Sustainable Floral Studio With a Unique French Touch - CABANE

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in floristry but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nolwenn Richard, Founder of CABANE, located in Newport Beach, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

CABANE is a sustainable floral design studio based in Newport Beach, CA. We ship French-style, eco-chic bouquets, floral home décor, gifts, and more statewide across California. In addition, we offer wedding and event floral design services in Los Angeles & Orange County and one-of-a-kind collaborations with artists and designers.

Unlike most conventional florists, we are advocates for sustainable floristry practices and exclusively craft our bouquets with locally and domestically grown flowers and sustainable materials, including the non-use of floral foam or single-use plastic packaging.

Tell us about yourself

I am French (originally from Brittany, I lived for many years in Paris and Biarritz). I am a former Marketing Director for beauty and lifestyle brands, and I have always naturally gravitated to flowers, fashion, and home décor. I moved to California with my husband and our two young children five years ago on a job assignment. When I moved to California, I could not find the floral aesthetics and experiences I loved so much in France, an organic, garden style je ne sais quoi, the perfectly imperfect look, and the understated elegance of a bouquet adorning a dining table. I took a floral design course to learn how to make my own flower arrangements and bring that effortlessly chic Parisian touch to my home. What began as a hobby grew into a passion and, ultimately, a business. I have never looked back since. It is incredibly rewarding to do something you really love, to feel you are contributing to bringing a little bit of happiness to others, and to have an impact (I am on a mission to make the flower world more sustainable, one bouquet at a time).

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I am incredibly grateful for the community of flower lovers who trust us and keep recommending us to their friends and family. This is the best accomplishment ever!

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Multi-tasking! Being a business owner, floral designer, marketing director, e-commerce manager, truck driver, and so many other roles, all in one day! This is also what makes it so interesting, but it does require organizational skills. One of our biggest business challenges is to grow our community, be more visible, keep promoting sustainable floristry, and communicate the values we stand for. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to showcase Cabane!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1. Do something you love. Building a business takes so much of your head space (and time) that you better be passionate about what you do!
2. Plan, plan, plan… Do your research, ask people, understand your (target) customers, and build a business that has a unique value proposition and solves a problem. And don’t forget to secure your finances!!
3. Don’t give up! Building a business takes time.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.fromcabane.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fromcabane
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcabane/

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.

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