Handcrafted with Love - Bonnie's Blooms
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Bonnie Hall, founder of Bonnie's Blooms, located in Raleigh, NC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am Bonnie Hall, the founder, and CEO of Bonnie's Blooms. I turn fresh flowers into framed art. Most of my work is focused on serving engaged or newly married couples and preserving their wedding flowers. Through my pressed flowers, my goal is to create unique art that brings joy and showcases love stories.
After a bouquet is shipped or dropped off to me in North Carolina, I remove the flower petals and stems and layer them in a handmade wood press where they flatten and dry. After six weeks, the flowers are taken out of the press, arranged into a unique design, and framed. The entire process is tedious, as it takes approximately four months, but the framed flower art will last for years.
Tell us about yourself
Bonnie's Blooms started in 2018 when my husband and I got married. We spent thousands of dollars on our wedding flowers, and I didn't want them to be thrown in the trash after the big day. Before I left for our honeymoon, I decided to take apart my bouquet and put the flower petals into coffee table books.
After a few weeks of the flowers drying and flattening in books, they were removed and in good condition. I designed the flower petals around my wedding invitation and framed everything together. That framed bouquet became a sentimental staple in our home and led to friends and family asking if I could do the same for them.
I slowly started accepting customers while testing various pressing techniques. After much trial and error, I learned that a traditional wood press yields the best-preserved flowers, so I began building my own wood presses.
As I completed projects, I would post about them on Instagram, which led to more people reaching out asking if I could preserve their bouquets. In 2021, I completed over 200 projects. It turns out many brides have the same thought I did back in 2018 - they don't want the flowers that they've spent thousands on to go to waste. I'm driven by the desire to create a tangible reminder of one's wedding day. And extending the short-lived life of flowers by repurposing them in art is an added bonus!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My greatest accomplishment is earning more than my W2 job while having the flexibility to raise my kids.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Aside from the unconventional schedule of working odd hours when my children are asleep, the most challenging aspect of being a business owner has to wear multiple hats. I press and design the flowers, pack and ship the final product, communicate with clients, maintain the inventory of materials, manage the books, and market on social media--the list goes on! I am accountable for every aspect of the business, and for that reason, it's difficult to unplug. And when I do, I can't help but think about everything. Fortunately, I have a wonderful support system that helps me maintain a good work-life balance.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Just start! Don't let the fear of failure or the pursuit of perfection hold you back from launching something great.
- Find your niche. Focus on a particular need, create a distinctive product or service, and dominate the niche market.
- Utilize digital marketing. Establish and grow your business on the many available (and free!) online platforms, like social networking sites.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Know and remember your worth. When running a business, don't be afraid to test price increases. It'll give you more time to provide higher quality work with less customers.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.bonniesblooms.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebonniesblooms
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonnies.blooms/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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