Posted by I.S. Sundries on 8th Sep 2026
PULSE Newsletter Issue 11
This issue looks ahead to FleurEx 2026, explores the impact of a record-breaking summer on British flower growers, and highlights what it could mean for florists this Autumn.
FleurEx 2026 lands on 3rd and 4th October at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham and this year is shaping up to be the biggest yet. Fresh from winning Event of the Year for FleurEx 2025, the BFA has built a programme packed with live demonstrations, hands-on workshops, a trade exhibition, and the live final of UK Florist of the Year on Saturday.
Sunday opens the competition floor to florists of all abilities, with creative challenges across a range of disciplines. The event also features The Flower Lab and The Plant Lab — two interactive spaces designed to encourage experimentation and introduce new techniques.
For trade suppliers, FleurEx is an unmatched opportunity to connect face-to-face with retail florists and meet the next generation of talent. Tickets are on sale now, and with just weeks to go, demand is building.
I.S. Sundries will be there, so be sure to come and say hello! We’ll be showcasing a selection of our bestselling products, giving you the chance to see them up close and discover some of our customer favourites.
The winners of the BFA Industry Awards 2026 will be announced at the Gala Dinner on Saturday evening. We’re thrilled to be finalists for Sundries Supplier of the Year – and there’s still time to cast your vote for us, just click here. We appreciate every single vote we receive!
Summer 2026 has been officially confirmed as the UK's warmest since records began in 1884, with a mean temperature of 16.5°C — and British flower growers are counting the cost. Several small-scale growers have had to pull out of Chiswick Flower Market this summer because they simply had nothing to bring. George Stevens, a fourth-generation grower at Stevens of Sibsey in Lincolnshire, lost most of his peony season in May when temperatures jumped from 14°C to 30°C within days.
The impact is widest among the small independent growers who make up the Flowers from the Farm network — the 1,000+ member trade association whose members generate £30 million a year and are 80% women-led. These are exactly the growers the "buy British" movement has been built around, and the ones most exposed when a single season goes wrong.
For florists, the practical implication is reduced availability and higher prices on some British-grown stems through Autumn. Being upfront with customers about why and using it as an opportunity to explain the story behind British flowers can actually strengthen the relationship rather than damage it. Customers who understand the fragility of seasonal growing tend to value it more, not less.
The story also raises longer-term questions about climate resilience in UK horticulture and whether more growers need access to covered growing infrastructure. It's a conversation the industry is only beginning to have.
UK florists heading into Autumn are working with a palette that leans into the season fully — rich ochres, burnt orange, deep rust, and warm sand, moving away from the muted, neutral tones that dominated recent years. The shift is deliberate: consumers want arrangements that feel bold and warm as the days shorten.
Beyond colour, there's a clear movement (literally) in design philosophy. The neat, structured round bouquet is giving way to cascading stems, wild textures, and artful negative space. Florists are treating arrangements less like products and more like sculpture — and their customers are noticing and paying for it.
Dried and preserved flowers continue to carve out a permanent place in the florist's toolkit rather than being a trend moment. Mixed alongside fresh seasonal stems, they add longevity, texture, and a sustainability story that resonates with today's clients.
Living bulbs are also being positioned as a florist's secret weapon this season — zero-waste, labour-saving, and carrying the provenance story of British-grown flowers with ease.
11–13 September 2026 - BBC Gardeners' World Autumn Fair, Audley End House, Essex
27 September 2026 – National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs National Final — Floral Art
3 October 2026 – BFA Industry Awards Ceremony & Gala Dinner, Nottingham (FleurEx 2026)
October 2026 – FleurEx 2026 BFA's flagship event for retail florists and students
BFA Industry Awards 2026: Nominees Announced (https://britishfloristassociation.org/uncategorised/bfa-industry-awards-2026-nominees-announced/)
FleurEx 2026 — BFA (https://britishfloristassociation.org/latest-industry-events/bfa-fleurex/fleurex-2026-tickets-exhibitors-and-what-to-expect/)
FleurEx 2026 — Flora Magazine (https://flora-magazine.com/fleurex-2026-brings-two-days-of-floristry-inspiration-to-nottingham/)
Fleurex 2026: The BFA's Biggest Show Yet — Morgan Douglas (https://morgan-douglas.com/fleurex-2026-british-florist-association/)
2026 Floral Trends: Colour & Texture Guide — Dried Flowers Direct (https://www.driedflowersdirect.co.uk/blogs/blog/2026-floral-trends-colour-texture-guide-for-uk-florists)
2026 Florist Industry Report — Salience (https://salience.co.uk/report/florist-retailers-market-performance-report)
BFA Shortlisted for TAF Awards (https://britishfloristassociation.org/uncategorised/bfa-shortlisted-for-the-2026-taf-awards/)
Record heat leaves flower growers short of blooms (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjw5q55p9j6o)
