We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tomi Simenson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tomi below.
Alright, Tomi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?
One of my hopes and dreams through this business is to inspire more people to be generous, and to see that generosity spread like wildfire. Through my industry, I am given chances every day to be generous. To see the impact that it has had on our small community, and my employees, has only grown my generous heart. We give through ways such as our “Blessed by Blooms” flower program, fundraiser for the local cancer relief fund through the Hospital, donate Christmas trees for people in need during Christmas, and numerous local fundraisers through our shop. My hope, is to leave an impact on everyone I encounter, and that if they see that I myself can make a small difference, that they can too, however that may be. As I work to grow my business, and spread our creativity throughout the community, my hope is that people will see the generosity that we share, and strive to do the same. If even just a few people go out and spread kindness to one another, it creates a ripple effect, which causes other people to do the same. Before you know it, more people are out there spreading joy, and cheer, and these simple acts of kindness are all it takes to make the world a more generous place, people helping people. I hope to grow in my own areas, leaving bigger impacts on places such as our Church, more cancer groups, local women and children and need, and helping our local communities where there are needs. This dream on mine drives me to do my best every day, and leave behind a legacy that will be remembered by the people in this community for what we shared, and what we created. Spreading kindness through flowers, one bloom at a time.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started working at Shores Floral back in 2011 as a part time employee. I was ready to get back to work after I had my second child, and there wasn’t alot of places hiring at the time. I found this listing in the paper for a part time employee at the flower shop and figured I would see what it had to offer. The shop offers a large selection of Home Decor and gift shopping, so I tried to explain that I would be great for the retail side of things, but didn’t have any interest in the flower side of things. I got told I would have to have some floral arranging done, and I remember leaving there thinking “hm that’s what she thinks!”
I had NO interest in flowers, and figured it would be a just a temporary job until I found what was next for me. Little did I know, there was a passion for all things floral that I had no idea was inside me. My creativity kicked in, and I found myself enjoying my work more than ever. Eventually I moved into more hours, and in 2021 I bought the business to make my own.
This business means the world to me and every day I pour my heart and soul into what we offer. We are a small shop located in Northern Montana, offering Home Decor, gifts, holiday decor, candy, and of course floral. We offer every arrangements, and are growing our wedding work every year. I now travel for wedding florals throughout the State, and have expanded our offerings to wedding rentals as well. We delivery to three towns along the Hi-Line, and strive to be unique among the other florists.
I am starting to be well known for my wedding work, which I am super proud of, but we are also known for the way we use different flowers then what people are use to seeing around here, and our unique designs which set us apart from the rest.
My hope is to grow my wedding work, and to see it take me to more places throughout the state, and work with another level of clientele that these weddings venues have to offer.
I’m most proud of how far we have come since I bought the business. We are watching this business grow every day, and love seeing the positive impact we have had on the community.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
What has helped my social media presence is showing my face more on there. I have been stuck at times, just posting what needs to be sold, of what we have to offer, and frustrated that I’m not getting the “likes” I’m after. I thought things had to look perfect on there, but it turns out people want to see the opposite. They want to see your face, the one behind the scenes. They want to see your wins, and your struggles, but most importantly they want the real you. For me, sometimes it’s being open about having a bad week, knowing full well we all experience those times. Us business owners are people too, we have bad days, we have kids to juggle, and sometimes we forget things, and it’s ok to post about those things too! Not just the perfect picture that you are thing to relay to people.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
I always strive to keep a positive atmosphere for my employees, and encouraging them even if they make mistakes. Now, I am human, and I sometimes make mistakes too, but I think it’s important to recognize those mistakes, call them for what they are, and move on. You can’t expect perfection from yourself or your employees. I always go back to a quote “we will chase perfection, and we will chase it relentlessly, knowing all the while we can never attain it. But along the way, we shall catch excellence.” Vince Lombardi
We strive to communicate with each-other about what’s working, and what isn’t, and being open to changing things when they aren’t. I also have worked hard to not micro manage their creativity. We discuss the vision, and the goal, and give them free rein on how they work ok a project or an arrangement. This has only grown their work, and their creative skills. We’ve got a good solid team, and each people has different strengths. What I do, is recognize those strengths and try to put each person where they are the strongest, while still working on the areas that need some work. We compliment each other really well, and I always try to tell them how proud I am, and how grateful I am to have them working along side of me, and helping me chase my dream.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shoresfloral.store
- Instagram: @shoresfloral
- Facebook: Shores Floral
Image Credits
Soul Craft Media