Flower consumption now extends from traditionally coastal cities to 2nd and 3rd tier cities, and even to the counties, districts, villages and towns in developed areas. At the same time, more creative and diverse plant products have become popular with consumers. With the transformation of market consumption, many Chinese horticulture operators have started to focus on innovating and differentiating products.
In recent years, the booming development China's floriculture industry has greatly promoted the retail flower industry. According to statistics, China has an average annual planting area growth rate of 1.05%, an average annual sales growth rate of 21% and an annual average exports growth rate of 28%. As it is estimated, the national flower consumption is expected to exceed RMB 200 billion (USD $30 billion) by 2017. Flower shops of all sizes are now holding training in floral arts, potted plant combinations, succulents' combinations and pressed flower crafts which has further promoted development.
It has recently been reported that many of Gen-Y and Millenials, whose majors are arts, landscape design or calligraphy, etc. are giving up high-salary jobs to go to study flower arrangement arts in Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR, abroad, or go to flower production areas to learn fresh-flower preservation techniques. Then they return to their hometowns to open flower shops, floricultural cafes or floral studios.
Many scenic spots, high-end shopping malls, hotels and even restaurants have put up massive plant walls. The three-dimensional green walls are covered with ornamental plants and real flowers, which has been a growing trend all across China. At present, the service industry is just at its turning point when investors no longer spend extravagantly on luxury goods to decorate their public places, but tend to choose eco-friendly, cost-effective or personalised floral interior designs.
These trends of interior decoration by using floral or plant design in China appear to be long-term.
Source: FloralDaily.com