Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Elly Zhang, founder of Olivia's Garden, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Olivia's Garden is a bespoke florist and multi-roaster specialty coffee shop located in the heart of Toronto’s Little Italy. Our florists professionally create arrangements for events, special occasions, or just because! We’ve carefully combined flowers, plants, and coffee together, creating a space for people who want to get away from the chaos and build experiences and memories for themselves and their loved ones.
Tell us about yourself
We believe flowers are truly essential to life. Flowers aren’t just for special occasions. Floral arrangements can be a beautiful demonstration of friendship, encouragement, or support. Flowers uplift a room with happiness and are a wonderful way to treat yourself.
The founder of Olivia’s Garden named the business after her daughter. She’s passionate about flowers, picking and hand tying them for dear friends, decorating her home, and baking with organic edible flowers from her own garden.
“When I was pregnant, I picked flowers for dear friends, decorating my home, baked with edible flowers from my own garden. I hoped my baby could start her life and discovery of the world this way.”
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
We’ve reached a new milestone, and we would like to share this accomplishment with our beloved guests. We simply cannot make it without their support over the last two years. Since Olivia's Garden first opened during the pandemic, we’ve been paying close attention to every detail and running the shop with our warmest hospitality to provide the best experience for our guests.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Many of us knew from the beginning, and some now recognize it more clearly than ever, how impacted our daily lives have become. Without a doubt, it’s a hard time for us remaining small businesses to keep running smoothly during this period of time.
The most gratifying part of us being open through this pandemic highlights the core concept of Olivia’s Garden: Making memories and creating experiences with our guests.
But it doesn’t end with just the bouquet or coffee — from the farmers who grow our flowers and coffee trees to the bakers who work through the night to make the morning croissant — Our florists who fill rooms with beauty, and our baristas who are there to make your morning cuppa Joe. It’s the small things that are done to ensure we all receive our daily necessities and small little comforts.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Never forget why you started, and your mission can be accomplished. Stick to what you are passionate about when creating this business in the first place. Know your audience, bound together with them closer through this relationship. And respect your coworker, and celebrate each milestone with them.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.oliviasgarden.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oliviasgardeninccanada/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviasgardeninc/
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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