The Hard Lessons Learned Owning a Flower Shop
There are a lot of things people don't expect about owning a flower shop. The first is that you're not going to make billions. And the second — not everyone is going to like what you create.
That one is harder than it sounds.
When something is your dream, it's personal. So when someone doesn't like your work, it can feel like they don't like you. I remember thinking, do people hate my dream? If they hate this, do they hate me? It takes a level of mental strength and awareness to separate yourself from that.
Honestly, not everyone is meant to open a flower shop. It looks beautiful on the outside — but behind the scenes, it's a lot.
Peak Season
Especially during peak seasons. Valentine's Day, Mother's Day… it's honestly like Black Friday. Nonstop. Fast-paced. High pressure. We've built systems over time — recipes, prep, processing everything before the team arrives — so things run as smoothly as possible.
But even then, things happen.
I'll never forget one Mother's Day. My team made around 40 arrangements ahead of time and even finished early. I stopped by later that day and realized almost all of the flowers had died. I spent the next 8–9 hours remaking everything. We ended up with maybe 15–20 arrangements at the end.
The trauma is real.
And the hardest part is — sometimes there's nothing you can do. Flowers just die, even when they've just arrived. That's the reality of working with something living.
The Personal Cost
There were also personal sacrifices. Not being there for friends or family the way I wanted to. Putting my dissertation on hold. And honestly — my sanity at times. Over time I've found more balance, but it's still something I'm constantly working on.
There were definitely moments where I questioned everything. I remember one very clearly — about six months after opening. I sat in the shop alone, 10am to 6pm, Monday through Friday, for months. Some days I made one sale. Some weeks, one sale total. My bouquets were around $45–50 at the time, so I was making maybe $50–100 a week.
I remember sitting there staring at the wall, thinking, did I make a mistake? Why am I doing this? Maybe I should close and keep this as a private studio. It felt like a dead end. That went on for days.
Then my dad told me something I'll never forget — that it takes 3–5 years for a business to really show its potential. So I changed my mindset. Every morning, I would look at myself in the mirror and say, you can do this, you're building something special, keep going. The first few times, I had tears in my eyes.
And then one day, Fleur just… took off. I still can't fully explain it, but it did.
The Financial Reality
Another thing people don't understand is the financial reality of floristry. So much happens behind the scenes, and so much risk is involved. Flowers are perishable — if they don't sell, you lose them. It's not like other products where you can hold onto inventory.
There's also so much more that goes into cost than just the flowers themselves — sourcing, processing, labor, time, packaging, waste. All of that is part of what the customer is receiving, even if they don't see it. And every bouquet supports more than just that one moment — it supports the team, the space, the experience.
It's a beautiful industry, but it requires intention, planning, and care to sustain.
Leading People
Leadership has also been one of the biggest learning curves. Every person is different. Some need structure, some need freedom, some need encouragement, some need clarity. I've had to learn how to lead each person differently.
And one of the biggest lessons was realizing that not everyone thinks the way I do or knows what I know. Just because something feels obvious to me doesn't mean it is to someone else. Learning how to communicate that with patience has been really important.
Burnout and Mistakes
Burnout is real, especially during busy seasons. I've learned to reset in small ways — watching shows to get my mind off work, going to my favorite restaurants, spending time near the water. If I'm really overwhelmed, I'll take a quick trip, even just for a weekend. You have to find ways to come back to yourself.
I've made mistakes too. One of the biggest ones has been trusting people too easily. I tend to believe what people say, and sometimes that's cost me — especially in business. I still choose to trust, but I've learned to be more aware. And working with people is always a challenge. Different personalities, different expectations — when something goes wrong, it can affect more than just the moment.
Only Do It If You Really Want It
But through all of it, what kept me going was the dream. And my team.
If I could tell someone one thing before they open a flower shop, it would be this: only do it if you really, really want it. Not as a hobby. Not because it seems cute or fun. But because you feel like you can't not do it.
This kind of work asks a lot of you. And if it's not something you're fully committed to, it will be very hard to sustain.
But if it is — it's worth it.
XoXo,
Your Fleurist,
Angelina
