Develop the Christmas product range

You are the Product Development Lead working with the Head Designer.

Simulated workplaceAdvanced missionCAQA Bloom and Stem Florists

What is going on

The Christmas and End of Year Peak Trading Plan commits the business to a finalised Christmas range by 2 October 2026 so it can be photographed for the online store by 16 October and stocked for the December peak. Last year's Order Book shows what sold and what was remade, growers have advised what natives, foliage and imported lines they can supply in December, and two competitors have already published their ranges. The range must include wreaths, table centrepieces, native Christmas bunches, gift bouquets at three price points and a corporate gift box. Each product needs a costed specification, a target margin, stock order quantities and a construction method that casual designers can follow at volume. The General Manager wants the draft at the leadership meeting on 29 September.

Harriet Lindqvist, General Manager
Subject: Christmas range proposal by 2 October

The peak trading plan commits us to finalising the Christmas range by 2 October so it can be photographed for the online store by 16 October. I would like you to develop the proposal with Callum. Research what sold last year in the Order Book, what the growers can supply in December, and what competitors are offering, then propose a range of wreaths, centrepieces, native bunches, gift bouquets at three price points and a corporate gift box, each with a costed specification and stock order quantities. Bring the draft to the leadership meeting on 29 September.

Your brief

Research demand and supply, design a Christmas range that meets the plan, cost each product with a specification and target margin, set stock order quantities from the sales forecast, write construction methods suitable for casual staff, and present the range for sign-off.

Work through it

You do not need to do it all. Doing a few of these will show you what the work is like. Your ticks and notes stay on this device.

Read the Christmas and End of Year Peak Trading Plan and the Stock Quality and Freshness Policy, and note the range requirements, dates and forecast multiples.
Analyse last year's December orders in the Order Book by occasion and value to identify best sellers, price points and remake causes, and record your findings.
Confirm December supply and indicative prices for natives, foliage, wreath bases and imported lines with the Buying and Stock Coordinator using recent Stock Intake and Cool Room Log entries.
Design each product in the range: wreath, centrepiece, native bunch, gift bouquets at three price points and a corporate gift box, with a sketch or photograph of a sample and the key materials.
Cost each product from the cost sheet with the standard markup and calculate the margin, adjusting materials until each product meets the target margin in the plan.
Write a one page construction method for each product that a casual designer can follow, including tools, mechanics, time standard and quality checks, referencing the Tool Safety and Manual Handling Procedure.
Calculate stock order quantities per product from the forecast and set delivery dates that fit the production shifts, and draft the order for the Buying and Stock Coordinator.
Prepare a short presentation of the range with costs, margins, quantities and risks for the leadership meeting on 29 September.

My notes: what did I enjoy, and what surprised me?

What someone in this role would produce

A sales analysis of last December's orders
Costed specifications and construction methods for each product in the range
A stock order draft with quantities and delivery dates
A range presentation for the leadership meeting

Printing this is a record of what you explored. It is not a certificate or a qualification.