Floral Designer, Customer Service

Position Overview

Phillip's Flowers, a Family Flowers company, seeks a creative and customer-focused Floral Designer & Customer Service Associate for our Chicago area locations. This role combines hands-on floral design with front-of-house customer service, supporting our mission to preserve local flower shop heritage while delivering exceptional experiences.

Job Description

Primary Responsibilities:

Floral Design (60%)

• Create fresh flower arrangements for everyday occasions, sympathy, celebrations, and events
• Process incoming flower shipments and maintain flower care standards
• Design custom bouquets based on customer specifications and seasonal availability
• Execute same-day delivery orders with attention to detail and timing
• Maintain design consistency with Family Flowers quality standards
• Prepare arrangements for weddings, corporate events, and special occasions

Customer Service (30%)

• Greet walk-in customers and provide personalized consultation on flower selections
• Process phone and online orders accurately in the POS system
• Handle customer inquiries about delivery, pricing, and flower care
• Resolve customer concerns with professionalism and empathy
• Upsell complementary products and seasonal specials
• Build lasting relationships with repeat customers

Shop Operations (10%)

• Maintain clean, organized, and visually appealing work areas and showroom
• Monitor inventory levels and communicate supply needs
• Process deliveries and coordinate with drivers
• Assist with social media content (photos of arrangements)
• Support team members during high-volume periods (Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, etc.)

Qualifications

Required:

• 1+ years of floral design or retail customer service experience
• Basic knowledge of flower varieties, care, and handling
• Strong customer service and communication skills
• Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 30 lbs
• Flexibility to work weekends and holidays (peak floral seasons)
• Reliable transportation for occasional deliveries

Preferred:

• Formal floral design training or certification
• Experience with wire services (FTD, Teleflora) and POS systems
• Knowledge of wedding and event florals
• Bilingual (Spanish) a plus for Chicago market

Personal Attributes:

• Creative eye for color, texture, and composition
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
• Team player who thrives in fast-paced environments
• Genuine passion for making people's special moments memorable

Compensation & Benefits

Hourly Wage: $18.00 - $22.00/hour

• Based on experience level and skill proficiency
• Entry-level designers: $18.00 - $19.50/hour
• Experienced designers (2+ years): $20.00 - $22.00/hour
• Performance reviews at 90 days and annually with wage increase opportunities

Additional Compensation:

• Overtime pay (time-and-a-half) for hours over 40/week
• Holiday premium pay for major floral holidays
• Employee discount on personal flower purchases

Benefits Package (Full-time positions):

• Health insurance contribution
• Paid time off (PTO) accrual
• Employee assistance program
• Opportunities for advancement within Family Flowers network
• Professional development and design training
• 401(k) retirement plan eligibility

Schedule:

• Full-time: 32-40 hours/week
• Flexibility required for peak seasons (Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, holidays)

Family Flowers is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.