Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in floristry but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sherry Hebert, owner of Dooryard Flowers, located in Newmarket, ON, Canada.

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

I have a micro-urban flower farm, where I grow specialty cut flowers. The concept of urban farming is new to a lot of people; and is a term used to reference growing for-profit crops in an urban setting. My growing space occupies approximately 700 square feet of my suburban backyard, aka my dooryard. In this small space, I produce 1000's of organically grown blooms during my growing season, i.e., April thru October. This is achieved by succession planting, where each of my flower beds sees an average of 4 distinct flower crops in a given season. I love flowers; the more, the merrier! I like to refer to myself as a farmer florist. My current customer base is my local community. I offer my seasonal flowers through weekly and monthly bouquet subscriptions, along with special occasion bouquets. I also sell wholesale stems to other local florists. My flowers are grown with love, without chemicals. My dooryard is full of; bees, butterflies, songbirds, and even the occasional rabbit. Being able to produce beautiful fresh flowers from seed to vase is really special. Working daily in the gardens and with the flowers brings me great joy, and I am thrilled to be able to share this with others.

Tell us about yourself

I started gardening to create curb appeal when we first bought our home. I found it such a stress relief from my daily 9-5 career and long commute. The more flowers and plants I tried to grow, the more I wanted to add to my gardens! I had been looking for a way to connect with others in my community. I have always commuted with work and felt I had not had much opportunity to form connections in my community. After visiting a local flower farm, I became inspired and started to pursue the idea of growing for market in my urban space. The thought of being able to work with flowers and meet others and share the beauty and joy they bring to my life; fueled me to do research on the possibilities of creating my own business. I am a curious and creative person; I thrive on learning new things. With the farming and running the floristry side of things, it's like having two businesses. Both provide me with endless opportunities to create and continue learning. I have been fortunate to make many connections within my local community and the online flower community. There never seem like enough hours in the day, but it never feels like work!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I feel there have been so many small wins for me over the past two seasons. What I currently feel most proud about is being able to successfully implement processes; that allows me to manage and balance; my farm tasks, my floristry customers, and my 9-5 career. It took me several months to develop a work breakdown plan so that I could stay focused and set realistic goals and priorities. This may seem like a given in the business world, but as a solopreneur, when you are doing it all, becoming overwhelmed can be a daily occurrence. Having this structure in place has allowed me to finish my growing season feeling accomplished, organized, and ready for the next season.

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

Balance, it may seem like a bit of a buzzword. However, I feel it is critical to be able to define your business goals and maintain downtime for; yourself, family, and friends. Setting boundaries is key, especially when your business happens to be your personal living space and something you love to do. Knowing when to "stop" not only will eliminate your burnout, it will keep those around you happy as well. That stopping point looks different for me throughout the year, but each season has defined time for work and relaxation.

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

  1. Know your strengthens, and continue to build on them. Know your weaknesses, and seek resources to assist you in these areas.
  2. Set goals, write them down, and review them consistently. This will keep you focused and accountable.
  3. Join a network of other business owners; you can find a mentor(s) and a support system here.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Face each day as an opportunity! If you have a dream or are passionate about something, give it a try.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.dooryardflowers.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dooryard-Flowers-106815177706250
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dooryardflowers/

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.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.