My Small Business & Me

#62 -  British Cut Flowers Wholesaler James Cock from Cornwall-based Flowers by Clowance shares his small business journey. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode62Flower Photography (iPhone Version) Online Course: https://learn.flowerona.com/flower-photography-iphone-version

#61 -  Creativity Coach, Author, Writer and Speaker Richard Holman discusses a wide range of practical tips on how to be more creative. He also shares an insight into the 10 different demons featured in his new book, 'Creative Demons and How to Slay Them'. Creative Demons and How to Slay Them Book by Richard Holman* | https://amzn.to/3Nr1srVShow notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode61Flower Photography (iPhone Version) Online Course: https://learn.flowerona.com/flower-photography-iphone-version*Affiliate Link

#60 -  WordPress Expert and Web Developer, Kelly Sparkes from Opal & Onyx is back to share masses of hints and tips about how to spring-clean your website. She not only shares advice regarding the front-end but also the back-end of your online presence. Kelly is giving one lucky listener a free place on her workshop ‘Spring Clean your WordPress Website with Kelly' on 12th May 2022. Just enter your details below to sign up to the waiting list and enter the competition, which closes on 10th May 2022.  The winner will be notified by email.  https://opalandonyxstudio.com/spring-clean-your-website-podcast/Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode60Flower Photography (iPhone Version) Online Course: https://learn.flowerona.com/flower-photography-iphone-version

#59 -  Have you heard about the 'FLOWERS FOR UKRAINE' online floristry fund-raising event with Shane Connolly, which is taking place on Wednesday, 6th April 2022? Shane is asking for donations of at least £10 on his JustGiving page. And when you donate, you'll be invited to join him live on Wednesday evening from 7pm-8pm UK time. He'll be creating sustainable floral designs using British flowers, donated by members of Flowers From The Farm. If you would like to take part, simply head over to Shane's Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ukraineshaneShow notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/epsiode59

#58 -  Floral Designer & Flower School Owner Sarah Diligent from Floribunda Rose shares her small business journey. Based in Hampshire, she provides British flowers for weddings and events, plus runs courses. She's also co-written the book, 'A Guide to Floral Mechanics'. Whilst working abroad as a nanny, she started planning her UK wedding in 2013. Wishing to contribute to her big day, her Mum suggested that she did some of her wedding flowers. So, they went on a floristry course at Green & Gorgeous. Although she didn't have any plans to become a florist, the course piqued her interest in flowers and she decided to enrol on an 'Introductory to Floristry' course at Merrist Wood. She tried to get work experience in a florist shop in London, but unfortunately to no avail. On moving to Hampshire, she met Sybil, a Floristry Specialist at Hobbycraft. Their conversation led to her teaching Sarah every week for six months. Then under Sybil's guidance, Sarah started to do weddings.In April 2014, Floribunda Rose was born.  She knew that she wanted to only use British Flowers and practise sustainable floristry without floral foam. As well as selling bouquets in a local farm shop, she began to do more weddings and events. She started to run workshops, which she really enjoyed, so much so that she set up a flower school, where she teaches sustainable floral design. She discusses the background of how her book with William Mazuch, 'A Guide to Floral Mechanics', came about, the process involved and now how it's selling all over the world. And she also shares her plans for 2022.Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Sarah is about sustainable floristry and British flowers. I'm sure you'll really enjoy the interview!Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode58Flower Photography (iPhone Version) Online Course: https://learn.flowerona.com/flower-photography-iphone-version

#57 - Wedding & Event Floral Designer Emma Hewlett shares her small business journey. Based in Devon, she set up Emma Hewlett Floral Design in 2010, And she specialises in hanging floral installations and lighting, assisted by her husband James. With a background in theatre, Emma sidelined into event management in London. Whilst working in the capital, she spent a lot of her spare time visiting art museums and attending flower schools.On moving back to London, during the day she worked for a marketing agency and in the evening, she worked at a theatre. And that's where she met her husband James. She'd never come across somebody who loved their job so much. And she was really envious, as she didn't have that in her job at the time. Emma's always been a creative person and so as her relationship with James progressed, she started to do more floristry outside of her day job. Initially, attending workshops, then working with Sabine Darrall. And she loved working in the world of floristry. When she fell pregnant with her first child, James and Sabine encouraged her to set up her own floristry business. She got in touch with a local magazine and did some photoshoots. And she also got in touch with local venues and built a website. Her driving force was that she wanted to find a job that she loved. And her business has grown organically. She specialises not only in wedding and event floristry, but also installations. For example, hanging chandeliers, flower clouds, oversize mantelpieces, staircases, archways and garlands. James, Emma's husband, who is a freelance production electrician, helps her with the installations and also lighting. James and Emma discuss several of the installations that they've worked on together. She shares the impact of the pandemic on her business, how she cared for her couples, created dried flower kits and a dried wedding flowers package. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate is about working in the wedding and event industry, together with creating large-scale floral installations. I'm sure you'll really enjoy the interview!Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode57Flower Photography (iPhone Version) Online Course: https://learn.flowerona.com/flower-photography-iphone-version

#56 - Flower farmer Georgie Newbery from Common Farm Flowers shares her small business journey. Following a career in fashion in France, she set up her flower farm in Somerset. She now sells her flowers locally, provides flowers for weddings and runs workshops online and in person.Georgie's background is fashion and writing. And she started her career in the 1990s working in Paris for American Vogue and John Galliano. Then she began writing novels and moved back to the UK. There, she met her husband and ended up living in a tumbledown farmhouse with 7 acres of land in Somerset. Georgie learned how to garden from her mother and she began to grow flowers, selling sweet peas in front of the house in a barrow. Then in 2010, a neighbour sent her a bouquet of flowers and she decided to set up a business growing flowers and selling them. Initially, she sold her flowers to a local wholesaler. Then, with the aid of the internet, a website and social media, she began to sell her flowers direct to consumers nationwide. She discusses the impact of the pandemic on her business and the changes it triggered to the way she works. She has stopped nationwide delivery and now runs online workshops and online demos. She talks about how her YouTube channel came about, her technical set-up, her filming and editing process. She's really enjoying creating videos for her channel and they've been instrumental in attracting people to her online workshops. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Georgie is about growing flowers and running a small business. I'm sure you'll really enjoy the interview!Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode56Flower Photography (iPhone Version) Online Course: https://learn.flowerona.com/flower-photography-iphone-version

#55 - Brand Manager, Art Director & Photographer Sundari Ferris shares her small business journey. Creativity runs through all the threads of her career, initially working in the wedding industry, she now provides art direction, photography and branding for businesses. She also creates beautiful handmade, textured painted backdrops, which are used by photographers and florists.Whilst she was studying architecture, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge got married. And Sundari developed an interest in the wedding industry and set up her blog, The Wedding Stylist. The next step was getting an internship at luxury bridal designer Phillipa Lepley in London, where she later worked full-time. In her early 20s and becoming redundant on Valentine's Day, her father suggested that she set up her own business. The Wedding Stylist was born. She ran the business for 4-5 years. But during the last few years, she started being booked for editorials and campaigns, and also as an art director. So she decided to close the business and concentrate on these new revenue streams. However she still continues to freelance for wedding planners and photographs weddings. One evening she painted a wall in her studio with a mottled effect as she found it plain and boring. She shared the results on Instagram and people started to ask whether they could buy her work. So she created a collection of painted backdrops, which she launched in 2018.She describes her typical week, her photography journey, the impact of the pandemic on her business, together with her 2022 plans. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Sundari is about creating visuals and following your own path. And I'm sure you'll really enjoy the interview!Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode55Flower Photography (iPhone Version) Online Course: https://learn.flowerona.com/flower-photography-iphone-version

#54 - Organic flower grower Polly Nicholson from Bayntun Flowers shares her small business journey. Passionate about tulips, she also grows narcissi, alliums, peonies, clematis, sweet peas, bearded irises, delphiniums, zinnias and dahlias. She supplies wholesale flowers to florists, runs workshops and is also in-house florist for residential properties locally. Growing up in the countryside, her parents grew very few flowers in their garden. So Polly used to go and pick wildflowers, and developed a lifelong passion for picking flowers. After university, she worked as an antiquarian book specialist at Sotheby's in London.  As part of her role, she catalogued a gardening catalogue, which built on her childhood passion for picking and foraging.   Once married and having had children, she signed up for a course in Practical Horticulture, which The English Gardening School were running at Chelsea Physic Garden.  And she found the course life-changing. Fifteen years ago, she and her family moved to Blacklands, a Georgian house in North West Wiltshire, which has a series of walled gardens. Missing the flowers she'd been used to buying at New Covent Garden Flower Market in London, Polly decided to begin growing her own.  And she started by planting tulip bulbs.  Five years later, Bayntun Flowers was born. Initially, she was selling hand-tied bunches and floral designs for small events locally. Polly brought in Arne Maynard to help with the design of the garden. And he suggested that she took on a Head Gardener. Polly discusses the different varieties of tulips that she currently grows, including an annual crop and historic tulips. The latter have recently been awarded National Collection status with Plant Heritage. She also discusses her numerous sustainability practices, the range of workshops that she has planned for this year and her incredible press coverage. She talks about the impact of the pandemic on her business, together with her 2022 plans. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Polly is about sustainability and growing flowers, in particular tulips. And I'm sure you'll really enjoy the interview!Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode54Flower Photography (iPhone Version) Online Course: https://learn.flowerona.com/flower-photography-iphone-version

#53 - Floral Designer Emily Baylis from June in March shares her small business journey.  After setting up her floristry business in Hong Kong in 2016, she relocated to London. And now she specialises in floral art design, event design, interior design and set design, not just in the UK, but also in Europe.Born in the French Alps, Emily originally worked for many years in the hospitality industry. On having her daughter, she considered changing career. And having always had a passion for flowers, she decided to start making floral arrangements for friends, followed by setting up a flower subscription service, whilst she was living in Hong Kong. She also began doing subscriptions for restaurants, plus flowers for weddings and small events. After 12 months, she moved to London and her first task was to find a small studio for her floristry business. Due to her experience in hospitality, she already knew people in the hotel and restaurant industry, together with spirits company Bacardi, and quickly attracted work. Initially, her designs featured only fresh flowers. Then she started to get contacted by architects and design companies, who asked her to create perennial installations using preserved and dried floral material. She discusses the type of preserved flowers that she uses. For example, for her work for the Big Mamma Group, which takes her and her team across Europe.Emily discusses the origin of her business name, the impact of the pandemic on her business, her plans for 2022, and her why. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Emily is about the importance of building and nurturing relationships not only with clients, but also with suppliers and her team. I'm sure you'll really enjoy the interview!Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode53Flower Photography (iPhone Version) Online Course: https://learn.flowerona.com/flower-photography-iphone-version

#52 - Flower Farmer Fiona Haser Bizony from the Electric Daisy Flower Farm shares her small business journey. Having originally worked as a ceramicist, then as an Artistic Director at an Arts Centre, she now runs her flower growing business in Somerset and a flower shop in London. From an early age, Fiona was keen to take charge of her own destiny. As a teenager, she managed to sort out a work experience placement at a local art college, instead of working in a bank. After A Levels, she did a degree in Three Dimensional Design at Brighton and majored in Ceramics. In the 1990s, she moved to London and in her studio, created ceramic garden pots. On spending time in Spain, she met her German husband-to-be, a painter. They moved to Germany, started a family and got married. Back then, they were already eco-conscious and interested in sustainability. Missing England, she moved back with her children before deciding to travel around the world for a year. On returning to the UK,  she set up a gallery and artist studios. Then aged 40, she started working as an Artistic Director at an arts centre. Gardening leave then followed and she felt that she should do something calming. Having always been interested in growing, she decided to do an RHS Horticulture Course. Then she began researching flower growing and also went on several flower growing and floristry courses. She decided to set up a flower farm, initially starting by renting a walled garden from a local farmer. Three years later, she found her current patch. She began creating floral designs for weddings and events. And was also asked to be an RHS Floral Artist in Residence. With her arts background, she realised that she needed to do something to stand out in the floristry world. And she made calendars featuring flower crowns she'd created every month. A couple of years ago, she was approached to open a shop in Highgate, London. It opened in February 2020. Then the pandemic took hold. Fiona talks about the impact of COVID-19 on her business. She shares her 2022 plans including holding workshops, documenting the flower farm on video and creating another calendar, before sharing her three tips. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Fiona is about British flowers, flower growing and sustainability. I'm sure you'll find the interview hugely inspiring!Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode52Flower Photography (iPhone Version) Online Course: https://learn.flowerona.com/flower-photography-iphone-version

#51 - Mother and daughter team, Caroline Beck and Roisin Taylor from Verde Flower Co share their small business journey. Having worked as a garden writer for many years, Caroline started to grow flowers and during the pandemic, Roisin joined the business part-time. Growing up Caroline remembers flowers picked from the hedgerow by her grandmother being displayed around her home. After initially working as a BBC news journalist, on having her first daughter Roisin, Caroline became a garden writer. Aged 50, in 2015 she made an impromptu decision to start growing flowers. From having an allotment for many years, she had experience growing. Plus she gained gardening knowledge from all the people she'd interviewed such as garden designers, plants people and head gardeners. Verde started to offer wedding flowers after Caroline's best friend asked her if she'd like to do the flowers for her son's wedding. And weddings now take up a large share of their revenue. In December 2019, Caroline moved the business from a farm to a Victorian walled garden, growing wildflowers in a cultivated way.  For example, Larkspur, Ammi visnaga and Dill.Following her Masters degree, Roisin worked in the Conservation/NGO Sector, followed by Climate Change Control. She continues to work in this area. When she was furloughed during the first lockdown, she spent several months working in the garden. And realised that she wanted to spend more time outside, connecting with her family and nature. The ladies discuss the impact of the pandemic on their business and the silver linings which appeared including offering workshops. Plus they share their social media plans for 2022, which include branching out into TikTok and YouTube. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Caroline and Roisin are about flower growing, sustainable floristry and the special relationships that they have with their wedding couples. I'm sure you'll find the interview hugely inspiring!Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode51Flower Photography (iPhone Version) Online Course: https://learn.flowerona.com/flower-photography-iphone-version

#50 - Owner of Botanique Workshop, Alice Howard shares her small business journey. Initially setting up a shop focused on upcycling, later adding plants and then flowers to her offering led to the creation of her current florist and artisan gift store based in London.After studying Business Management at university, she did a ski season as a ski host before training to be a professional sailor. Aged 24, she realised that she wanted to set up a business making things. Her first shop 'In With The Old' was born. She upcycled vintage bits and bobs. And as well as stocking her own products, also stocked items from other makers. As her interests changed, the shop evolved. She started to stock plants, initially because she was selling hand-thrown Victorian pots. She began selling more and more plants. And then started selling flowers. In October 2016, a shop nearby became vacant and she decided to do a pop-up. She created a moodboard for the premises and this was the foundation of Botanique Workshop. A friend of a friend was an experienced florist and she joined Alice, later becoming her business partner. When the pop-up was ending, she decided to close 'In With The Old' and continue with Botanique. She now stocks cut flowers, dried flowers, houseplants, candles, stationery, pressed flower art, handmade ceramics and jewellery. Alice talks about the origins of her business name, her own brand product range and the impact of the pandemic on her business. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate she is about being creative and making her own products, together with working with her wonderful team. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode50Flower Photography (iPhone Version) Online Course: https://learn.flowerona.com/flower-photography-iphone-version

#49 - Botanical dyer Sian Cornish shares her small business journey. After many years working in manufacturing and the construction industry, the recession led to her setting up Lancaster & Cornish, creating beautiful hand-dyed silk products. After studying a Geology degree at Oxford University, she went on to study a Masters in Environmental Science in London. As part of her Masters, she wrote a dissertation on Glacial Retreat in the Himalayas. And whilst visiting India she fell in love with colour. Her first job role was in the manufacturing industry, after which she took a year out and travelled with her husband, back to India, and also to Mexico and Australia. On returning to the UK, she started working in the construction industry as an environmental consultant. This position offered her the opportunity of working freelance. So she and her family moved from London to Cornwall. When the credit crunch struck, she lost all her freelance work. And she realised that she needed to reinvent herself. After much thought, she set up Lancaster & Cornish, initially buying and selling organic fabric. Around 2013, one of her friends who is a florist asked her if she could make some ribbons for her. It was a lightbulb moment for Sian. And it was the start of her journey with natural dyes. Working from her kitchen table, she began dyeing silk and bamboo silk. She shares the natural dyeing process from the original material through to creating the dyed product, the impact of the pandemic on her company and her plans for 2022.  Plus she talks about how her dyed materials have appeared in the 2020 film Emma!Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Sian is about textiles and colour.  Funnily enough, it was only after she's started her business that she discovered that her ancestors were also involved in the textile industry.  A full circle...Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode49

#48 - Farmer florist Sarah Whiting shares her small business journey. After working for many years in the NHS, she took redundancy. And having always been a keen gardener, spent time in her garden. Then seven years ago, she decided to set up Nettlewood Flowers.Born in Australia, Sarah spent over 20 years in senior management in the NHS in the UK. On taking redundancy, she set up a consultancy business, but found it soul-less. So she decided to take some time off and having always grown flowers, set out a cutting garden. When she had surplus flowers, she began giving them to neighbours, asking for a donation for charity in exchange. Then having grown even more flowers, she sold them from her garden gate in Teddington, London. One day, she mentioned to her husband the possibility of turning her flower growing into a business. After having put together a business plan, she did some floristry courses and secured a work experience placement at The Real Flower Company. She then went on to work there part-time for two years, before leaving to concentrate solely on her business, Nettlewood Flowers.She talks about her move from London to East Sussex in December 2019, her why, the impact of the pandemic on her business, together with her plans for 2022. You'll also discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Sarah is about her relationships with her clients in the floristry world and seeing how they use her flowers, which often have been featured in magazines. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode48

#47 - Farmer florist Tammy Hall shares her small business journey. On moving from Australia to London to work as an architect, she met her partner and went to live on his farm in the Shropshire countryside. And ten years ago, she decided to set up Wild Bunch Flowers.Born in East Africa and growing up in Australia, Tammy spent a lot of time in her childhood outside. She studied architecture in Melbourne and when she finished her degree, she moved to London to work as an architect. It was a very exciting time for her, but she always craved the landscape. In her free time, she often took the train into the countryside and she met her partner James whilst paragliding! She moved to Shropshire to James' farm and continued working as an architect.However, there was always a pull to spend time outside and she had the idea of starting to grow flowers and sell her designs. So, on her train journeys to and from work, she did a lot of research and discovered Susanne Hatwood from The Blue Carrot, Sarah Raven and Gill Hodgson from Flowers from the Farm. James was a little sceptical about her idea. So she decided to enter a competition at the Garden Museum in London to try and convince him. Shortly afterwards, she set up Wild Bunch Flowers. She started as a wedding florist and her selling point was that she grew her own flowers. She gained clients via the Natural Wedding Company and Flowers from the Farm. Now as well as being a wedding florist, she also grows cut flowers for local florists and local bouquet deliveries. And in the future, she'd like to sell small arrangements in vessels. Tammy shares the impact of the pandemic on her business, together with her plans for 2022. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate she is about being outside in the landscape, growing flowers and capturing them in beautiful images. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode47

#46 - Founder of Hikarui, Chikae Howland shares her small business journey. After working as a florist, she created her concept of Lightweight Living, Hikarui, which was born out of her own need to find ways to improve her lifestyle and overall well-being.As a child, she was always creative and knew that she wanted to run her own business. In 2012, after graduating from university, she did a floristry course and set up a floristry business called Okishima & Simmonds (O&S), with her friend Jessica Simmonds. From the very start, they invested in beautiful branding and photo-shoots. They specialised in Floral Creative Styling and created designs for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and London Fashion Week. Several years later,  Chikae decided to take a three month road trip to Japan and America. She attended workshops with Beth Kirby from Local Milk, Sarah Winward, Sinclair & Moore and Ginny Au. On her return to the UK, a decision was made to no longer continue O&S.Chikae's passion for photography grew, not only digital but also film. After spending time in Japan in 2017, she started to create the concept of Hikarui and developed it further when she returned to the UK. Then during the lockdown in 2020, she taught herself how to code and created her own website, including a concept store. Chikae shares a typical day in her life, including her morning routine, weekly routine and tools she uses. She talks about being highly sensitive and her why, before discussing her plans for the future. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Chikae is about well-being and self-care. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode46

#45 - Texas-based floristry blogger and podcaster Amy McGee shares her small business journey. After working as a dental hygenist, she now runs the blog Botanical Brouhaha and Bloom Trust Co, plus hosts the Botanical Brouhaha podcast. Her interest in flowers and plants was awakened when she and her husband bought their first house around 2000. The previous owners had been avid gardeners but in the last few years had been unable to look after the large garden. So it had become overgrown. Each season, unexpected flowers popped up, which Amy really enjoyed and looked forward to. At the time, she was a part-time dental hygenist. However, she became interested in gardening, started a cutting garden, and began to sell her flowers. A local upscale B&B asked her if she could make and deliver flower arrangements. So she learnt how to arrange her homegrown blooms. Someone asked Amy to create their wedding flowers. One thing led to another. And she moved into a private studio space and provided floral designs for weddings and events, services she offered for around 8 years. She arrived at a crossroads in her career and decided to close the studio. Then on her birthday in 2009, she started her blog Botanical Brouhaha. She retired from dental hygiene after working in the industry for 25 years. And in 2017, she started her podcast. She also began working with florist Holly Chapple, helping her with the Chapel Designers network. Amy worked with Holly for almost five years. Then at the beginning of 2020, she decided to go out on her own, just as COVID hit.  At the end of that year, she set up Bloom Trust Co. She talks about how the membership site came about and how it functions. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Amy is about the floral design industry and helping people.  At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode45

#044 - Cake designer Krishanthi Armitt shares her small business journey. Starting in investment banking, she'd always loved baking. When she started a family, she decided to do a Sugar Flowers & Piped Royal Icing Decoration course. Now she specialises in luxury wedding cakes adorned with exquisite hand-crafted sugar flowers. Having moved to Germany after her A levels, she met her husband and studied a degree in Sociology & Politics. On returning to the UK, she went straight into investment banking where she worked for five years.Always being interested in baking, when she started a family she attended a part-time cake decorating course. Then after the birth of her second child, in 2010 she made the decision to set up her business Cakes by Krishanthi, and specialise in wedding cakes. She shares the different strategies she uses to market her business and how she differentiates herself in the industry. You'll hear about her passion for flowers and creating sugar flowers, together with the types of courses she runs to teach others how to make these intricate designs. Krishanthi shares the impact of the pandemic on her business and how she used the time for reflection.  She's now diversifying into creating cold porcelain flowers and is long-term considering offering flower therapy.Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Krishanthi is about cake making and capturing the beauty of flowers in her sugar creations. I'm sure you'll get so much value from this podcast episode!Show notes and more are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode44

#43 - Florists Athena Duncan and Mairead Curtin from Rebel Rebel share their small business journey. Starting in 2020, they've grown their small floral events company into a thriving business with a shop in Mare Street Market in East London, a weddings and events team, a workshop near Broadway Market and Rebel Italia in Tuscany. After becoming friends whilst working in the television industry, they decided to set up Rebel Rebel after Mairead received a bouquet of flowers. With the financial safety net of Athena's redundancy payment,  they started creating event flowers in a space in Stockwell. And their business grew very quickly through word of mouth. One of their main clients no longer buying flowers was the trigger for them to decide to open up a shop in Broadway Market in Hackney. They share how their floristry style has developed over the years and how their distinctive branding came about. Creating eye-catching floral displays in their shop window using flowers they'd brought back from events was one of the marketing tactics which they used to attract clients. And as well as event and photoshoot work, they started to get asked to create wedding flowers. Athena and Mairead discuss how opening Rebel Rebel in Italy came about, the types of workshops they run there and the clientele they attract.  They also talk about the importance of both British flowers and foliage for their designs, together with details of some of the amazing floral installations they've created. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Athena and Mairead are about flowers and the floristry industry. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover their practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode43

#042 - Coach, writer and speaker Mandy Lehto shares her small business journey. Starting in investment banking, she changed career and trained to be a coach. And she now coaches perfectionists, people-pleasers and overachievers.After completing a PhD at Cambridge University, she worked in investment banking, travelling all over the world with her job. But she realised that she was a creative at heart. So she left her position, and hired a coach who felt that Mandy could also be a great coach.  So she retrained as a coach and also set herself up as an image consultant. Business flourished, she pushed herself, but it led to her becoming unwell. Mandy hired coaches and mentors to help her to identify her core values and zone of genius. She also went on womens' retreats, read books and met with healers. She shares lessons she learned from the experience. She also discusses being a people-pleaser and overachiever, and how these behaviours can originate in childhood.  Plus she talks about how to manage perfectionism tendencies. She shares valuable advice on charging your worth, plus showing up online, being authentic and vulnerable. She talks about her podcast which is called 'Enough, The Podcast' and the type of content she features in interviews and some solo episodes too. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Mandy is about overcoming perfectionism and people-pleasing.  I'm sure you'll get so much value from this podcast episode!Show notes and more are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode42

#041 - Florist and flower grower India Hurst from Vervain shares her small business journey. Coming from a family of growers, she set up her floristry business in 2014. And she now creates wedding and event flowers in her 'orchestrated chaos' floral style. Both India's parents are horticulturalists. Her dad developed a growing medium and her great grandfather started Alton Greenhouses. So it was expected that she would work with flowers and plants. But she was against it having as a teenager spent many a summer holiday at flower shows. After initially studying graphic design at university, she worked in London in various art galleries. She knew that she didn't want to be stuck behind a desk. And she decided to start a blog about plants with an art focus. The blog got her more and more hooked on the area she'd promised she wasn't going to get involved with. She started going to the flower shows again and saw the flowers and plants with fresh eyes. When she and her partner moved down to Bath in May 2014, she attended a Taster Day at The Tallulah Rose Flower Show. She immediately signed up for their 4-week career course. Then, as soon as she left, she set up her floristry business Vervain. India knew what she wanted to create and the image she wanted to portray. So she organised a 3-day photoshoot, made all the content that she wanted to showcase on her website and arranged for her designs to be photographed. In the interview, she discusses the services she now offers including weddings and events such as birthday parties, dinner parties and engagements parties. She also talks about how she describes her distinctive floral style. Currently, she uses around 75% British flowers in her wedding work, some of which are grown by her and some are sourced from local growers. She's aiming by 2023 to be using 100% British flowers. India is very passionate about sustainability, grows her flowers organically and peat free, and  composts everything that is waste from her weddings. She's also obsessed with bearded irises and has grown her collection to over 500 plants in 160 different varieties.She shares the story of how she came to create the wedding flowers for Lydia Pang, the global editorial design director at Nike HQ , and designer Roo Williams, a  wedding which was featured in Vogue magazine. The impact of the pandemic on her business, her photography journey, her why and plans for future are also covered. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate India is about British flowers, her bearded iris collection and the importance of practising creating floral designs. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode41

#040 - Founding Editor and Publisher of 91 Magazine Caroline Rowland shares her small business story. After working as a Picture Editor at the Financial Times, she decided to set up an independent interiors and lifestyle magazine. Growing up in Northern Ireland, after going to art college in Belfast, she moved to London. Initially, she studied fashion photography and styling, before changing to a photographic arts degree.  She really enjoyed curating images and decided to pursue a career in magazines. Following an internship at Marie Claire magazine in New York, she began working for photographic agency, Getty Images. Her next career move was to the Financial Times newspaper, where she became the Picture Editor on the House & Home supplement for FT weekend. That's where she learned everything about putting a publication together. Whilst she was at the FT, Caroline started a blog called Patchwork Harmony and also set up an online shop. Around 2011, whilst still working full-time, she set up 91 Magazine, which was initially free to read online.In 2013, she took voluntary redundancy. A book deal followed. Her book,  The Shopkeeper's Home, was published in 2015. She considered how she could make a living out of the magazine. And in 2016, she decided to print the magazine twice a year, which she continues to do. In the magazine, she features creative interiors including homes, shops, studios and cafes. In-person workshops, online  Creative Sessions and consultancy work are also part of her offering. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Caroline is about championing independent small businesses. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode40

#039 - Florist Pearl Watt shares her small business story. After an extensive career working in the fashion industry, just prior to the pandemic she set up her floristry business, Millefleur.  She creates floral designs for weddings and events, together with running workshops. From a very early age, she realised that she was creative. When she went to school, it was discovered that she had dyslexia. She was good at art and comes from a very artistic family, with both her parents being painters. On leaving school, she went to the Royal College of Art and studied Fashion & Textiles. She went on to have a 30 year career in the fashion industry working as an Artistic Director with luxury brands such as Givenchy and Max Mara.In 2019 she decided to leave her job. She had a love for nature and had always arranged flowers at home. Attending a five day course at The Good Florist in Devon set her on her way. And in January 2020, she started her floristry business from home in the Cotswolds. Then along came the pandemic and she used this time as an opportunity to practise. Now she feels she is 'riding on a flower wave' as things are getting busier.  She discusses her floristry style together with the thought process behind her distinctive photography aesthetic and choice of props.She talks about how she uses Instagram as a marketing tool and how she intentionally curates her Grid.  Pearl also discusses the inspiration behind her floral installation for the recent Strawberry Hill Flower Festival. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Pearl is about honing your style, standing out from the crowd and not being afraid of taking leaps of faith. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode39

#038 - Textile designer Fiona Douglas shares her small business journey, from studying at Glasgow Art School to setting up her business Bluebellgray in 2009. She now offers a full range of homeware including fabric, bedding, wallpaper, rugs and tableware, all in her signature colourful, handpainted, watercolour style.From an early age, Fiona was creative and obsessed by flowers. At secondary school, her art teacher saw something in her and encouraged her creativity. Aged 17, she decided to go to Florence for a month to take life drawing lessons. And on returning to Scotland, she realised that she definitely wanted to pursue art as a career. She applied to Glasgow Art School and was accepted into the Fine Art Department. However, she later discovered her love for print and changed to studying textiles. She went on to work for a textile company. Then in 2009, encouraged by her husband, she decided to set up Bluebellgray. She began with six floral cushions and started to attend shows. In addition to the floral designs, she also experimented with abstract designs. And she started creating fabric, bedding, rugs, wall art, ceramics, wallpaper and bags. Collaborations with Ercol, Dualit and MT Masking Tape have also taken place. Fiona talks through the process of creating her designs from painting the flowers using liquid watercolours to the design appearing on her textiles. Opening her shop in Glasgow in 2018 was a dream come true. She discusses the impact of the pandemic on her business and on-going issues. Plans for the coming months include a rebrand, releasing her Christmas design Fa La La,  and a children's collection. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Fiona is about flowers and uplifting, modern prints adding joyful colour to your home. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode38

#037 - Flower farmer Gill Hodgson shares her small business journey, from setting up Fieldhouse Flowers and starting to grow flowers in her 50s to setting up Flowers from the Farm, a UK association of British flower growers. Having always been a farmer growing crops, she started growing flowers when a friend who was getting married wanted 'flowers from the garden' for her wedding. As the flowers were ready earlier than needed, Gill cut them, put a table at the end of the farm drive and started selling bunches. They sold so well that she decided to grow more flowers the next year and the following year too. Gill started to take her flowers to sell at farmers' markets. On coming to face-to-face with members of the general public and seeing the wonderful reaction that her bouquets provoked, she had a realisation that more people needed to grow flowers. At the time, the farming community was being encouraged to diversify. And she felt that farmers could benefit from growing flowers on their land. So she put together a press release, which as well as being picked up by the farming press was also featured by the Yorkshire Post newspaper. Gill thought that it would make sense to set up a co-operative. So she sought advice from the Humberside Development Authority. And the person she met with recommended that she set up a website. She shares how Flowers from the Farm began, how she sought publicity, how the association grew, the nationwide structure, benefits of membership and celebrating the 10th Anniversary this year with over 1,000 members. One of the highlights of her flower farming career was exhibiting at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2018. And she shares in detail all the planning and logistics behind the creation of the exhibit, together with appearing on the BBC and being interviewed by Mary Berry. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Gill is about the UK flower growing industry and the supportive community that she's created by founding Flowers from the Farm. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode37

#036 - Writer, photographer and author Laura Pashby shares her small business journey. She discusses how to tell stories using words and photographs, together with the process of writing her recently published first book, 'Little Stories of Your Life'. Having studied English Literature, together with a Masters in Modern & Contemporary Poetry at university, she worked as a primary school teacher for several years. Then, in 2010, when she had her second of three sons she discovered blogs. After initially setting up a craft blog with a friend, she then started her own blog and joined Instagram. And over time her storytelling shifted from her blog to Instagram. She started creating content for brands on Instagram and writing for magazines, including 91 Magazine where she later became Deputy Editor. On leaving 91, she created some storytelling e-courses before deciding to take Beth Kempton's Book Proposal Masterclass.  After completing Beth's masterclass, in early 2020, she sent off her book proposal to a book agent. She signed with Quadrille and had nine months to write the book and take all the photographs. She shares her book writing process, its structure and contents. And the book was published this month - October 2021. Laura, who you may know on Instagram as @circleofpines, also shares her photography journey, her camera equipment and what she uses to edit her images. She discusses hints and tips about taking still life and self-portrait photographs. Listening to this episode, you'll hear about Laura's passion for words and images, and in particular how to use them effectively to tell an engaging story. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode36

#035 - Horticulturalist and founder of The Real Flower Company Rosebie Morton shares her small business journey. Her driving ambition is to supply people all around the UK with scented flowers.  And she now sells both to trade and consumers. With her mother and grandmother both being horticulturally-minded, Rosebie's love and enthusiasm for scented flowers began at a very early age. Aged four years old, she remembers the scent of roses when walking around her grandmother's garden. Many years later, she married a farmer and decided that she wanted to bring scented garden roses back to the cut flower industry. So she started growing six different varieties in her mother-in-law's walled garden. In 1995, she began selling the roses at New Covent Garden Flower Market. Then after 12 months, switched and sold direct to florists. And she also started growing other types of flowers and herbs. Due to the limited UK growing season and her desire to make roses available all year round, she investigated growing flowers in the Southern Hemisphere. And in 1998, she travelled to Kenya and planted hundreds of rose plants. Back in the UK, four years later, she started growing her roses in polytunnels to protect them from the rain. In 2003, she began selling direct to consumers via the internet. And now, as well as online, The Real Flower Company sells to consumers from their two London flower shops, offering same-day delivery in the capital. Rosebie discusses the impact of the pandemic, the importance of effective branding and how she uses social media to promote her business. She also shares her 'why' and her thoughts on sustainability. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Rosebie is about the flower industry and scented roses in particular. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode35

#034 - Floral decorator, garden designer and author Lucy Hunter shares her small business journey.  From initially working in the corporate world, she changed career and became a landscape designer. She now also works as a floral decorator and has written her first book, 'The Flower Hunter'. Growing up, she always knew she was creative and she loved to paint, which led to her studying a Fine Art degree at Liverpool University. On graduating in the late '90s, she worked at the Royal Bank of Scotland in Chester and trained to become a consumer underwriter. When she got married and had her son, she moved from a flat to a small cottage with a garden. And she decided to retrain as a garden designer. She absolutely loved it and became obsessed with flowers and plants. Her landscape design business grew from strength to strength. However, she became slightly burnt out and felt a little lost. Around 2015, her sister was getting married and she asked Lucy to create her wedding flowers. She attended some floristry courses and workshops, became captivated by Instagram and decided to start creating floral designs for weddings alongside her garden landscaping work. Then the pandemic struck. And because she had the time, she decided that she might write a book. In the interview, Lucy shares her book-writing process, describes the book's content and reads an extract from the book. She also discusses where she gets inspiration from, how she creates the images for her Instagram account and the camera equipment she uses. Plus she shares her 'why', talks about how her podcast, The Restless Creatives' came about and shares her plans for the remainder of 2021. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Lucy is about the creative process and capturing beautiful floral images. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode34 

#033 - Astrologer Christine Chalklin shares her small business journey. As well as reading astrology charts for small business owners, her services also include tarot card reading, numerology and coaching. Her aim with her work is to help her clients reach their full potential. Christine's grandmother and mother were interested in astrology. And she became hooked. She decided to study astrology, which led to coaching, counseling and teaching. She's also studied Bach flower essences, learnt how to read Tarot cards and offers numerology. She shares how a small business owner can benefit from having their chart read. For example, when it's the best time to launch or relaunch a business. She also talks about Libran qualities and personality traits, our shared sign. We reminisce about how we worked together over ten years ago, when she read my chart and gave me coaching. And the result was my starting Flowerona.  Then she mentions which famous people who were into astrology, plus the types of businesses she's worked with. Christine shares the impact of the new moon, full moon and mercury retrograde on our lives. She also discusses biodynamic gardening, before making recommendations about astrology books and online resources. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Christine is about astrology and how it can be used to help her clients to fulfil their potential. . At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode33

#032 - Florist Leigh Chappell shares her small business story. Originally a graphic designer, she took up a friend's suggestion to take a floristry course and then decided to change career. She now creates wedding flower designs, runs workshops and is also co-organising the upcoming Strawberry Hill Flower Festival. Growing up in Wales, Leigh studied botanical illustration at Swansea Art College. She then moved to London and worked for graphic design companies. She relished working in a team and to a brief. A friend asked her if she'd like to do a floristry course, which happened to have a horticultural element. And she absolutely loved it. So much so that she started freelancing for an event florist. In 2006, the florist told Leigh that she was moving away and asked if she'd like to take over her 20 weddings. So she partnered with a friend and they did all the weddings. They then set up a website and put together leather portfolios featuring photos of all their floral designs, which they showed to prospective clients. Nowadays, Leigh works on her own and continues to create wedding flowers, but also runs group workshops and 121s. She shares how she now uses Instagram as her digital portfolio and her reasons for choosing a dark aesthetic for her photographs. She talks about the services she currently offers including weddings and workshops. And how important she feels that Instagram is for marketing her business. Leigh shares details about the upcoming Strawberry Hill Flower Festival, which she's jointly organising with Janne Ford. She describes what visitors can expect to see at the event.  Plus she shares details of an installation which she'll be co-creating at the Oriel Myrddin Gallery in Wales. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Leigh is about using flowers as a medium to create designs and how important she feels Instagram is for promoting her business. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode32

#031 - Brand designer Caz Harrison shares her career journey. Having worked initially as a graphic designer at a company in Surrey, she set up her own business, Making Waves, when she moved to Devon. She now focuses on brand identity, website design and design for print. After taking a foundation course in Exeter, she studied Visual Communication in Surrey. Then she started working as a graphic designer at a print company, which developed into a branding agency. She had always wanted to return to Devon to live by the sea. So, eight years later in 2014, she moved to Sidmouth with her husband. There, she set up her small business.  She talks about her decision process in choosing its name, Making Waves. As well as discussing the services which she currently offers and what a brand identity actually comprises, she also talks about her process when designing a new brand identity and the deliverables. Caz emphasises how important she feels it is for her to create a brand identity that works hard for her client's business and where they want to be. She also shares her 'why', where she finds inspiration for her work and her plans for the remainder of 2021. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Caz is about empowering her clients with a brand identity which takes them to the next level. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode31

#030 - Stylist and mentor Amy Louise Hatch shares her small business journey.  Originally an Office Manager and PA, she decided to set up her own styling business after having her baby boy. She now runs The Timeless Stylist and also her new brand Amy Louise Hatch. Amy originally worked for various companies in the creative industry in London as an Office Manager and PA. Having moved to Kent, over five years ago, Amy had a baby boy. On weighing up her options, she realised that it would be financially pretty unviable to return to her office job. So she decided to set up her own business. Initially, she began working as a Virtual Assistant. And then later she set up her wedding design and styling business, Vintage Amy. She came to a point where she realised that the business wasn't fulfilling her. So she did a lot of inner work, with both a business coach and a counsellor. She recognised how beautiful her styling could look if captured in a fine art style. And how much she loved storytelling. So she decided to rebrand as The Timeless Stylist offering design and styling for wedding couples, telling their stories. She shares her brand story and how she worked with a branding designer to create her ethereal, gentle and timeless aesthetic. Amy shares the impact of the pandemic on her business and the wedding industry, how she organised an free online summit to help people who work in the wedding industry, and ran an online course, The Art of Brand Aesthetics. She also talks about how at the end of 2020, she travelled to Zambia to style a shoot for a wedding planner. On returning to the UK, she decided to set up her new brand Amy Louise Hatch for the business-to-business side of her company. Now as well as offering wedding design and styling under her The Timeless Stylist brand, she also offers mentoring as Amy Louise Hatch to her commercial clients, helping them tell their brand story. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Amy is about the wedding industry, helping both her wedding clients and the companies who work within the industry. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode30

#029 - Seed merchant Grace Alexander shares her multi-hyphenated 'suit to boot' career story. Originally, a psychologist, a change at work was the trigger to her deciding to plant some flowers in her garden. Since then she's become a seed merchant, has set up a membership site and written her first book.  Based in Somerset, Grace was working as a children protection consultant clinical psychologist when in 2013 personnel issues arose in her workplace. She started planting flowers in her garden, loving the tangibility of gardening as it balanced the intangibility of her job.  She then set up her first business and called it Corfe Fruit & Flowers. And she started creating wedding flower designs. Things started to improve at work and she returned full-time. But she couldn't let go of flowers. She realised that it was no longer feasible to continue to do weddings. However she absolutely loved seeds. And selling seeds gave her the opportunity to bring all her obsessions of graphic design, fonts and styling together. She now continues to sell seeds in specially designed packets, as well as run a membership programme called Gather. And she continues to work as a psychologist 2 days a week. Grace shares how her first book, 'Grow and Gather: A Gardener's Guide to a Year of Cut Flowers', has come about. An authentic take on flower growing, the book is to now to be published on September 30th.She also discusses her monthly membership subscription, Gather. It features how-tos, what's out now, jobs to do this week, interviews, imagery and films.  Plus it includes the opportunity to buy seeds from her shop and access to a private Instagram account. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Grace is about being a flower grower, selling seeds and working with nature. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode29

#028 - Florist Joanne Truby shares her small business journey. Moving from the corporate world to study floristry, she set up her wedding and event design company in 2012. She now also runs masterclasses and taster days, teaching how to create floral designs in her natural, English country garden style. After her A levels, she worked in the e-commerce departments at Heals and River Island. Then whilst travelling through Central America, she decided that she wanted to do a degree in something creative. She signed up for Floral Design & Event Management, and fell completely head over heels in love with flowers. In 2012, once she'd finished studying, she created the wedding flowers for a friend. Concentrating on weddings and events, her business grew organically initially with the aid of taking part in collaborative styled photoshoots, which were featured in magazines and on blogs. And later, her business expanded from using social media including Instagram.Joanne discusses her photography journey and having her designs being featured in a book about wedding flowers. Plus she shares the impact of the pandemic on her business, describing how she made the most of her time during lockdown. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Joanne is about teaching and the transition that her students achieve when spending time with her. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode28

#027 - Farmer Florist Rebecca Stuart from The Garden Gate Flower Company shares her small business journey. After working in various roles in a corporate environment in London and Bath, she now lives in her home county of Cornwall, growing and designing flowers for weddings. And she recently started creative art direction for product styling and prop sourcing. After studying at Surrey Institute of Art & Design, Rebecca moved to London and began to temp. She worked her way up from receptionist to secretary to running a team. And during this time, she learned a lot about the processes of running a business like marketing, PR and email management. Whilst working at Macmillan Publishers, she met her husband and decided to go back to New Zealand with him. She took two years out to travel and work in New Zealand and Australia with him. In 2001, they returned to the UK, got married and bought a house in Bath. During a holiday to France, they decided that they were either going to move to France or back to Cornwall. Rebecca originally thought the conversation was a bit of a 'holiday chat'. However, on their return, her husband put their house up for sale. And shortly afterward they moved to Lostwithiel. She decided that she wanted to run her own business and started making curtains and blinds. However, she found working on her own to be lonely. Her friend Maz had read an article about flower growing. And she suggested that Rebecca started growing flowers in her paddock. So, they did!They had a website set up, decided to do wedding flowers and worked closely with the local wedding market. Inspiration for their seasonal designs came from Constance Spry and the Dutch Masters. Rebecca discusses working collaboratively with other wedding suppliers, including Louise from Taylor & Porter and Leech Pottery. Plus she talks about her passion for photography, her recent move into commercial styling and her plans for the remainder of the year. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Rebecca is about flower growing and working collaboratively with other small businesses, particularly photographers whose work matches her brand. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode27

#026 - Farmer Florist Milli Proust shares her small business journey. After studying to be an actor, then working as an archivist, a move out of London to West Sussex led to her growing flowers using sustainable practices. She now creates designs for weddings and events, plus has a nationwide bouquet delivery service. Inspired by her grandmother, Milli has always loved flowers. At the age of 18, she considered becoming a florist, but ending up following her other passion, which is storytelling. And she got a place at RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art ) in London and studied acting. Before, during and after spending time at RADA she worked in an archive, which was predominantly a photographic archive. Then she was headhunted and went to Battersea Power Station to be their archivist. In her free time, she did flowers as a hobby. About 5 years ago, she moved to West Sussex, where she's currently based. And she realised that she could grow her own flowers. By the end of her first year in business, she had created wedding flowers for a friend. Over a period of 2 years, she slowly reduced her office work and increased her time growing flowers. Then by January 2020, she had manoeuvred to be solely focused on growing flowers and running workshops. When the pandemic struck, she decided to set up a nationwide bouquet delivery service, which she continues to do now, as well as create wedding flower designs. Milli discusses how she learned how to grow flowers, her photography journey and her photography process from taking photos on her camera to posting them on Instagram. She also shares her plans for the remainder of the year. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Milli is about capturing her floral journey through her photography and her passion for storytelling. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode26

#025 - Commercial Interiors Stylist and Writer Joanna Thornhill shares her career story. As well as her styling work, she also writes for magazines and a trend forecasting agency, creates copy and content for creative business and interior design clients. Plus she's written three books. After having studied fashion promotion, she began working in TV production as a runner. Then she moved into the interior styling world working as a stylist assistant for magazines, events and commercial shoots. Covering maternity leave at Women's Weekly magazine as Assistant Crafts & Home Editor was the propellor for her becoming a fully-fledged stylist and writer. Joanna describes the role of a stylist and talks about her recent book, 'The New Mindful Home'. She shares numerous tips on how to create a space to work in your home which will be beneficial to you, including colour advice. She goes on to explain the impact of the pandemic on her work and the new services she's now offering. The terms neuroaesthetics, biophilia and biomimicry are also discussed. She shares her thoughts on the current lifestyle shift to thinking more mindfully and sustainability about our homes. Plus, she talks about the interior trends which are popular at the moment. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Joanna is about interior styling and how choices we make about how we decorate our homes can impact our well-being. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode25

#024 - Florist Melissa Richardson shares her small business journey. After running a model agency for many years, in her mid-fifties she set up JamJar Flowers in London. Now with a team of three permanent staff, she designs floral concepts, installations and art pieces for bespoke events and private clients.On leaving school, she went to drama school. After having worked as a photographer's agent, then freelancing in styling and casting, she became a model agent. When the model agency she worked for went bust, her dad suggested that she set up a model agency.  Aged 55, after having run the agency for 27 years, she decided to close it. She'd always had a great love of flowers, so she started a floristry business from her kitchen table. Melissa shares the reactions from her friends and family about her career change. She then talks about the transferable skills that she'd used in her model agency and then in her floristry business. She also discusses the benefits of working with people younger than herself, including Amy , Talena and India. Melissa explains what JamJar Edit is and how it came about.  Plus she discusses the impact of the pandemic on the business. The Nature of Thyme, a pressed botanicals exhibition, which they created pressed flower designs for, and their installation for this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show are also discussed in detail. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Melissa is about changing career mid-life and working with a team of younger people. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode24

#023 - Husband and wife team Brett and Caroline run botanical design brand, Stengun Drawings, offering a collection of contemporary greeting cards, postcards and Giclee prints featuring flowers and plants. After having studied Fine Art at university, Caroline started working in the fashion world. And when her full-time job went down to four days a week, she decided that she wanted a hobby. So she started painting again.Originally her paintings featured birds. She set up and Instagram account to share her work and started to get positive feedback and commissions, which boosted her confidence. Then she was commissioned to paint a plant and hasn't looked back. Caroline made her paintings into greeting cards and sold them in local markets in East London. And Brett helped her out, coming on board full-time a few years later after having working in fashion in PR.You'll hear about the process of creating their designs, from the initial photograph taken on a field trip to painting and editing. They also share how they've started taking their finished cards and prints back to the place the flowers and plants were initially photographed and have taken photos of them in situ. Commissions from Selfridges for their website and collaborations with The RHS have also come about in recent years. And their greeting cards, postcards and prints now have an international reach, with distributors all around the globe. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Caroline and Brett are about staying true to your aesthetic, finding your niche and growing a small business organically. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover their numerous practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode23

#022 - Landscape Architect Marian Boswall shares her small business journey. In 2004, she founded Marian Boswall Landscape Architects and their projects range from large trusts and estates open to the public, to park land developments and smaller private gardens.After studying French and Italian at Oxford University, she became an interiors buyer and then was headhunted to be a management consultant. On becoming a mother and moving to a house in Kent with a large garden, her interest in gardening which began at an early age was reawakened.Realising she needed to learn how to look after the new garden, she decided to study horticulture, garden history and garden design. And having gained all this knowledge, people kept on asking her to do their gardens. So she decided to do a Masters in Landscape Architecture and set up her business. She discusses how her business has developed, plus shares past and current projects which her business have worked on from landscaping for boutique hotels to a community physic garden at the Blackthorn Trust. And she shares how her TedX talk came about. In it she talks about how we treat our gardens is how we treat the earth, and as we are part of the earth's ecosystem, of how we treat ourselves.Marian shares how important she's found Instagram has been to get feedback and connect with people. A slice of life is how she beautifully describes her Reels, which she really enjoys creating. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Marian is about sustainable principles, and listening to the land and what the land needs. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode22

#021 - Florist Ellie Jauncey shares her small business journey. In 2009, with Anna Day, Ellie founded The Flower Appreciation Society in London. 11 years later, having moved to Somerset, she set up her second floristry business, Ede Flowers. After originally studying textiles and specialising in knitwear at Manchester Art School, in 2006 she moved to London thinking she would become a knitwear designer.  Whilst working part-time at a pub in Hackney in 2008, she met Anna and they became friends, predominantly due to a shared interest in flowers. Ellie's mum was a florist and another of her part-time jobs in London was working for Rebel Rebel, whilst Anna had studied floristry at Capel Manor College.They suggested to their landlady that they create flowers for the pub they worked in. And they saved up enough money from this work to buy a camera. Friends were starting to get married and they asked Ellie and Anna to create their wedding flowers. To promote their work, they decided to create a website, did a photoshoot and created a brand identity using their photos combined with Anna's illustration and collage skills. As a result of a large amount of cold calling and emails, they got a lot of press coverage. Ellie discusses the dynamic of working in a successful partnership for 10 years, during which they wrote the book, An A to Z of All Things Floral. She also shares her transition from London to Dorset where she set up a floristry business on her own called Ede Flowers in 2020. As well as an online shop, she also runs online flower drawing and bridal bouquet courses. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Ellie is about teaching and sharing her love of flowers and floristry. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode21

#020 - Florist Grace Salter Haskins shares her small business journey.  From an early age, she knew that she wanted to open a shop. And aged 21, her dream came true when she opened Bramble & Wild in Somerset.  After originally planning on studying photography when she left school, at the suggestion of her mum, she started a floristry course and very soon fell in love with flowers. This was followed by an apprenticeship at a local college, tied in with work experience in a flower shop. She opened her first retail outlet at the top of Catherine Hill in Frome. And then a few years after having taken on staff, she moved further down the hill to larger premises, where she's currently located. Her shop, which she fondly describes as a 'fancy shed', not only sells flowers but also gifts, gardening tools, seeds, floristry scissors, vases and stationery. In her current role as Creative Director, Grace oversees the overall running of the shop and all the weddings. She also carries out the general admin. And recently has been spending more time growing flowers. During the interview, she also discusses using Instagram as a marketing tool, together with the impact of the pandemic on her business.  Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Grace is about being as environmentally conscious as possible, not only from the products she sources to sell in the shop, but also with regards to packaging. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode20

#019 - Houseplant Obsessive and Interior Landscaper Ian Drummond shares his career story. Having developed an interest in houseplants at a very young age, he's now worked at London-based Indoor Garden Design for coming up to 30 years. Ian is also the author of the book 'At Home With Plants'.At the age of 4, he was given some houseplants by his parents for his bedroom. He loved looking after them and his collection began to grow. A few years later, his aunt gave him the run of her garden. And he realised that working with plants was the only thing he wanted to do.At 13, he worked part-time in a local florist after school and at weekends. An apprenticeship in interior landscaping and floristry then followed before moving to work at a garden centre.Then he started working at Indoor Garden Design, initially as a gardener. He progressed to becoming a manager, followed by a director and now he co-owns the business. Ian talks about the type of services which Indoor Garden Design offer, in particular their event work, which includes working with corporate clients, celebrities, BAFTA and the Flower Council of Holland. He discusses the impact of the pandemic on his business, plus how In-Tray Plants, a new on-line retail brand came about. He shares his tips on ideal plants to have in your home office, the health benefits of houseplants and care tips on keeping them alive. You'll also hear about his upcoming collaboration with Malvern Garden Buildings at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show in September. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Ian is about plants and houseplants in particular! At the end of the podcast, you'll discover his practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode19

#018 - Florist Anna Potter shares her small business journey. Always having dreamt of opening a shop, she set up Swallows & Damsons in Sheffield several years ago. Her business has grown, attracting over 193K followers on Instagram. And she's also the author of 'The Flower Fix'.After studying fine art at university and not knowing what she wanted to do, she tried several different jobs. By chance, a friend got her a job as a florist. And Anna felt it was an instant fit.  She later moved to another florist shop before deciding to set up Swallows & Damsons. Originally, she worked from home doing small weddings for friends. Aged 26, she bought an existing flower shop and hit the ground running as they had weddings, funerals and gift bouquets already in the diary. Over the years, her natural floristry style has developed, aided by her making time for artistic experimentation. Mastering the art of iPhone photography and capturing her floral designs so beautifully has led to her attracting a huge following on Instagram. Her first book, The Flower Fix, was published in May 2019, which she innovatively marketed to her online audience. Anna shares the impact of the pandemic on her business, including some of the positive changes which have come about. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Anna is about prioritising time for artistic expression. And how she adapts to change in a positive way. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes and more are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode18

#017 - Transformational Courage & Confidence Coach Arianna Trapani shares her small business journey, including her two career changes from the world of interior design to lifestyle influencer to coach. She now specialises in helping femalepreneurs to have the courage to take rapid action by managing fear and boosting self-confidence.Arianna initially started working in London as a design assistant for a residential interior designer. However, she realised that she wanted to be her own boss and decided to leave. She started an interiors blog and began meeting up with people from the blogging community. In 2011, together with two friends she'd met via blogging, she set up the UK's first online interior design magazine, Heart Home. Later she rebranded her blog and became a lifestyle influencer for a few years. But it came to a point around 2017 that she began to not enjoy it anymore. Whilst on holiday, she came across a life coach and decided to have some coaching for herself. And she realised that she wanted to become a life coach.We discuss how to deal with lack of self-confidence, fear of putting yourself out there, the Comparison Trap, perfectionism and Imposter Syndrome.Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Arianna is about helping female entrepreneurs. And at the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes and more are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode17

#016 - Artist Brigitte Girling from Moss & Stone Floral Design shares her small business journey, plus her career change from teaching to starting her business. Based in Suffolk, she teaches floristry via online courses and in-person classes. She also co-hosts the podcast, The Restless Creatives. After studying psychology at university, Brigitte decided to become an educational psychologist, which involved initially working as a teacher. So she did her teacher training. Then after having two children, she worked as a primary school teacher. Having always loved gardening, nature and being outside, she later decided to take a floristry course, worked in a local florist and then began working as a freelance florist in London. She never imagined that she was going to start her own business. However after setting up a side hustle, selling pots and urns, Moss & Stone was born. To market her containers, she'd arrange flowers in them, which in turn led to her creating wedding flowers for clients. During the pandemic, she began going live on Instagram and doing floristry demos. And she decided to create a set of online floristry courses. Another outcome of the enforced lockdown was the creation of the podcast The Restless Creatives. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Brigitte is about growing and using local flowers, plus her philosophy of always asking herself, 'What's the worst that can happen?' At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes and more are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode16

#015 - Florist Sarah Statham from Simply by Arrangement shares her small business journey and career change from working as a criminal lawyer to entering the world of flowers. Based in Yorkshire in the North of England, she teaches others how to arrange flowers and also creates designs for weddings. For over 20 years, Sarah worked as a criminal lawyer. And every week she would buy flowers which she'd then arrange as a stress-relieving activity on a Saturday, admiring them when she got home late from work during the week. Having developed an interest in flowers, she decided to do some floristry courses. And whilst taking a career break, she started gardening and became hooked. In 2013, she took redundancy. And as she'd had training experience in her role as a lawyer, she decided to offer wreath workshops 'up North' for local ladies. Simply by Arrangement was born. And as the business has developed, the workshop side of her offering has grown, attracting florists from far and wide. As well as flowers, Sarah has also developed a passion for photography, in particular for seeking out beautiful light for capturing her floral designs, examples of which you can see on her stunning Instagram account. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Sarah is about the floristry industry and helping fellow small business owners. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes and more are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode15

#014 - Personal Stylist and Image Consultant, Anita Feron Clark shares her small business journey and her career change from working in the corporate world to setting up Feron Clark Style. Now she helps people look and feel their best every day. After graduating, she joined Marks & Spencer as a trainee fashion buyer, where she worked for 12 years, travelling all over the world to meet suppliers and visit factories. However, after having two children, in 2007 she took voluntary redundancy. Over a dinner party, a group of friends brainstormed what Anita's next path should be. And they felt she should combine teaching and styling.  So, from 2007-2008, she did a teacher training qualification, taught at the London College of Fashion, set up image consultancy business and her first clients were her friends.We discuss the importance of choosing the 'right' colour to wear near your face, plus colour psychology and the impact it has not only on you and how your feel, but also on the people you're with. Anita also shares the universal colours which we can all wear. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Anita is about helping her clients look and feel their best every day. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes and more are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode14

#013 - Brand Strategist and Creative Director, Fiona Humberstone shares her small business journey and how she came to set up The Brand Stylist. With the aid of her online courses, seminars, consultancy and books, she now helps small businesses create distinctive brands.Following her graduation from Sheffield University, Fiona worked for Printing.com, a print company franchise. Then she moved to London with her husband and worked her way up to become a Regional Director at the company. At 26, after having her first child, she decided to set up her own franchise. Pretty soon, she realised that she didn't like selling print. But she loved talking to entrepreneurs about their businesses. She'd learnt everything she could about branding, marketing and design. And so when it came to running her own business, she decided to focus on branding and design, with print becoming a by-product.  When she later learnt about Colour Psychology, her company's design work went up a level. She blogged about their work, which led to getting clients from all over the world. And that was when she understood the importance of having a creative, distinctive style.In 2012, she sold her business and two years later, set up The Brand Stylist. And she now empowers entrepreneurs and designers to create extraordinary brands. Listening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Fiona is about helping entrepreneurs unlock the power of their brands and making more empowered choices about how their businesses come across.  At the end of the podcast, you'll discover her practical tips, which I'm sure you'll find very inspiring. Show notes and more are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode13

#012 - Floral designer and writer Shane Connolly shares his small business journey, setting up his company Shane Connolly & Co, arranging flowers for royal weddings, recently guest curating a Constance Spry exhibition, together with his thoughts on sustainability.Shane first started his floristry journey back in the 1980s working at an event floristry business. He then went on to work for Pulbrook & Gould, before leaving to set up his own small business. He arranged flowers for photoshoots for magazine publishers in London. And at one of the photoshoots with Country Living magazine he met David Austin.  Shane's first book came about following a conversation with David. Working with a caterer led Shane to creating the wedding flowers for the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. A few years later, he was invited to create the floral designs for the wedding of the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey. He discusses his thought process behind the trees lining the aisle and the story behind the Duchess of Cambridge's bridal bouquet.Shane then discusses his work as a guest curator for the upcoming Constance Spry exhibition at the Garden Museum in London. He shares what you can expect to see, hear and experience when you visit the exhibition including photographs, letters, containers, furniture, paintings and tapestries. Towards the end of the interview, he explains his thoughts on sustainability, seasonal and British flowersListening to this episode, you'll hear how passionate Shane is about the floristry industry. Plus you'll discover some of his fondest memories during his time working as a floral designer. At the end of the podcast, you'll discover his practical tips, which I'm sure you'll be inspired by too!Show notes and more are available on the My Small Business & Me website: https://mysmallbusinessandme.com/episode12