We were lucky to catch up with Hilary Bateman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hilary, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The story behind Little House of Flowers’ mission is one of resilience, determination, and the willingness to take risks. Hilary’s journey began during a challenging time in her life, navigating a rough divorce. It was during one of those moments when passing by the Friars Road shop that something clicked. Meeting Auburn, our senior designer, while during this time it almost became a coincidence for the start of Little House of Flowers to begin. The thought of building something enduring, like that flower shop, sparked a fire within her. Despite the uncertainty, she took the leap, pouring her heart and soul into building the business from the ground up.

Today, our business stands as a testament to our team’s courage and perseverance, serving as a beacon of hope and inspiration for others facing their own trials. One of our sayings is every flower has a story – it’s a wonderful feeling to be part of each story.

Hilary, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Little House of Flowers’ dedication to quality and attention to detail makes each floral arrangement unique and personalized, bringing the client’s vision to life for any occasion. The friendly staff and their commitment to excellent service has earned Hilary and Little House of Flowers a loyal following.

In September 2018, Hilary launched Little House of Flowers; refurbishing a little shop on the corner of Friars Rd. and Via Las Cumbres by USD. In June 2020, Hilary decided it was time to bring the beauty of flowers to her hometown and open the second location in Point Loma.

Both boutique shops have become the go-to spot for special event florals, creative floral and succulent arrangements, and beautiful plants. Little House of Flowers also offers nationwide delivery, floral workshops, and floral subscriptions.

We accommodate any style or theme our customers request for their events, which we love doing. We want to be a part of each customer’s floral journey and be able to tell their story via our arrangements.

Beyond the beauty of flowers, Hilary takes pride in giving back to the community by donating to local schools and charities, sponsoring the Point Loma Summer Concert Series, and supporting the San Diego Humane Society with her deep love for animals.

Any advice for managing a team?

Managing and running a small business is quite a roller coaster ride! It changes constantly from one day being a slow relaxing day to a busy day with nonstop customers and phone calls.

We’ve created a professional, fun environment by cultivating a positive attitude in our workplaces and with our customers. Being surrounded by flowers all week, especially as a profession, makes everyone happy and ultimately better for the soul. We occasionally get to take flowers home, which is something you don’t turn down, everyone deserves flowers regardless of the occasion.

The Little House of Flowers team is resilient, dedicated and always willing to learn new things. We want to continue expanding our craft and continue providing the beauty of flowers to our community. We are actively working on community event projects, such as our floral workshops, opening our space to the community for private events as well as expanding our monthly floral subscription program.

With my experience thus far, I’ve learned to not alter my path to accommodate change; rather I’ve learned to adapt and be flexible in the face of change. Adjusting how we do business has been a significant factor in learning how to shift gears while keeping my business running smoothly.

I am constantly looking towards the future and the work that is being accomplished by the flower team and hope that our love for flowers extends to the rest of the community.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

With over 15 years of experience in the floral design industry, Auburn Torres, our Senior Floral Designer, joined the team when I took over ownership of our charming establishment on Friars Road. Formerly under the previous owner’s guidance, Auburn seamlessly transitioned into her role with my arrival. In our dynamic partnership, Auburn serves as the left brain to my right, spearheading the creative, artistic, and design aspects, while I concentrate on the business and marketing dimensions.

Beyond our professional collaboration, Auburn and I share the commonality of being single mothers, and our shared work ethic has been a key driver of our success over the past four years. Little House of Flowers owes much of its beauty and prosperity to Auburn’s artistic contributions, making her an integral part of our flourishing venture.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.LittleHouseofFlowersSD.com
• Instagram: @little_house_of_flowers
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LittleHouseOfFlowersSD
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/littlehouseofflowers/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOTM8RLVPJb4FKN8DaERGjA
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/little-house-of-flowers-san-diego-2
• Other: LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/littlehouseofflowerssd Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@littlehouseofflowers

Image Credits
Little House of Flowers Instagram