We were lucky to catch up with Jackie Phillips recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jackie , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I have been able to support myself and my children doing what I love . I happened to meet two amazing men at lunch one day and told me they owned a flower shop . I smiled and said how fun ,, that had to be an amazing job. That led to being asked to come in for interview which intern led to a full time job , where I learned all about flowers and how to create works of art with them . The shop closed , I got a job at another local flower shop for a few years and then I decided I wanted to open up my own ,that specialized in weddings and events.

So I worked as a bartender at a local resturant and saved my money until I could afford to open my shop.
The hardest thing about it was getting orders, I dont think there could be any way to speed up the process of getting people in the door , you have to build a trustworthy connection with the surrounding community for a creative job in my opinion, I started with one wedding and that grew to 25 my first year.

Jackie , 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?

My name is Jacquelyn Phillips , I own and operate The Flowergirl Flower shop .We offer a wide variety of fresh floral services from daily deliveries , and flower bars to weddings and events . . Each wedding or event ( our speciality to us is unique just the like the client. We discuss with the client / customer on a daily basis the size and options of flowers that best suit them The Flower Bars are also a big hit where customers can pick out their own bouquets to fit the budget During the holidays , Valentines day .. Mothers Day – I set up buckets of flowers up and down the sidewalk where locals come and have a fun making their own bouquets for loved ones

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I am truly lucky , having a job where I get to do what I love and be a part of some of the most important days in someones life . The only goal I have is to make everyone that recieves one of my creations smlie .

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I create floral installations on the front of my shop , which is located downtown in our city . I switch them out every season and try to top myself every time I create a new one . they are known around the city and have become a stopping point for pictures . It shows everyone exactly what I am capable of design wise ,

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theflowergirlsflowershop.com
• Instagram: @theflowergirlstatesboro.com

Image Credits

Art photography
Jackie Phillips