Florist Trade School Resuming Classes In August

CROMWELL — The state’s only florist trade school, established less than two years ago by the Connecticut Florists Association (CFA) to alleviate a shortage of trained floral designers, resumes classes in August with both basic and intermediate floral design courses.

Fully licensed by the state Department of Higher Education, the CFA Floral Design School basic session will reopen at a Cromwell facility August 18 and run 13 weeks, teaching basic floral design to a class of an estimated 25 students. The intermediate section begins August 20 and runs nine weeks in the same facility.

University of Connecticut floral design teacher Louise Pastormerlo will lead the basic class. Topics covered include care and handling of cut flowers, basic floral design, retail flower shop operation, holiday designs, introduction to wedding design, designing with balloons, introduction to sympathy designs, green and blooming plants, permanent flowers, and visual merchandising. The classes will total 30 hours of intensive study.

Debra Grote, AIFD, will teach the intermediate class. She is a nationally renowned florist designer. Over the nine-week period, students will receive an intense 38 hours of instruction, mastering areas including design mechanics, color theory, pricing, productivity, and wedding and sympathy design. Intermediate students will also be required to complete an internship with an area florist. Tuition costs for both classes cover all material expenses with the exception of optional textbooks and tools that must be approved by the instructor.

There are more than 600 independent flower shops operating in Connecticut with total annual sales exceeding $97 million, according to the state Department of Revenue Services. In addition, there are some 75 mass-market floral outlets within state borders. The basic class fee is $850. The intermediate class cost is $1,099.

Payment in full is required before the start of the course. To register, at least one-half of the tuition must be paid, with any remaining balance to be paid one week before the start of the course. Students have the option of using a major credit card if they wish to spread out tuition payments at their own convenience. Two scholarships for the school will be provided by the state Unit of Telefora. Application forms are available on request. No admissions will be accepted after the first class.

For more information, contact CFA director Robert Heffernan 800-352-6946. The association is located at 590 Main Street in Monroe. Prospective students may download the class catalog at www.FlowersPlantsInCt.com.