Have you ever thought about starting a floral business in the events industry? If you’re a floral designer (or a creative who aspires to do this line of work), you know it’s so much more than just getting to play with pretty flowers. There’s payroll, contract negotiations, hiring/firing, logistics, high stress, long hours. It’s way more than you think.
If you love flowers, but are struggling to turn your passion into profit, this episode is especially for you.
Our guest today is the creator of the online course, The Business Behind the Blooms, which releases in September 2019.
Contents
Jessica Zimmerman simplifies how to run a thriving floral business
Today, Jessica shares a few key tips in how to run a floral business, and how to help it grow and thrive.
In this episode, you will learn:
- Where to begin if you want to start a new floral design business
- the first few steps necessary to make it happen
- Why it’s so important to decide early on… is this a business, or is it a hobby?
- Common mistakes people make in the first five years of their new floral business, taking a deep dive into…
- how to price yourself for profit, including design, setup and delivery fees
- how to create healthy boundaries with your prospects and your existing clients
- how to keep your business and home life separate
- How to reduce email stress and take back control of your inbox, as an events professional
- How to build a business with a strong foundation
- including creating legal contracts
- how to set revenue goals
- … and so much more
When The Simplifiers began—way back in 2003—we were a full service events management agency. We produced non-traditional large scale weddings and events. So, it was super-fun to talk shop with Jessica in this episode. As a bonus, I share what I learned as a business owner in the events industry over the first 11 years of running The Simplifiers.
Florists, event designers and creatives: grab your journal! I’m willing to bet you’ll take copious notes while listening to this one.
#DoTheThing!
My challenge for you this week:
Will you learn about the business-side of things, to make sure you know how to run your floral business successfully? Make a step-by-step plan, and start taking action today! Share it with me, privately or publicly, by snapping a photo of you doing the thing and tag @thesimplifiers on Instagram for added accountability and support!
Links, books and apps mentioned:
Tool: oncehub.com – this tool helps you to schedule meetings quickly and easily
Tool: acuityscheduling.com – this tool helps you to schedule your meetings and diary
Tool: calendly.com – another great meeting scheduler
Link: Eclipse Event Co – wedding events company in Austin (TX), and Orange County (CA)
Link: International Live Events Association (ILEA)
Link: National Association for Catering & Events (NACE)
Book: Ask: The Counterintuitive Online Method to Discover Exactly What Your Customers Want to Buy…Create a Mass of Raving Fans…and Take Any Business to the Next Level – Ryan Levesque
Jessica’s course – The Business Behind the Blooms – join the waitlist. The cart opens Sept 9-13, 2019
Favorite quotes from this episode:
[09:45] “It wasn’t so much about succeeding. It was like, I can’t fail.” – Jessica
[12:37] “People are going to look at your prices and then they’re going to price shop. And that’s not the way this works.” – Jessica
[12:45] “This is back to the foundation of business. The foundation of sales (is that) people buy from people.” – Jessica
[40:43] “You want to see white space in your inbox. If you go into your inbox and there is white space at the bottom, you do not feel overwhelmed. You do not feel stressed. You feel in control.” – Jessica
[48:31] “Start little by little. Get a plan, get the education. Write out the steps that you want to take, and take it one step at a time. Because that’s the only way any of us get anywhere.” – Jessica
Have you considered hiring a virtual assistant?
You need a team to help you #DoTheThing. This is how you gain the time and space to implement all the new ideas you’ve gained from today’s episode.
I’ve put together a handy-dandy free guide on How to Hire Your First Virtual Assistant for you!
Get the ball rolling to see if a virtual assistant can build your team this year.
About Jessica:
Jessica Zimmerman is a floral designer, business educator, and owner of Zimmerman Events out of Conway, Arkansas.
Her wedding work has been featured in publications including Martha Stewart Weddings, People, and Southern Living.
Jessica has helped hundreds of wedding professionals and creatives through her course, The Business Behind the Blooms. In this resource, Jessica shares her personal business journey, and equips entrepreneurs to run their own profitable, balanced business.
Where Jessica hangs out online:
Website: zimmermanevents.com
Instagram: @jessicazimmerman
Jessica’s vote for the perfect guest on The Simplifiers Podcast:
Cara Clark, of Cara Clark Nutrition. Certified Nutritionist Cara Clark, works with individuals and groups to promote overall health and to manage a wide range of nutrition-related issues.
Watch the video version of the episode
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