors. It looks good and looks trendy but it can get very slippery when water or leaves get dropped.”
And as always, Lam recommends that florists clean, clean, clean whenever you have time. A cluttered working area only adds to stress – the last thing a designer needs when they are working to a deadline. Lam recommends taking an extra look at your design space to see how it suits your working style. “If your working area is comfortable, especially during the busy season, than you don’t need to spend a lot of energy running around grabbing everything.”
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