We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kaitlyn Hoover. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kaitlyn below.

Kaitlyn, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry? Any stories or anecdotes that illustrate why this matters?

Two things come to mind when thinking of how to respond to this.

The first thing is that florists do not make a decent living. It’s hard to believe how many people that I’ve come across – family members, friends, strangers, etc. who have underestimated my success. When I tell people that my minimum spend (just for florals!) is $6000, they are shocked.

The second is that florists are ripping people off (and the wedding industry as a whole!) It’s this weird two sided thing where first they think you’re not profitable, then they think you’re ripping people off when you tell them how much you charge. What people don’t see is just HOW much work the art of floristry is.

Kaitlyn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve been obsessed with flowers as long as I can remember – always sneaking out to sniff the lilacs & peonies in my grandmother’s yard. In 2017, I moved to St. Petersburg, FL & started as an intern for floral & event design company, 2Birds Events. It was there that I trained under floral magician & mentor, Alexis Metcalf & learned all the tricks of the trade – flowering throughout Tampa Bay.

After moving back to PA, I decided it was time to venture out on my own. I created Olive & Orange as an opportunity to pursue my life’s purpose; making flower art to celebrate life’s best moments. We are a boutique wedding florist specializing in the art of lush & romantic floral designs. Drawing inspiration from the garden, our primary objective is to create beautiful, unique designs inspired by the changing seasons.

The thing I’m most proud about is our extensive product knowledge. This really gives us the ability to give every couple a unique design. I think a lot of times when shopping for wedding vendors, it’s easy to choose the cheapest option because everything adds up so quickly. We have never been the cheapest option & we never will be. I’m really proud that I know my value.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been relationships within the wedding industry. Connecting with like minded florists, planners, photographers, etc.has really been a game changer for me. It’s really easy to only think of yourself & how you want to grow YOUR business..but a wedding day is all about multiple vendors coming together to give the client the day they have been dreaming about. In order to grow, not only do you have to build your reputation as someone that clients want to work with, but other vendors as well.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Consistency is key! I don’t believe you have to show every single moment of your life on social media, but making yourself visible is the only way that potential clients know you are an option. Whether it’s a reshare on your story, or a comment on someone’s photo that you admire, viability is the best way to grow on social media.

Contact Info:

• Website: oliveandorangefloral.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/oliveandorangefloral

Image Credits
Addie Eshelman Photography Jordan Harper Co. We Are the Kruks Morgan Long Photo Pat Furey Photography