Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to April Vomfell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi April, thanks for joining us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

Before starting my business, I was a professional librarian. I had an English degree and had worked in publishing and web editing for several years after college. In 2009 I was working in a Wyoming state government office that published labor statistics and analysis – not my dream job. But because I learned how to find and interpret labor market data, I started exploring other career options and soon found myself volunteering at my local public library, then working there while attending graduate school online. As I neared graduation, I applied for library jobs in other states, including Montana – which was closer to my home state of Washington and much more green and scenic than central Wyoming. Fast forward a few years, I was a homeowner and newly married. My husband and I started a large garden, which then turned into a farm business because we were growing way more vegetables than the two of us could eat. He casually suggested, “Why don’t you grow some flowers?” That started me on the path of flower farming, which eventually became my full-time job and my business.

That’s the long way of saying no, I don’t wish I had started my business sooner or later. I’m glad I started out with more than a decade of experience working in lots of different environments and gaining lots of different skills. In my past jobs I learned copy editing, marketing, research, website management and SEO, event planning, public relations, strategic planning, budgeting, social media management and leadership. As a business owner I’ve used every single one of those skills. I’m grateful that I’ve had an indirect and winding career path, and I’m still excited about the unknowns in my future.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a flower farmer and floral artist living in northwest Montana near Glacier National Park. My business, Flathead Farmworks, has been providing specialty cut flowers to the local area for a decade. I currently focus primarily on weddings using 100 percent local flowers, typically from my urban farm.

When working with wedding clients, my professional background allows me to make the planning and design process clear, smooth and enjoyable. As a former librarian, I love the excitement of matching an inquiry with the perfect answer – in other words, being the bridge between locally grown flowers and each couple’s personality and vision for their day.

Being a farmer florist allows me to merge everything I enjoy: science, art, planning, creativity and being outside. With my background in publishing, public libraries, technology and marketing, I enjoy both the creative and practical sides of running a small business. I also offer consulting for farmers, florists and other entrepreneurs.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I read and listen voraciously. I attribute a lot of my mindset and success to my openness and curiosity, and the way that I seek out information from a wide range of industries and people. I’ve read plenty of books on business and leadership, but one of my all-time favorites is “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” by Greg McKeown. The book articulates so well what it means to focus on the important things, to create your own path, to pare down your life to the most essential activities/things/ideas.

Along those lines, I suppose my mantra might be something like, “I can do anything, but I can’t do everything.” Over the years I have chosen to scale back my business instead of expanding; to have fewer employees instead of more; to focus on a narrower range of services instead of trying to do it all.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

The short answer: quality and consistency.

I live in a small town where word of mouth means a lot. When I first started out I was selling directly to other local businesses. Luckily my personal obsession with quality helped me maintain customers once they saw the quality of my cut flowers. I sent a weekly availability list, and I made deliveries at the same time each week. My prices were fair and I communicated regularly with my customers.

When I switched to retail and working mostly with wedding clients, those same traits have been essential. I show up when I say I will, and my many five-star client reviews reinforce the quality of my work. It helps that my business has been around for a while, so my online presence is established and solid.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.flatheadfarmworks.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flatheadfarmworks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flatheadfarmworks

Image Credits

Amy Messenger
April Vomfell