We caught up with the brilliant and insightful LaWanda Hines a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

LaWanda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear your thoughts about family businesses.

Now & Forever Flower Boutique is a family owned business. My mom, Henrietta and I are the florist and face of the company. While my dad, Albert keeps our financials. My sister, Teala is the Administrative Assistant and my husband, Jamaal is my support and “Honey-Do” list checkers lol.

LaWanda, 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 like to say that I was born in this business. I’ve been in it all of my life! When I was just about 3 years old, my mom took her first floral design class. Her interest sparked when she notic3d the lack of floral presentation in the church I grew up in. She as she grew her skills for floral design, she would take me along to her design jobs and the wholesale flower markets. Soon, I would become her 2nd hand. And as the years went on of helping her grow her business and brand, I decided to take a floral design class of my own. That is when it hit me! I like flowers too! I feel in love with the art of designing with flowers and all of the possibilities of things you can create with someon so simple, yet so beautiful such as flowers. So what was “Henrietta’s Flowers and Gifts”, evolved into “Now & Forever Flower Boutique”. From working in the inclosed porch of my childhood home, to operating our own brick and mortar flowershop, we have come along way.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the words “hustle”, “grind” and “superwoman”. For years, I have been what many would call a “workaholic.” I would stay up for hours upon hours after my 9-5 job to work on the flower business. I would create an endless to-do list. I would miss social gatherings to stay home and work. Or if I did attend an event, I was constantly on my phone, working. My life was consumed with go, go, go… grind and hustle, while doing it all on my own. Well, I was exhausting myself. I was not sleeping or eating well, and my health took a nosedive. In early 2022, I was diagnosed with cancer. My world came to a halt! I was forced to change my bad habits. I had to unlearn everything! Once I finally let go, I learned how to allow people to help me and release the unnecessary load I was carrying. I had to unlearn how to be a superwoman, someone I could never be in the first place. And just be La’Wanda, which is always enough.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Being genuine in loving my craft is what I believe has helped me build my reputation within my market. The respect and love I receive from brides, planners, and venue owners is something I do not take for granted. Staying focused on being my best creative self while over delivering, attributes to the support I have received. At the end of the day, my clients know they are dealing with a real person who genuinely cares about creating a beautiful, memorable event for them.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.nowandforeverflowers.com
• Instagram: @nowandforeverflowerboutique
• Facebook: @nowandforeverflowerboutique
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lawanda-hines-a775b2105/
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/nforeverflowersl
• Youtube: @nowandforeverflowerboutique
• Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/now-and-forever-flower-boutique-river-rouge

Image Credits
Jamaal Hines Lillie Mae