Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in event services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with LaVonne Crawford, President of Adorations Inc, located in San Diego, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Adorations Botanical Artistry is my business. Designers of Flowers & Plants + Décor & Rentals that are wildly imaginative, beautifully odd, random but functional, super-fly, wonderfully warm, gloriously bonkers, and a personal favorite, cool as hell. All minded with a grain of salt because the goal is to create a space well lived and a life well-loved, not overly curated.
We are a team of independent creatives who are always ready to imagine your floral arrangements and plant installations. Whether for your home, office, or event, we are 'rarin' to go' to fully floralize your world! Time flies when you're having fun, and we sure have been! Flower-twirlers for the last twenty years, we have created visually stunning arrangements, environments, and events with a keen sensitivity to your needs, anticipating design trends, and listening, always listening to you and for you. We are in the business of exceeding your expectations. We live to serve all humans, and we tend to attract customers that value craftsmanship and know that exceptional flowers and plant décor are a worthy investment.
Tell us about yourself
I started on a different path than where I ended up, but the key was starting. I read all about the pitfalls of being a business owner, yet I could not contain my excitement and passion. Business plan? No. Marketing budget? Not I. Drive, enthusiasm, vision, me all the way! I learned about the business of running a business as I have gone along. I did not let the "not knowing" stop me from getting started. It is still that portion that I look to outsource, but you can find me in the trenches of the day-to-day operations and staffing that are necessary to have the vision of a business move from my mind's eye to reality.
To say that it is any one thing that moves me would not serve the totality of who I am as an entrepreneur. I live to create and serve. It is like breathing to me. It rises up in me and spills over into all areas of life and, therefore, my client's lives. I don't work at it; it's who I am. I can't turn it off and know that it is who God made me to be. Serving others and bringing them a sense of peace and happiness, either by putting their mind at ease, that "I have got this!" or inspiring them to see what is possible for them in their home, business, or for their events, is the most fulfilling aspect. When a client trusts me and the outcome exceeds their expectations... now that is a compelling motivation!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I don't know if this is my biggest accomplishment, but it is the one area that reminds me what is possible with a team of just a few, the heart of the community, and God's grace. It is what I am reminded of during any uncertainty I face now or in the future. Sustaining ourselves through serving our local community during the pandemic with "out-of-the-box ideas" for services/products that enlivened their homes during quarantine was a wonderful opportunity to grow beyond our circumstances. We received a supportive and positive response from our tried and true clients and even took on new clients. The outpouring of support was reciprocal. We got to serve them, and they, in turn, sustained us during one of the most trying times in the history of Adorations.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
As a creative business owner, the hardest part is the portion of the business that is the running of the business (paperwork, marketing, accounting) when my deepest desire is to design, inspire and serve. I currently outsource some of this, but I look forward to the delegation of nearly all of it, so I can be and do what I do best.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Surround yourself with others that are being what you aspire to become, do more of what you are the most afraid of, and impact any resignation with action to keep moving forward!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.adorations.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adorationsinc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/adorations
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adorations-botanical-artistry/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.