Introduction
This week we’re going to build everyone’s favorite Power BI visual, a table!
Tables are often dismissed as boring or “not visual enough,” but they’re also one of the most powerful tools we have for making decisions – when they’re designed with intent.
In this workout, we’ll start with a very simple table showing transactional flower sales data. It’s accurate, complete, and technically correct… but it doesn’t do much beyond listing numbers. To understand what’s actually happening, you have to scan rows, compare values mentally, and do the interpretation work yourself.
Then we’ll transform that same table, using only native Power BI features, into something that actually helps answer business questions:
- Where are we making efficient profit?
- Which categories rely on volume instead of margin?
- How do costs influence performance across different product types?
All we’re building is a table that’s been thoughtfully structured, contextualized, and lightly enhanced to reduce cognitive load and surface insights.
By the end of this workout, you’ll see how a simple table can move from showing data to supporting decisions – and why tables deserve more respect in your Power BI toolbox.
Let’s get started. 🌸
Dataset
This week’s dataset was generated using Microsoft Copilot, representing flower store sales transactions. Find the data in Excel.
Requirements
1. Download the Excel file and import into Power BI.
2. Start by creating a simple table using the provided data
3. Think through questions that you think would be meaningful to answer, from the perspective of the owner of the floral shop.
4. Create measures to answer the questions you came up with in step 3.
5. Determine where images, like SVGs, would be useful to answer questions.
6. Create your table or matrix visual.
7. Ensure your visual is accessible. Set tab order, alt text, and ensure proper color contrast.
Share
After you finish your workout, share on BlueSky or LinkedIn using the hashtags #WOW2026 and #PowerBI, and tag @MMarie, @shan_gsd, @KerryKolosko (on BlueSky).
Solution
Download the solution file