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

Irina, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

When I moved to the United States from Russia, I had no English and no money. I was starting completely from zero. For a long time, I kept asking myself: What can I even do here? I felt lost. I tried to think of different ideas, different paths — but nothing felt right.

One thing I was absolutely sure about?
Not flowers.

It’s funny now, because flowers became my life.

There were several moments when people asked me to tell them about myself and my previous projects back in Russia. Every time I talked about my floral work, I noticed something interesting — people were the most inspired by those projects. They would look at me and say, “Wait… did you come here to work with flowers?”

That question stayed in my mind.

After hearing it again and again, I started thinking… What if?

So I began researching the flower market in Orlando very deeply. I studied almost every floral project and shop at that time. And I realized something important: everything felt very similar. The arrangements was repetitive, nothing felt modern or stylish, and most importantly — there were no easy, well-designed online stores with strong visual content and a convenient customer experience.

That’s when it clicked.

I understood that this would be my store.

For three months, I studied floristry professionally. At the same time, I was building my website. After that, I worked from home for a year. During that entire time, I never stopped learning. I kept improving my skills, taking courses, practicing, experimenting. I constantly asked my clients what they liked, what they wanted more of, what could be better.

I built Floral Savour step by step — with intention.

I’m incredibly proud that it worked. Just two months after launching, my store started receiving regular orders. That was the moment I knew I was on the right path.

A year later, I opened my physical shop. And one of the most beautiful feelings is realizing recently that many of the customers who ordered from me when I worked from home alone are still with us today — now being served by my wonderful team of florists.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Irina, founder of Floral Savour. My background is in marketing projects, but I professionally retrained in floristry after moving to the U.S. I completed intensive floral education, continued with advanced trainings, and constantly refine my skills in color theory, composition, wedding floristry and modern floral design. Ongoing learning is a core part of my growth as a florist and business owner.

Floral Savour specializes in elevated, European-style arrangements, custom bouquets, flower boxes, and event florals. What sets us apart is our strong aesthetic, curated assortment, attention to detail, and a modern online experience. We focus on premium sourcing, clean design, and creating arrangements that feel stylish, intentional, and emotionally impactful.

I’m most proud of building a recognizable, refined brand from the ground up — one that values quality, consistency, and artistry.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

Yes — now that my shop is in its second year, I can honestly say I was very close to closing during the first six months to a year.

That first year was the hardest period of my life. I had no financial cushion, no investors, and no backup plan. I worked completely alone, 10–12 hours a day, every single day. Looking back, I truly believe the first year is something you just have to endure without giving up.

Now I compare business to a real baby. The first year, you don’t sleep, you don’t rest, you’re constantly worried. It requires all your energy. But if you nurture it properly — over time it grows. Clients become consistent. The brand becomes stronger. You hire and train a team. And eventually, you begin to actually enjoy the process instead of just surviving it.

What helped me move from survival mode to stability was building a clear financial model for the year and developing a real marketing and sales strategy. Creativity is important, but structure is what saves you.

I’m proud that I didn’t quit during that fragile stage — because that was the moment that truly defined my business.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

100% — the most effective strategy for growing our clientele has been building a convenient, modern online store with strong, beautiful visual content.

Flowers are a very visual product. People choose them with their eyes. If the arrangement doesn’t look attractive on the screen, the client simply scrolls past. That’s why presentation is everything. From the beginning, I understood that our website and content had to feel stylish, clean, and emotionally appealing.

We invest a significant amount of time, energy, and finances into developing our online presence — photography, branding, website experience, and social media. And we will continue to do so, because this is what brings consistent growth.

I truly believe many entrepreneurs underestimate the power of content. Some don’t even actively manage their social media. But today, these are modern marketing tools — and they are essentially free. If used correctly, they create visibility, trust, and demand.

For us, strong visuals and a seamless online experience have been the key drivers of client growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://floralsavour.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/floralsavour/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floralsavour/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/floral-savour-orlando
• Other: Our profile on Google Maps – https://www.google.com/maps/place/Floral+Savour/

Image Credits

I don’t quite understand what is required , sorry:)