The Buying team at MM Flowers play a vital role in managing the supplier relationships with our growers and manufacturers. Their day is filled with a mixture of problem solving, business acumen, strategy and a passion for the products they buy. Beth, our UK flower buyer talks us through a typical day as a Buyer at MM Flowers.
6:00 AM - Early Start
The day begins with a cup of coffee and a quick review of the day's schedule. The flower industry are habitually early risers so often start their day early and I like to make sure I arrive for the day ready to hit the ground running.
8:00 AM - Crop Reviews
Conduct calls with growers and collate updates to communicate the status of the farms to the business. This allows the me to assess the quality and availability of flowers ahead of time and I can prepare the business if anything, like weather, is going to impact availability. We source from around the world, while I focus on this task in the morning, some of our buyers will align this task with South American growers time zones.
9:00 AM – Short Term Supplier Coordination
Coordinate with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of flowers. This involves confirming orders, discussing any issues, and making sure the logistics are in place for smooth transportation.
10:00 AM – Longer Term Forecasting
Forecasting is incredibly important when understanding the future needs of the flowers I buy. I will work with the in-house Insights team to understand what flowers are resonating with consumers so I can adapt my portfolio if needed.
12:00 PM - Lunch Break
A quick lunch break, often on the go, I might use the time to catch up with emails or get out for a walk around the local parks if the weather is nice!
1:00 PM - New Product Development (NPD) Collaboration
Work with the NPD team on new designs for next year. This involves understanding the products they have designed and finding the right suppliers to meet their demand and quality aspirations. Getting insight into the future launches is one of my favorite parts of the job.
3:00 PM – Administrative Tasks
Handle administrative tasks such as invoicing, updating records, and planning for the next day's activities.
5:00 PM – wrap up the day and make my way home!
