Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in floristry, but not sure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with floral artist, Molly Burke founder at Fleetwood Floral, located in NYC.
Tell us about yourself and your journey to where you are today...
I started working as a florist part time while I was in school working towards a degree in art education. I fell in love with floristry and always perused it on the side while I spent time teaching. I ultimately put formal education aside and moved to New York as the floral design community here is beyond inspiring. I worked for as many different designers as I could before venturing off on my own. I wanted to see as many approaches to navigating a successful design business. I After 6 years in the industry working and learning from other people I finally felt ready to take the leap and launch my own brand. By that time I had developed a style that feels true to me, which incorporates aspects of the job a lot of people unfortunately don’t prioritize. Things like recycling, supporting local growers, composting, not using chemically modified or dyed flowers are all imperative to operating this business as responsibly as possible. I named the company after a street I grew up on in my hometown. A sense of place and a supportive community have really informed the direction I aim to move forward in. The opportunity to develop lasting relationships with my clients is one of the most rewarding parts of this job. The opportunity to design for any occasion is a tremendous honor that I do not take lightly.
What motivates you each day?
The opportunity to be around natural beauty is the only thing that makes getting up at 5am to shop the flower market worth it. The chance to hand select each bloom, learn new flowers and where they come from never gets old. After so many years you’d think you’ve seen it all but there’s always more to learn. New combinations to try, color pallets to explore, existing and emerging designers to learn from. It’s incredibly inspiring and I feel so grateful to be around it.
What makes your flower business stand out?
Fleetwood Floral is different because you’ll never see the same thing twice. We don’t have a catalog of work to flip through and choose from. I let the seasons dictate my designs.
What are the tactics you put in place to maintain a healthy work/life balance?
I stopped working from home and got a studio space. I’m aware that this is an incredibly privileged move, but it took a lot of time to get there. The separation has made it possible to maintain working at work so that home can just be home.
What do you believe has led to the success of your floristry business?
Working hard and being kind.
Where can people find you online?
@fleetwoodfloral
www.fleetwoodfloral.com
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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