just another day at the office

I don’t get to share details from our flower shop very often on the blog. Most days fly by so quickly, I don’t have time to snap any photos between design work, delivery deadlines, suppliers, and customers. I love those busy days, but there just never seem to be enough hours to get everything done!

Then there are days like yesterday, when the shop is quiet and peaceful, there are no pressing deadlines, and I can work by myself at my own pace and take extra time for the special details. I spent the afternoon working on a garden-themed wedding order for a sweet bride named Mary.

If you’d told me five years ago I’d be running a flower shop one day, I’d think you were crazy. At this very moment, I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Last night, C and I had a big talk about the future of the business, which led into a serious blessing-counting session as we rehashed the challenges we’ve faced since taking over the daily operations from his parents. A total makeover of the store, staff changes, tough lessons in “the customer is always right“, learning the ins-and-outs of supply management, cutting costs in a difficult economy, and hundreds of other daily ups-and-downs over the last 12 months. It’s been quite a ride…

The flower business is never going to make us rich, but — to get all Mastercard commercial on you — the lessons we’ve learned in the past year about leadership and our marriage are priceless. I’m so thankful that our family trusted us enough to hand over the reigns of the successful business they spent over a decade building, and that we have the opportunity to keep it in the family through another generation.

I’m so excited to see what 2012 has in store for us!