We recently connected with David Bovier and have shared our conversation below.
Hi David, thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?
I believe that success is such an odd term for business. How does one measure it in today’s world? Success can be enjoyed in so many other areas of life rather than monetarily. There are many other ways to measure what it means to be successful in life. Quality time with family is a success, security is a success. Being able to enjoy a vacation is a success. Too much importance is put on the time and sacrifices people make in their personal lives trying to be “successful”. They end up missing out on the very thing that success can offer.
Of course, you still have to work hard to attain a level of income to have the freedom to enjoy what you’ve worked for. Flexibility and keeping an open mind are very important, especially in these times. If you can’t evolve quickly you become a dinosaur. I would also have to say that perseverance plays a large part in becoming and staying successful.
You’ll make many mistakes along the way. If you fail, learn from that mistake, dust yourself off, and try again with your new knowledge. Failure is the best teacher and there can be hard lessons to learn. Keep in mind, if you’re not continually learning, you’ve already failed.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am currently the owner of Ken Miesner’s Flower Shoppe, I began my floral career by serendipity some 38 years ago. My journey at a small “mom and pop” flower shop. Sweeping up, processing flowers, and taking out the trash wasn’t very exciting. But I LOVED the flowers. The owner of the shop recognized the creativity and innate talent I had and encouraged me to learn more about the world of floral design. I began learning from as many sources as I could. Classes, seminars, and even the occasional tutelage by master designers filled the next few years. After years of learning in a retail shop, I worked at a floral wholesale house on LaSalle Street, also known as “Floral Row” in St. Louis. There I learned even more about the trade. I then continued my career working at well established, high-end floral design studios. Not only did these places offer floral design, they were also involved with interior design, art, fine furnishings, and antiques. Working with some of the best designers in the industry taught me even more. After many years of working in the industry, the time was right to begin a new and bigger journey. Ken Miesner of Ken Miesner’s Flowers was looking to pass along his well established, high-end shop to a new owner. The timing was right, and Ken was positive I had exactly the right mix of brains and talent to continue operating his life’s work for many years to come. Continuing and building on what Ken started is my mission. I am eternally grateful for his trust in me. And also for the confidence his customers had in my ability to create, advise, and grow the vision for the business.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Running a high-end floral shop like Ken Miesner’s isn’t just about arranging beautiful bouquets; It’s about creating an exceptional experience for my customers and my team. Managing the day-to-day operations of a business that demands both creativity and precision while keeping the atmosphere light, motivating, and enjoyable for my staff can be challenging.
As the manager or owner, you set the tone for your shop’s culture. Make sure to be a good example. People are naturally drawn to positive leadership, and if you model patience, understanding, and a good work ethic, your team will likely follow suit. Take time to listen to your staff. They often have terrific ideas and are excited to share them with you. Encourage them and always show appreciation for their hard work. The key is to balance high standards with kindness. Tell them how much they are appreciated and thank them for putting forth their best efforts. I personally thank each team member at the end of every day.
At Ken Miesner’s Flower Shoppe, creativity is at the heart of what we do. I give my team space to experiment, learn new techniques, and push boundaries. Regular brainstorming sessions where we can share ideas—whether it’s for new floral arrangements or unique shop displays—can make your team feel like valued contributors. It helps to remember that creativity thrives when there’s trust and freedom. Consider their suggestions. Let them know how you think their idea may or may not work for your business. I do this in one-on-one talks.
Working with fresh flowers can sometimes mean long or unpredictable hours, especially during major events like weddings or holidays. Offering flexible schedules can help reduce burnout and give your team the balance they need to avoid stress. As much as possible, try to provide them with a balance of busy and lighter days to keep morale up.
Take the time to recognize achievements, both large and small. Whether it’s a record-breaking sales day, an outstanding arrangement for a client, or just a team member going above and beyond, shout out their success! Acknowledge the hard work with rewards. That doesn’t always mean rewarding them financially. though. Even a thoughtful thank-you note goes a long way to show that you notice. Simple gestures of appreciation and recognition can go a long way in boosting morale.
The team’s growth is important not only for them but also for your shop’s continued success. Provide opportunities for staff to attend flower design workshops, or get certifications in floral arrangement techniques. Giving your team a chance to enhance their skills shows that you value their development and will keep them engaged in their roles.
It may sound simple, but a welcoming and beautiful work environment can do wonders for morale. Ensure your shop is well-organized, tidy, and visually appealing—after all, you’re working with flowers, so beauty should be all around! Pay attention to the little things, like making sure your team has comfortable breaks or a pleasant place to gather. Happy surroundings often lead to happier employees. The simple comforts, such as providing a coffee station and the occasional sweet treat are part of what I do to keep my team feeling appreciated.
Regular communication with your team is key. Your team needs to feel comfortable approaching you with any issues or suggestions. Regular check-ins and open feedback can prevent small frustrations from escalating and allow you to address potential concerns before they affect morale. Always take the time to listen.
Managing a high-end flower shop is as much about cultivating a positive, supportive environment for your team as it is about providing exceptional customer service. When your staff feels appreciated, empowered, and creatively engaged, that positive energy will translate into a thriving business. So take time to lead with empathy, encourage innovation, and never underestimate the power of a happy team. Because when morale is high, your business will bloom too!
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Growing my clientele is essential for long-term business success. While many strategies can help, the most effective approach is a combination of relationship-building, strategic marketing, and consistent value delivery. It’s often easier to retain existing clients than acquire new ones.
Before trying to attract more clients, I need to understand who I’m targeting. Who benefits most from my product or service? What problems do they need solved? Where do they spend their time online and offline? By identifying my ideal client, I am able to tailor my messaging, offers, and outreach strategies to attract the right audience.
Word-of-mouth is one of the most powerful tools for us to acquire new clients. We provide exceptional service that makes our clients eager to recommend us. We bring business cards when servicing weddings or events to hand out to interested attendees. We are fortunate to have a very loyal existing client base that recommends us frequently. I am recognized while out and about because of our social media presence, so I am always ready to talk with potential clients. I believe this combination, along with an already outstanding reputation, works very well. We also make a concerted effort to build relationships with key influencers in our industry who can introduce us to new potential clients.
Most potential clients will look you up online before making a decision. To ensure we make a great impression, we have a professional, user-friendly website with clear calls to action. It has our shop profile and history, along with some information about myself. This way, new customers can make their decision to use us easier by seeing if our values as a business align with theirs.
We keep our social media profiles active with engaging content. We post frequently on different platforms to keep view totals as high as possible. Pictures of our arrangements, videos of us setting up events, and guided tours of our shop are our most widely viewed content. We also make an effort to showcase new gift lines and interesting products we carry. Our customers frequently comment on our posts which helps with our views and credibility.
Blogging about industry insights, client success stories, and techniques is also a great way to attract a new, possibly younger pool of potential customers. We tout our use of small, locally owned flower growers to demonstrate our commitment to being an environmentally conscious business.
We are very choosey with our print advertising. If done correctly, paid ads can accelerate a small business’s client growth. If not done correctly, it can be a costly venture. We make sure to utilize publications that target our ideal audience. Cross-promotions with businesses that share my target market are also a great way to get my business noticed. We often collaborate with planners, caterers, realtors, and event spaces. We split the cost of advertising these events to make it more affordable for us both.
The most effective way we have found to grow our clientele is a mix of strategic marketing, strong relationship-building, and consistent value delivery. By focusing on our ideal client, optimizing our online presence, leveraging referrals, and continuously improving our approach, we believe we are on a good course for reaching new customers while still maintaining our current customer base,
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.miesnersflowers.com
- Instagram: @kenmiesnersflowershoppe
- Facebook: Ken Miesner’s Flower Shoppe
- Yelp: Ken Miesner’s Flower Shoppe
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