The Problem with “Community Over Competition”
An Honest Take from the Floral Industry Trenches
You’ve probably seen the phrase floating around Instagram bios, floral workshops, and tote bags: “Community over competition.” It’s catchy. Uplifting. Aspirational. And while I understand the heart behind it—the desire for kindness, connection, and collaboration in a creative industry—it’s time we have an honest conversation about what this really means, and where it falls short.
Because here’s the truth no one wants to say out loud: There is competition. Always! And pretending otherwise doesn’t make it go away.
This phrase gets thrown around as if it neutralizes the natural dynamics of business. But floristry, like any service-based industry, is competitive by nature. We are bidding on the same weddings, designing for the same planners, showing up in the same searches, and vying for the attention of the same clients. In saturated markets—especially where talent is abundant and social media is everyone’s storefront—competition isn’t just real; it’s unavoidable.
Of course, I believe in community. I’ve built meaningful relationships with other designers, learned from them, taught them, hired and been hired by them. I don’t gatekeep - too much. I root for my peers. I believe in respect and generosity and not stepping on each other’s toes. But I also believe in calling things what they are.
Sometimes, that means acknowledging that we’re not always going to get the job. That someone else’s win might sting, no matter how much we like them. That it’s okay to feel frustrated when your artistry is passed over for someone cheaper, trendier, or better connected.
Saying “community over competition” doesn’t erase those moments—it just glosses them over with a forced smile.
The better conversation to have might be:
How do we stay grounded and gracious in an industry that is both collaborative and competitive?
How do we balance being kind with being ambitious?
How do we support others without sacrificing our standards or pretending that we aren’t all working hard to survive in a fast-moving, emotionally demanding, and economically challenging profession?
The truth is, we’re not all going to succeed equally. Some of us will outgrow others. Some of us will fade out. That doesn’t mean we can’t treat each other with decency and share in each other’s successes—but let’s not pretend it’s all one big flower field of hugs and hashtags.
Competition isn’t a dirty word. It’s what pushes us to evolve, refine our voice, and do better work.
The community matters—but it isn’t a shield from the realities of running a creative business. And that’s okay.
Let’s just be honest about it.