We recently connected with Kelly Wulf and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kelly thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My name is Kelly and I am a passionate gardener who adores animals, being an introvert & true crime. I started Blossoems in 2021 because I realized how much gardening had helped my mental health and I wanted the opportunity to help others. When I went through a divorce in 2019 and then the pandemic, I found solace in the garden. I found that my brain quieted down, my heart rate dropped and my nervous system dropped out of fight/flight/freeze. Everyone should be able to experience gardening, whether it be a large space or a few pots, and it is my goal to help make that possible. For some reason, gardening has become an inequitable and exclusive hobby but I believe it should be available to everyone. To me, digging in the ground feels like a human right. Through Blossoems, I offer garden design consultations, workshops and seasonal, organic bouquets.

Kelly, 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?

Blossoems specializes in designing wildlife- friendly, sustainable cottage gardens with a Colorado flair (hello 3’ of snow). I have studied the work of some of Britain’s most beloved gardeners, including; Monty Don, Alan Titchmarsh, Adam Frost, Joe Swift, Gertrude Jekyll, Capability Brown and many more. I have attended various gardening courses at the Denver Botanic Gardens, Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Royal Horticultural Society. I am also attending Green School through Colorado State University-Extension with the goal of becoming a Colorado Master Gardener.

For those seeking garden design services, I provide affordable consultations to help my clients identify their aesthetic and then work hand in hand with them to create an outdoor space that is beautiful, easy to maintain and sustainable. Most people want a lovely garden but are put off by the maintenance & cost. By truly listening to the client I can create a space that requires as little (or as much) time as they want to put in. I also strive to understand the soil, light and climate of each garden space so not only does the client get what they want, but every plant gets what they need to survive. By working within the mentality of “right plant, right place” I set the client and the garden up for success.

I also offer seasonal bouquets from my home garden and community garden plot. All of my flowers are grown organically, sustainably, peat-free & are hand picked by me (with occasional help from my dogs). The bouquets change with the season and have limited availability from May-September. I don’t think fresh flowers should break the bank so they are always reasonably priced. For the weekly bouquets follow Blossoems on Instagram & Facebook!

Blossoems is more than a place to learn about how to grow a plant or design a garden. It’s about caring for, and about, the flora and fauna we share this world with. We are merely custodians of our little plot, or even our little pot, and we can make that one space better with a little extra attention. Learning to take cuttings and how to grow veg is important, but I believe that exploring the history, mythology and poetry of plants is equally as important. Why? Because when you have a deeper understanding of something you can care more deeply for it. I want to help you grow your soul, grow your imagination and of course, grow your garden. You can follow us on Instagram and Facebook to get regular doses of plant knowledge from around the world in your feed.

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

My most effective strategy for growing the business has been treating my clients & potential clients like human beings. Because I am a small business owner, without much capital, I rely heavily on word of mouth advertising. Blossoems works hard to earn the trust of our clients so we can count on referrals down the road. In this type of work a portfolio is great but the human connection is essential.

I want to be the complete opposite of what people think about when the word “contractor” comes into their head. There are so many negative connotations that come along with landscaping, etc. and my goal is to be a pleasant surprise. I am reliable, timely, trustworthy and honest. So many people have the willingness to make their outdoor space special, but are treated poorly or taken advantage of by landscapers and/or designers. Denver is such a hot market right now and it seems like people with smaller jobs are being ignored by other companies. I believe everyone’s time matters, and I treat my clients/potential clients with respect. Since I am such a small operation, I have to be honest about project turnaround and up front about expectations. I then work really hard to meet time expectations and keep the client in the loop about any unforeseen changes.

Blossoems is a very new business and I am still building clientele but I have found that if you do good work and do it with kindness, you tend to get referrals.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

By the time a job is complete I am usually on a pretty friendly level with my clients. We spend a lot of time discussing their needs, wants, time, etc and it can get pretty personal. This means that I usually maintain personal communication with them, which, as the business grows probably won’t be feasible. However, right now, especially with the pandemic, it feels really good to be able to see how they grow within their space and put their personal touches on it. To keep in touch with a wider audience, I utilize social media. I have contemplated a newsletter but I know people get too much email as it is and I don’t want to contribute to that. I have found that with limited time and capital, social media is the best way for me to regularly keep up with my clients and beyond.

I think to foster brand loyalty you have to have a good product & be enjoyable to work with. I’ve never gone back to a company that treated me poorly, even if their work was good. I want my clients to enjoy the end product but also not dread the process. Also, I never turn my back on a project. If I helped you create something and down the road you have questions, I am here to help. My clients know this & that makes them more willing to return & refer.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blossoems/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Blossoems
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellywulf/

Image Credits
All images my own