We were lucky to catch up with Cynthia Dearnbarger recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Cynthia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Talk to us about building your team? What was it like? What were some of the key challenges and what was your process like?

I did not have employees from day one; I actually waited a year to hire my first team member! I was feeling a little overwhelmed at the time, and a friend of mine had been visiting the shop quite frequently. One day, as we were chatting, I asked her if she would consider coming alongside me and helping out. Shortly after, we started handling more weddings and events, leading to the expansion of our team.

What was really great about it all was that everything happened very organically. Most of them were friends who wanted a part-time gig, so it worked out well. Today, we are grateful to say that as we continued to grow, it has remained organic. Whether it’s a friend of a friend or someone who was once a customer and enjoyed serving during Valentine’s Day or other big holidays!

Reflecting on the beginning, if there was anything I would have done differently, it would be setting clearer expectations and having a handbook (we affectionately call it ‘The Flourish Way’). Though ‘handbook’ sounds so official, haha. This document provides a great outline about our business’s heart but also offers structure to employment and all the associated aspects!

Cynthia, 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?

In early 2017, Cynthia’s daughter asked me, ‘What are you going to do, Mom? You’ve taken care of everyone for years, and we’re about to leave the house. So, what will you do for yourself?’ Something about this question hit my heart. The gift that I had been stewarding, the art that I had been practicing, the talent that I had been tending to… It was finally time to make my dream a reality and step into my calling.

Soon after, I took the leap of faith and started Flourish Flowers and Gifts. The humble beginnings took place in Farmers’ Markets, and we quickly secured a small storefront in Old Town Lewisville. Flourish, the name of the quaint business, definitely lives up to its title.

Within the same year, Flourish was booming with business, which meant the small storefront was bursting at its seams! Flourish was so successful that we relocated to a bigger storefront about four times as large as our first. What was initially a dream to create unique bouquets has now evolved into so much more. Not only do we create and craft beautiful arrangements, but we also get to bring other people’s dreams to life. Flourish offers endless choices of gifts, is a full-service florist including daily deliveries, and also puts on the most beautiful weddings & events!

We truly believe that every single arrangement is unique and different, each one made with the most love!

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

When we first started looking to open this business, we had some money in our savings, but we weren’t sure how things would turn out. We decided to meet with a friend and peer, considering him as a potential investor in our venture. During our discussion, he asked us, ‘Do you have any money saved?’ We replied, ‘Yes,’ and he advised, ‘Start with that. You don’t want to owe me or anyone else. Just start small and use what you have.’ To this day, that has been the best advice we received!

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

Contact Info:

• Website: https://flourishflowersandgifts.com/
• Instagram: @flourishflowersandgifts, @flourishflowersandevents
• Facebook: @flourishflowersandgifts, @flourishflowersandevents

Image Credits
Kelly Blackall – Blackall Photography in Old Town Lewisville