We are moving around 27th of February into a studio based florist!
I’m answering some of the questions we get & offering insight into what makes us different than other floral shops. I feel educating our clients is crucial and necessary. An informed consumer is always the best consumer.
🌷 What sets us apart and makes us different?
Do you know the difference between a “florist studio” and a “florist shop”? Have you ever thought about it?
💡 A studio is considered an artist’s workshop. A place where the artist can create.
💡 A shop is a retail storefront that sells goods and services to the public.
In the flower business, it is common for an artist/designer/event planner to start a business servicing events, weddings and special occasion work for select people out of their home.
This was not the case for me. In 2002 i was planning a career change, and in 2004 I just thought I’d go for it. Not much to really lose? Got myself a building to rent, started educating myself around the accounts side of the business, possible potential for customers and a need for my type of business in the community and then i went to work.
In the industry, it varies.. You may have a studio florist who progresses to a commercial setting but in my case I’ve had 20 years in a retail setting and now I’ve built a studio/hybrid setting for myself. As a designer, it will allow me to have more space to work on my online business, our funeral work and our larger events.
For me, I began wedding work right from my humble retail setting in Balla. I was blessed in the fact that I had room to work on flowers. In 2015, we had outgrown our 1st premises and thus moved we into our larger retail unit.
In 2018, I began to see the possibility of working in a more hybrid setting. Our website customers were growing, our phone was busy and our wedding reputation was thriving.
Thus, the studio business model began in my mind. For me, it was a change that i felt needed. A business needs to change & move forward every few years to align with your own needs .. In my case, to create more time for myself and my family.
And then Covid landed upon us and suddenly our doors were closed. Once I wrapped my head around a way to navigate the business through the Covid period, our online business took off. Our flowers and designs became a “virtual hug” to comfort people. I worked behind the door. I was able to come to work a bit later, go home a bit earlier, walk the dog, and have family time!!
However, Very quickly, The balance of the studio work I became accustomed to and the reopening of our retail shop meant i was working long hours again. It was a struggle to find separation. It was then that I decided I needed a different way to conduct my business. And so my studio space became the obvious choice. A hybrid way of doing what I love had become the new way and I really enjoyed this way of working.
Our bricks and mortar business began on Tuesday 2nd November 2004 in our beloved small space on the main street in Balla, Co Mayo and here we are in 2023 and I’m about to dive into a hybrid method of running my business.
So, to answer why we will be different? This is it – We are offering our clients the very best of ourselves and our artistry. Which means, traditional storefront hours will not the same as we need to create, deliver or prep – With the shopfront I always have to be open for walk ins. It’s just how it works – we are balancing the day to day operations of running a small family business. I am a person who will only settle for giving my clients 100% satisfaction.
We offer a full delivery service, online ordering facility for collection & delivery , our virtual phone system will be able to take calls and record your messages so we will never miss your call again. We will be able to call you back within minutes if we miss your call.
We are proud of to embark on Our hybrid business model of being a floral studio.
We are truly creating a #theballafloristexperience. We are here to service you all with the most stunning live and faux blooms for all of your most cherished life experiences. We hope you will come in this journey with us…
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I Appreciate all of your support and I’m so excited for 2023 and our new beginnings.
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#awardwinningflorist
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094 9366858