I can still remember one of the best pieces of advice I received when working at my first florist. I was struggling to make a perfect bow and the shop owner had 3 different designers show me the “correct way”. Each designer showed me a different technique. The last designer eventually told me there really was no “right way” to make a bow. She went on to tell me you make them the way you are told to, until the day arrives where you develop your own technique and that is the day you can begin calling yourself a floral designer.
2014 was the first year I finally felt comfortable enough to begin ignoring a lot of the advice I have received since beginning A Night in Bloom. It was also my year of “just say no”. I think I have reached a point where I know what works for me and my business and what does not.
If a potential order seemed to not be a match for me; I did not hesitate to take a pass on it, no matter how pretty the details may have seemed. I no longer worried “what if I don’t book up every single weekend of the wedding season?” I took a lot of time off this past summer, entire weekends for my children’s birthdays; and in a very audacious move, I did not take any December orders. Many of you are still peeved at me for that, and I’m sorry, but I had to. This is a beautiful industry to work in, but it is also a very draining one.
Even with me taking some time off, 2014 was our best year so far! As many of you may recall, we did a soft launch of the Flower Market last winter. What we did not plan for was the overwhelming amount of wedding work that came in! 2014 wedding orders were off the charts for us! I have never had a year with so many orders, and therefore since our weddings are still the core of our business, I had to put the Flower Market on hold. I do still have the website up, and I know many of you are still hoping that we will offer everyday designs, but for the moment, I am going to keep this area of our business on hold. But I promise, you will all be notified the moment that I decide to explore this area again!
I don’t know how I ever could have had such a successful year without the support of my amazing staff!!! These ladies are the backbone of everything we do!
Jodi, the words Thank You will never be enough for all of your hard work this season. You have done an amazing job, and I can’t wait to start working with you again next season! You have truly morphed into a floral designer this year with your sassy attitude, willingness to let things go, and your ability to work to all hours, in the name of making everything just a little more beautiful! Yet the moment that really stands out in my mind was the one day when I found the studio messy, and realized we had officially broken your always neat as a pin ways. You had become a florist!!!
Lauren, we have all really enjoyed having you with us as an intern and now as a real flower girl! I know your time with us has been brief, but you have helped us in very significant ways! I wish you all the very best as you near graduation, and please know that we are happy to have you with us as long as you would like to stay!
Debbie, you are a terrific friend and my very own Suzie Orman! Thank you for always bringing me back to earth! You may have the most difficult job of all!!!
Erica, we have been through so much! Thank you for standing by me, my family, and this business from the very beginning. We love you like family and look forward to even more celebrations with you and your own wonderful family!
SaraRose, you are as sweet as the flower in your name! Thank you for all of your endless patience, and love for my rascally little children! Bryan and I would be so lost without you!!!
Kate, you have been such a tremendous asset to our team. We all so enjoy working with you and really hope you will consider helping us more in the future!!!
To the angels of our business, our families, friends, and fellow business owners- Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for us, from the bottom of my heart!!!
To Bryan, I realize you would have been quite happy with a “normal” life. I never loose sight of this and I thank you for your courage in taking all of these chances with me!!! I am so grateful to you for your encouragement, for I could not imagine a life more beautiful than the one we have together!
2014 was filled with blessings, and I know that 2015 is going to be even better! Thank you so much to all of our past clients, so many of you are now close friends and I am so grateful for that! I can’t think of many other businesses where clients become such good friends.
We are already feeling so much love for our 2015 couples and these dreamy events we have planned! Please stay tuned, you won’t want to miss a single detail!!!
Much love to you all for a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!!!
~Heather
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