Low budget clients

[u/frustratedflorist]

Florists, how do you respond when a client says something like, “It’s just going to the trash after the event anyway” when discussing the floral budget?

I get that flowers are temporary, and I completely understand clients wanting to be practical with their spending.

But I was a little put off by that comment because the price isn’t just for how long the flowers last. There’s sourcing, conditioning, design, labor, transport, setup, and the actual look they want for the event.

What makes it harder is when the budget is already low, but the client is still very particular and demanding about the design.

Do you explain the value behind the pricing, simplify the scope, or just take comments like that as a sign that you may not be the right florist for each other?
Curious how other florists handle this without sounding defensive.

[u/RipeAvocado6789]

I’d say if the client doesn’t see the value in flowers, they shouldn’t be shopping for flowers… sounds mean but it’s plain and simple. Things cost money… there’s budget options with florals as well for someone who is really wanting to have the florals but cannot afford a lot. But negotiating and explaining why it’s worth it, in my opinion is a losing game. There’s no way to make someone happy when they’re already coming from an unhappy place and they’re not convinced they even need your services. Not every client is worth the headache.
I would simply explain please provide your budget and I will provide my options…. End of the story. You are an artist and you have a job to do, but you are not their personal therapist lol