We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hannah Upham. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hannah below.
Hannah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?
When I was in high school and my first few years in college I competed internationally in a sport called biathlon (a combination of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting). It took a ton of discipline and training. When I decided to retire from the sport I had some depression as my goals in life had changed and I felt a bit lost. I started a job in a growing greenhouse and it was the best thing for me. Learning observing the natural process of life and grown was amazing. It takes time To see a tiny seed grow to a fruiting vegetable or a gorgeous flower. The same goes for businesses. If you go slowly and allow it to grow at its own pace, then it’s healthy and happy. When you try to push it or give too much, then it’s not sustainable for you or your business.
Hannah, 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 am currently a sustainable wedding and event florist and micro flower farm in Salida, CO. From my initial introduction to growing flowers, to having several jobs in greenhouses, retail florists, to landscaping, and counseling, my business actually flourished after the birth of my second child.
I was a counselor with a background in art and horticulture, and used all those creative processes in my work. Sometimes in the summer I would also use my skills designing wedding florals for people.
I took leave from counseling to have children and We moved to Salida in October of 2018. I had my son 2 months later. That summer I decided I wanted to grow flowers again and started building a garden. It’s amazing to watch kids in gardens. They are curious active and imaginative. Just before Covid hit, I had planned to start doing wedding again, but this time with a more sustainable, eco-friendly process. The retail flower and garden industry is full of wasteful and harmful products. So my focus is to use as many locally grown flowers as possible, dried flowers, compost all plant waste, and avoiding all floral foam products. This way I can be sure I am not harming the earth with my business.
Covid hit and cancellations happened. In 2021 double the amount of weddings came in. From then on my business has flourished.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Trying to become a sustainable florist has been very educational. Products that I was told were fine for the environment when working at a florist, truly were not. Really taking the time to source all the items that go with the floral industry and learning different techniques was really important to me. Design processes had to be changed and when I hire people, I have to also change how they do things.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
We live in a Small rural Colorado town. We are one of about 4 florists in the area. I made sure that I stand out, not only by growing my own flowers, but also insisting on using sustainable and organic practices in frowning and designing. I also use my counseling skills to really listen and hear my couples, and also make connections with vendors and venues.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.phytologyflowers.com
- Instagram: @phytologyflowers
- Facebook: @phytologyflowers
Image Credits
Ivy Bencheck portraits