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Online Flower Retailers in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Fiona Stalker Fiona Stalker London, United Kingdom Last Updated: September 2024 SIC SP0.149

Revenue

£536.2m

2024-25

£536.2m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XX.Xm

Employees

1,063

Businesses

100

Wages

£XX.Xm

Online Flower Retailers in the UK industry analysis

In recent years, online florists have gained a significant competitive advantage over traditional florists as consumers have increasingly switched to online for flower purchases, particularly during the COVID-19 outbreak. The growth of the online flower market has increasingly pushed bricks-and-mortar florists to the fringes of the market or forced them to adapt their own online presence.

Trends and Insights

  • The pandemic supercharged online flower sales. Lockdowns forced consumers to turn to online channels, meaning digital florists experienced a significant boost in revenue and profit.The accelerated growth spike slowed in the two years through 2023-24.
  • The luxury of flowers isn't affordable amid the high cost of living. With people's pockets squeezed amid high inflation and a cost of living crisis, flower sales have returned back to their pre-pandemic level after inflated growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • London and the South East's wealth fuels floral industry. In these locations, high disposable income levels and population density provide a large client pool for online florists, making them attractive sites for business.
  • Fierce competition defines the online flower industry. Companies grapple with price wars, product quality, varied range, reputation and customer service to rise above the tide in the market.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 8.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £536.2m in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The COVID-19 outbreak was a catalyst for growth in the online floral retail industry

  • The pandemic significantly fuelled revenue growth, with more consumers turning to online channels during lockdown periods.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Online Flower Retailers in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Businesses previously disrupted by online florists will innovate and compete for customers

  • Online florists have disrupted traditional florists and supermarkets by offering a more convenient, affordable, and wider variety of flowers. In the coming years, supermarkets and traditional supermarkets will keep expanding their focus on online channels.

Biggest companies in the Online Flower Retailers in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
Interflora British Unit
89.0
Bloom and Wild Ltd
71.3
Freddie's Flowers Ltd
32.5

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Online Flower Retailers in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Arranged cut flowers, Gift baskets and other items and Unarranged cut flowers. Arranged cut flowers is the largest segment of the Online Flower Retailers in the UK.

Trends and Insights

The surge in online purchases of floral arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic has died down

  • Arranged cut flowers consist of bouquets made from various flowers, like roses, lilies, orchids, tulips and daisies. Florists make the most from the sale of arranged cut flowers.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry retails flowers online, with industry operators receiving orders and payments through their websites and then using either a network of local florists or growers to fulfil and deliver the order. Onliene revenue generated by florists operating a brick-and-mortar store is not included in this industry.

What's included in this industry?

Arranged cut flowersPotted Plants Floral network services Unarranged cut flowersGift baskets and other items

Companies

Interflora British UnitBloom and Wild LtdFreddie's Flowers Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

BRICKS-AND-MORTARSEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATIONRELAY OPERATORE-COMMERCE

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 47.91 - Online Flower Retailers in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The pandemic supercharged online flower sales. Lockdowns forced consumers to turn to online channels, meaning digital florists experienced a significant boost in revenue and ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The luxury of flowers isn't affordable amid the high cost of living. With people's pockets squeezed amid high inflation and a cost of living crisis, flower sales have returne...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

London and the South East's wealth fuels floral industry. In these locations, high disposable income levels and population density provide a large client pool for online flor...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Fierce competition defines the online flower industry. Companies grapple with price wars, product quality, varied range, reputation and customer service to rise above the tid...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Bloom & Wild is known for innovative delivery methods. They specialise in posting flowers through letterboxes and have expanded to multiple countries. The company has struggl...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Interflora British Unit's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Bloom and Wild Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Freddie's Flowers Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Interflora British Unit, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Bloom and Wild Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Freddie's Flowers Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 greatly impacts the online flower retailers. It ensures the flowers sold online are of good quality and fit for purpose, imposing obligations on ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Online flower retailers rely heavily on customer acquisition profitability. An inability to efficiently attract new customers can stunt business growth and erode profit margi...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Online Flower Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Online Flower Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £536.2m in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Online Flower Retailers in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 100 businesses in the Online Flower Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 16.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Online Flower Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Online Flower Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 8.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Online Flower Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Online Flower Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Online Flower Retailers in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Online Flower Retailers market in United Kingdom are Interflora British Unit, Bloom and Wild Ltd and Freddie's Flowers Ltd

What does the Online Flower Retailers in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Arranged cut flowers and Potted Plants are part of the Online Flower Retailers in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Online Flower Retailers in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Interflora British Unit.

How competitive is the Online Flower Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Online Flower Retailers in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

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Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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