It has been a busy summer and for those of you who happen to come to the BLOG section of my site, I apologize for not posting anything since March. A lot of great and fun things have happened and I can finally sit down and tell you all about it! I have to warn you though, this may take you a really long time to read, so get a cup of coffee (or tea), sit back and enjoy :)
The Flower Delivery business have been going great! More and more people are finding Emerald La Fleur on Instagram, Google and from people talking about our flowers. I heard people saying that my flower arrangement style is unique and not like any other. Some people also say the quality of flowers were undeniable and they're happily surprised the flowers last a long time, not like grocery flowers. So, YAY! I have been really grateful and feeling really blessed with all the new and repeat customers who have been keeping me busy and super inspired. I truly love this job as a Florist and I wish one day I can make it my full time job!
Nothing would have prepared me for Mothers Day though. I was told that it would be one of the busiest week for a Florist (like Valentines Day) but as someone who just launched the Flower business a couple months before, I thought it was going to be just a few orders, if any at all. I was wrong! I received over a dozen orders for that week which was crazy to even think about now but somehow I was able to make it happen and it was one of the most fulfilling and rewarding time I have ever had as a Florist. I really felt the joy and excitement of the Mothers who received my flowers that week!
But wait, there's more. As if fulfilling orders for Mothers Day weren't enough, I also had to create dozens of bouquets and prepare for a POP UP FLOWER SHOP at Factory 52 that same weekend. I didn't really quite know what I was signing up for but I was just very excited to have the opportunity when Claire from AGAR reached out and invited me to be part of their BUBBLES & BLOSSOMS event for Mothers Day weekend at Factory 52. So when that week finally rolled in, I just embraced the challenge and knew that God had my back. I was praying for an opportunity like this and since God has blessed me with it, I knew I was in good hands!
With just 2 hours of sleep and almost 20 hours of non-stop flower arrangement work the day before, my Florist Assistant Lilly and I set up our tent that early Saturday morning and put together my first Flower Shop for the public to see and physically buy flowers from. Since I only have a Home Florist Studio and everything is sold online (for now at least, hoping to have an actual shop one day), I really don't get to interact and sell flowers in person with customers. I had to make at least a couple dozen bouquets to sell that day and I was hoping to sell at least half of that. I actually told myself that I would be OK to just sell 1 that day and just be happy to go home with the experience. But can you believe that we SOLD OUT within the first 2 hours?! Yep, It was crazy! I could not believe it myself! Thanks to Factory 52 for having such an awesome venue for families to gather and come to, it was a no brainer to have a Flower Pop Up Shop there that weekend! I was definitely set up for success and I couldn't have asked for a better weather that day too. I was thanking God profusely!
A couple of weeks later, I have reached another milestone. Thanks to Britney Ruby Miller, who has been a great supporter and repeat customer (I honestly don't know how I was blessed with someone like her, she's been so generous and kind from the beginning), she referred me to Jeff Ruby's Catering department. They were launching their Catering department and for their first couple "trial" events, they have given me the coveted task to do the event florals. One of the event had me make floral arrangements on upside down umbrellas that would float on the pool. I mean, yes please!! It took some testing in my neighbor's pool a few days before but it went off without a hitch the day of, and I couldn't be more proud! It was something I have never done before and I was so thankful that they have trusted me to get the job done. It was such a surreal experience to get to do florals for an event as big and special as a Jeff Ruby's Catering event. All the hard work and the many hours I laid awake at night overthinking about the mechanics and recipes were all worth it! It was so fun and exciting, and nothing I have ever felt before as a Florist!
A week or so later, after my first taste of Event Florals, I received a call from Toria Schottenstein who wanted to have Florals for her Grandfather's Celebration of Life. Little did I know, since I was not from Cincinnati and just new to the city, that she's the grand daughter of the late Ohio Senator Stanley Aronoff. She was organizing the event at the Aronoff Center which I later found out is an iconic venue in Cincinnati. I was beyond flattered and it was beyond any of my expectations. It was a tall order and a huge task to take for such an important event and I was so grateful that Toria came to me! Of course, I had to give it my all and more!
Toria had a vision and she sent me photo references of how she wanted the florals for the Stage to look like. The task entailed florals that will line the edge of the stage with candles, florals for the podium, reception table bud vases, jazz band stage florals, bar florals and a statement piece to greet the guests as they come in. It was great collaborating with her and she was so hands on with every detail of the event. My X4 was not big enough for the job at the time, so for the first time I had to rent and drive a U-HAUL! LOL! I never saw that coming! But to get the job done, I had to do it. It was actually not so bad, I actually liked driving the U-Haul and can't wait to drive it again! Anyway, the whole van was jam-packed. It was like Tetris making everything fit in there.
I was able to attend the event with my plus one, the hubby. It was amazing to see my work and felt really proud of what I have accomplished. In attendance was the legendary Jeff Ruby and other notable city and state officials and families that had many amazing words to say about Stan Aronoff. There was not a dry eye in the audience, including mine, as we heard all the great stories the speakers shared on stage. It was a night to remember and I was so honored to be a part of it!
After being able to successfully pull off big events I never thought I could do, I suddenly felt the urge and wanting to do more events. It is definitely more work, more planning and overall more time consuming, but I feel like my heart is in doing more events. I would love to do weddings and big celebrations / parties! I have yet to figure out how to land my next event but for now, if you are reading this, please know that I'd greatly appreciate your referral and if you have any ideas on how I can get my name out there, please do not hesitate let me know :)
Anyway, the flower delivery business is going strong and I am really happy with the growth so far. However, there is a retail space in my neighborhood that has become available the last couple of months, which would be perfect for a Flower Shop. I have driven by it many times on my way to deliveries and on our way to and from Church. I always look at the sign to see if it has been sold yet and so far, as of today, it is still available. I have prayed about it but I am not quite sure I am ready for that big leap yet. I am very comfortable where I am at and although it will potentially grow my flower business exponentially, with more space and visibility, as well as the ability to have walk-in customers and pick up orders, I am concerned about the additional overhead and capital that it will require. For now, I am leaving it to God. Last Sunday, the message was so fitting... IF GOD WILLS IT, SO BE IT! I will rest my worries and concerns for now, live in the present and know that tomorrow, God's plan will present itself.
In the next few months to the rest of the year, I was told that business may slow down for Flower Deliveries. So, I am preparing for this and will have to double my efforts in marketing and hopefully get a couple more events booked before the year ends. For now, I will just enjoy my 2nd favorite season which is Fall, which is also the start of Football season! WHO DEY!! Speaking of Cincinnati Bengals, I guess I can't NOT mention that recently, I have delivered to a couple Bengals family. I delivered flowers to the Bengals First Lady (Coach Zac Taylor's wife), Sarah Taylor. Thanks to Sarah Donohoe, who has been a great supporter of Emerald La Fleur on Instagram and a new-found friend, who placed the order which I was so happy to accept and create the arrangement for.
The other was for Bengals Running Back, Chase Brown. I have to say that Chase is legit! He is super nice too! He impressed me with placing the order himself. For someone VIP like him, I would normally be hands on and walk them through the process, but he placed the order and knew exactly what he wanted for his beautiful girlfriend, Jazmyn. It was probably one of my favorite arrangements I have ever made. It was simple and elegant but it required delicate work. I had to prep each individual rose and flex the petals to make them perfect, there were 50 red roses to be exact. It took almost 2 hours but it was all worth it! Jazmyn was so sweet to share the photos of the arrangement on her stories and I was so happy to see her happy!!
I have yet to make Flower Arrangements for my other favorite Bengals, Joe Burrow, of course, and for our Half-Filipino Bengal, Andrei Iosivas. But I know that time will come. Hopefully I get to make flowers for the whole Bengals team, if God Wills it. But for now, I am just happy football season is back and can't wait to watch them all in action again!
I told you this was going to be long-winded. Nonetheless, I am glad to have you are here and thank you for your time to read this far. I promise to write again sooner than later. Until then, hope you have a wonderful Fall Season! WHO DEY!!
