Today we’d like to introduce you to Abbey Constantine.
Hi Abbey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I taught Kindergarten for 9.5 years. Around year 5 of teaching, I started to feel like something was missing. I always have been creative, and when the opportunity to purchase a floral shop came about, my husband and I decided it would be best to start a floral business of my own from scratch instead of purchasing someone else’s business. Everyone thought I was crazy for dreaming bigger and wanting to leave my comfortable salary-paying job. For me, my goal was to gain some purpose back into my life. Purpose was what I was missing after all.
April of 2019, Whimsical Blossoms LLC was created and named after my favorite childhood word “whimsical.” At this time, I was still teaching full-time, but I was determined to get this business to the place where I could leave my teaching job and be my own boss. I was pregnant with our first child, and I was determined to be able to stay at home with him while running the floral business without the brick-and-mortar. I went from designing everyday floral arrangements to specializing just in weddings and events. I also went from 15 weddings year one to over 50 weddings in year four. I left my teaching job and have not looked back.
I do not have a business degree. I do not have a large background in floral work either. What I have found is that anyone can do this business with a little mindset shift and guidance. I started to get questions on how I started this and made this a successful, purposeful, yet profitable business.
In 2022, I decided again, alongside designing for my couples for their special day, that I was ready to teach again, but this time, to women who wanted to start their own floral business. In my 90-day program, I help women start and launch their business. Some women want to pay off debt while working their full-time jobs. Others want to eventually leave their full-time job and have more time for their family. Some are stay-at-home moms who need to find their purpose again. It’s quite the mix of women, and yet I find myself feeling thankful for this opportunity to keep helping and guiding them! Business owning changed my life, and if I can help anyone else feel this way, I have done my job!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Coming from the education world to the wedding industry was a brand-new adventure for me. Business owning was too. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was determined to do it! I would work on the business in the nooks and crannies of my day when I was teaching and also before/after school. I did a lot of research, trialed, and errored.
I could have hired someone to help me, but there was no one to specifically help me with the business side of things. All of the courses were more design based in the floral world or basic classes on business launching for any business, not floral specific. Yes, it’s important to learn how to design, but my belief is you just have to dive into it to figure that out. Building a strong business model was most important to me so I could set the business up for success. This business model has to be specific for the wedding industry. There was nothing like this out there!
One of the biggest struggles I had was the first prom season in 2019. I made several corsages and used one technique I found online, and they all fell apart! I tell my business students this story often. It’s proof that not everything online is beneficial for new business owners. This is the time I started getting in my head and thinking this may not be for me, but I kept going with gratitude each day I never gave up!
We believe that growth happens in the valleys! Having other entrepreneurs help you out of the valley is vital to continual growth in this industry!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Whimsical Blossom Floral specializes in unique and “whimsical” designs for weddings and events. We take the visions and bring them to life! We are known for quick response leads and positive communication skills as well with our couples. We take the stress away from the floral part of our couple’s special day!
Abbey Elizabeth Coaching helps women start and launch a floral business in 90 days without wasting time and money. Our goal is to guide women so their business base is strong and effective for years to come! These sessions are with me personally so it’s more beneficial to my students. This is not an online training on their own. I am right there with them throughout the whole process!
We are super proud to be a part of so many lives.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
This is simply difficult: keep going! There were times I wanted to quit. I wish I would have known all the ins and outs to business owning in this industry. The truth is, you have to keep going to learn and grow. We learn from mistakes, and we change things to make the business better as we grow.
If you do not have your sparkle, I encourage you to find it again! It’s a freedom finding that purpose again and shining bright to make your dreams come true! I found mine, and it is designing with florals for couples and helping women find themselves again with business owning in this creative industry!
Pricing:
- Our minimum for our weddings is $1,500.
- Our pricing for our business coaching program depends on needs.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whimsicalblossomsfloral/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063646383016
- Other: https://form.jotform.com/222763624956162
Image Credits
Amanda Ellis Photography
