We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christine (Chris) Murphy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Christine (Chris), thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Flower Song LA believes in the magic of tiny details and the little moments that can spark joy for someone. Through sustainable, head-turning design, our floral installations and arrangements aim to make hearts and minds dance. Just like your favorite song, a fleeting 3 minute and 30 second moment can make you SO spontaneously happy (as long as you notice it, take it in, and appreciate it). I created Flower Song because I had stopped dancing.
After 15+ years working as a Creative Executive in the advertising world, the career that I had once loved no longer brought me joy. In fact, it had brought me a lot of pain. Oppressively long hours and schedule demands, egregious workloads, incessant travel, poor health, missed social commitments with friends and family, many, MANY years single (did I say MANY?! so many…), and not to mention the constant pouring of your heart, soul and creative energy into something for weeks/months only to be met at the finish line with a budget cut or a strategy pivot so, “let’s table this for now”. It was like being in a toxic relationship; I thought I loved my career so I stuck with it, even though it was horrible for my mental/emotional/physical wellbeing and everyone I knew was just praying we’d break up. Oh, and- I. DIDN’T. SEE. IT.
In 2018, I randomly took a flower arranging class at the WeWork my office was in and fell in love. It brought me back to my college sculpting days at SVA. Tangible, physical work brought me such joy (and relief?) after hours of screens, calls and digital jargon gobbledygook. So I took it up as a hobby for myself and friends/family. I even did it here and there for photo/video shoots I was doing at work when I could get away with it. I didn’t realize it at first, but I was doing to my floral designs that I do to my cars, pets, most treasured clothes- I’d name them after iconic songs, albums, lyrics, rock stars. With me, that’s how you know it’s love. But- I. STILL. DIDN’T. SEE. IT.
Flash forward to 2023, I had just turned 40 and I was exhausted. I was burnt out and uninspired by my job and its demands. I’d daydream about quitting and starting a flower shop. I’d joke with my colleagues about it when I was having a bad day. But I had equity, so I was sticking it out. Then, I was laid off shortly before I vested in any of it. It was about an hour of shock, being hurt, being angry and scared before the most amazing feeling set in- RELIEF. I didn’t have to do this anymore. Why should I?! There’s no stability, no longevity AND no joy?!?! F this. I decided to find my joy, but that siren song had already found me.
I was in floral design school 4 weeks later. I became a 40 year old intern. I worked entry level jobs at other flower shops and studios. I embraced the beginner’s mindset. I honed my craft. I was humbled. I fucking loved it. Now, not even a year later I run my own studio and online floral design shop. I name every arrangement after the music/musician that inspired it. Each design is my little slice of heaven and tiny spark of joy for myself and someone else. Each piece is created with the intention that the person on the receiving end is going to feel those feels too- maybe even dance a little.
Christine (Chris), before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I went to art school – The School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City, where painting, sculpture, color theory and narrative were all critical to the curriculum and expected in your personal mastery of your craft. I ended up in advertising for many years, got burnt out, and pivoted to take a crack at a floral design- bringing together a hobby of mine (designing floral arrangements) with my education and professional experience.
Flower Song specializes in visual storytelling through the creation of sustainable floralscapes and installations for brand events/experiences, film/photo set design & corporate/retail/hospitality accounts. Sustainability is a newer concept to the floral industry, and the up-and-coming florists joining this space are really committing to that (us included) in their practice. We don’t/won’t use floral foam, which is super toxic and a massive contributor to microplastic in our oceans. We avoid single use plastics, we seek out biodegradable/compostable alternatives and we encourage/practice upcycling.
With Flower Song, you support a local, female-owned small business who committed to sustainability and the giving back ot the community.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Simon Sinek gave a Ted Talk many years ago called “How Great Leaders Inspire Action”, that shaped how I approach every project I touch, including my own brands and businesses. “People don’t care what you do, they care why you do it”, is one of the most powerful sentiments I think I carry in my back pocket.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Empathy. It has always been important to me to be present, kind, supportive, understanding and generous with my time when it comes to industry colleagues/connections and my employees. I get cards, texts and emails often that remind me that I succeeded in that from time to time- so I hope that’s the reputation I can carry on.
In loving memory of Bowie my dog, 10% of all Bloomnation orders will be donated to the rescue he came from, I Stand With My Pack
https://www.instagram.com/p/C3jQKLvJObg/?igsh=MTU0cTd5dzZlZDNuMg==
Contact Info:
- Website: www.flowersong.studio
- Instagram: @flowersongLA
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553582558291
- Linkedin: www.linkedin/in/chrismurph26
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/flower-song-los-angeles