081: How to run a thriving floral business - with Jessica Zimmerman [EXTENDED VERSION]

Thank you for watching this video from The Simplifiers Podcast!

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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. Today, Jessica Zimmerman 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!

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You can follow Mary at:

Mary Baird-Wilcock, CSEP - the CEO of The Simplifiers has one goal in mind… to help you SIMPLIFY your life.

With over 15+ years experience in running a small business, she coaches creative entrepreneurs on how to simplify and optimize the operations side of running their small business.

Mary is the host of The Simplifiers Podcast, where she interviews very smart people from all over the world who take topics in business and in life and SIMPLIFIES them.

An international public speaker who’s been published in FORBES Magazine, Huffington Post and featured as one of the “Top 25 Young Event Pros to Watch” by Special Events Magazine, Mary is also on a mission to share the gospel of what a Texas breakfast taco is all about.