We were lucky to catch up with Afton Johnson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Afton thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job

I used to manage a tattoo studio. That’s where I say I got my ‘street degree’ from. I did go to college for a BA in Operations Management, but really everything I needed to know, I learned from managing the studio. I learned about SMART goals, breaking down a monthly goal for each artist, what they needed to make daily so we could meet our entire goal. I learned about maintaining supplies, doing supply orders, cutting costs where needed, trying to figure out the best price option for supplies. I learned how to manage people – which – a tattoo studio has the most diverse group of folks and different motivations. Some were motivated by money, some by praise. I had to figure out how to crack their code and keep them motivated to do their job; they are artists after all and creatives have a whole different type of brain. I also learned how to interact with a large scope of clients and how to handle difficult interactions; how to gracefully deny underage people or individuals under some sort of influence, to the ones complaining about wait times, to the ones wanting tattoos our studio would refuse to do. It was a very colorful learning experience.

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

I got into the flower world via Craigslist! Some folks might not even know what that is these days, but I was 21 at the time, working at FYE in the mall and figured I could do two jobs. She asked me to bring in artwork since she asked if I understood color theory and even though I was going through a black and white phase at the time, asked me to make an arrangement. I saw blue and yellow in the cooler, made it, they ended up selling it, and I got the job! The one that hired me I now call my mentor. I bug her on a weekly basis almost still to this day and Im 32. Ive had my business 6 years. I call myself the tiny, tattooed, traveling florist. I give off 5’8 energy but I’m only 5’1 and yes, working at a tattoo studio lead me on my tattoo journey. I have about 75% of my body decorated. I know its pretty jarring for parents to see me but I like to break the stigma of the wedding world. We’re not all hoity toity running around in blazers and heels. I show up in my Vans or Rothys usually with a headband, ready to get to it on wedding day. I mainly do weddings and special events but we knock out every day babes throughout the week also. Because my name is unusual, I like to keep my flowers unusual. We don’t use carnations or baby’s breath around these parts. Even though for weddings, we’ve had a few baby’s breath arrangements whipped up, but we keep it our way and asymmetrical. No round poof balls here. I call my method a collaboration because you present me with your ideas and photos (A+ if they’re my photos), and I put my spin on it. I will not replicate a photo stem for stem. We got in trouble for plagiarizing papers in school, it’s no different in the real world – highly disrespectful. I keep it very real with all of my clients – Im very much so Me in the way that I talk, dress, and act. Like I said, we ain’t a blazer high heel gang round these parts. In my Instagram stories, you can find me talking about my dogs, working out, headache attacks, why its taking me so long to reply to your email, my storage adventures – all of the above. If your clients find you relatable, you’re more likely to build a better bond and overall experience leading up to the big day.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I keep it reallll! No phoney malarkey here. If my migraine is attacking me, Im posting about it. If my 4 dogs are being wild – or cute – you’re going to see it. If it’s oil changing day on my truck, you’re going to learn too! Be REAL. So often I see all these wedding folk, very polished, very precise – I hope you see my pinky’s out while talking about this…and that is just not ya gurl. I was very much so a tomboy growing up and still am. I tried to dress up, I tried the blazers. But it just never felt – comfortable. And if you’re not comfortable, it shows. I share my therapy journey throughout my stories too and have had such a huge response in messages coming to me about how my sharing has helped them – both clients and non clients alike! Therapy is always such a touchy subject and again – Id like to break the stigma. I don’t follow any of those posting rules either. Pft. I post when I remember/feel like. If I just got a mack daddy wedding, I don’t care that its 2PM on a Thursday – posting. Too many people focus on the time frames and the days and the likes and the views. Stop it. You’re trying way too hard and you’re just going to burn yourself out and it won’t be fun anymore. Play by your own rules – just remember to be nice. I know its easy to get caught up in your feelings with a bad client or what someone replied to your story – do not make a story or reel right after it though….wait like 2 weeks…

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The one thing I keep consistent in posting on Instagram is hash tagging cities I want to be in. A lot of my questionnaires come though and mention they found me on Instagram – which if they didn’t find me there – I say, follow me on Instagram to see my work but to also see my stories. And I say too, interact with my stories! I want to talk to you! When clients interact with me, even if its just an emoji response to my story, I will Always make sure to either like their reaction or type out an actual response. That is another thing Im very consistent about – always making sure to interact back with y’all. For business folk, it actually helps boost you because Insta bots see you’re being active on the platform – wink wink nudge nudge. I have had to turn down some projects because I tag cities that are 2 plus hours away but want me for a baby shower or a regular delivery but they found me on Instagram. There’s a good and bad with it, ha.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fernandcurldesigns.com
• Instagram: @fernandcurldesigns
• Facebook: fern.and.curl

Image Credits
Tall centerpiece photo – Kindle and Grain, Yellow shirt photo – Winship Photography, Ladder photo – Carling and Dakota, Horse photo – Hazography