We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Meghan Campbell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Meghan below.

Meghan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

From the very start of my business, I made it my number one priority to be as sustainable as possible. This came from a deep desire to protect the planet and be environmentally conscious, but also my eagerness to connect with the local community.

My business is big on local everything: local growers, local flowers, local events, local partnerships, local nonprofits… the list goes on and it’s everything I could dream of and more.

In my floral designs, I exclusively source locally grown product and am always floral foam free. That means I don’t usually get a lot of business in the winter, but I get to rest easy knowing that my carbon footprint is as small as I can make it. My values are loud and proud on my website and socials and I am able to attract clients whose values align with mine. In return, I get to provide my clients with the best of the best and support my local community.

My very first wedding at the end of 2021 was so nerve wracking. Obviously with it being my first, I was winging it. On top of that, it was a pretty high profile wedding that many floral designers turned down because it was over the holidays and markets were closed. The newbie that I was had no idea about the market situation, but I was bound and determined to do this wedding well and do it while sticking to my values. I sent dozens and dozens of emails to local growers, all of whom responded with “of course we don’t have flowers, it’s the dead of winter” (in a nicer way). I was left feeling torn between compromising my values by importing flowers or providing my client with a wedding they didn’t necessarily want.

But then came my hero: Johanna. She reached out to me to tell me she was just starting out as a small scale flower farmer and would have some bulb flowers ready for the wedding and in the color I needed. We’ve both grown our businesses since, and we continue to support each other and invest in our local communities. I will forever be grateful for Johanna and the support of the local community.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hiiii I’m Meghan, and I am a sustainable floral designer! I officially launched my business in 2021 and finally took the plunge into full time early 2023, focusing on weddings, events, and funerals.

During the pandemic, I had the time and space to think about and pursue a career change. It was the hardest, most courageous, and most rewarding decision of my life. I am so grateful for the support I experienced during this time. I attended Tallulah Rose Flower School in England for a comprehensive floral design course. Everyone involved in that course continues to be a positive influence in my personal and professional life.

Upon return, I had my business: Twisted Bramble. My vision for locally grown and environmentally conscious floral designs was clear and continues to serve me and my clients. Protecting the environment is the foundation of my business. I never use floral foam and instead opt for compostable or reusable mechanics. I get to work with local growers who share a passion for the environment and who grow me the most beautiful flowers to design with. Everything I design is a celebration of the season and what nature is offering us today. We get vibrance and abundance in the summer and beautifully wild textures in the winter. With all locally grown product, I get to provide clients with the cream of the crop, support the local community, and be kind to the environment. Wins all around.

Because I rely so heavily on my community, it has also been important to me to give back. I chose a handful of local organizations that align with my business’s values and are working to better our community. With each wedding and event, my client and I get to donate a portion of the invoice to one (or more!) of the organizations. It’s a little thing, but I want to be actively investing in the community that continues to support me and my business.

Often when folks think of sustainability, they’re thinking “reusable water bottles, mason jars, and burlap”. You can have that if you want, but I want to shift that mindset and help my clients realize that they can have the luxurious wedding of their dreams while also being environmentally conscious. Having a beautiful, lush, bespoke wedding doesn’t have to come at the expense of our planet (I can prove it!). You can have your cake and eat it too.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Contributing to styled shoots has been huge for me. They are definitely a costly investment for my business, but I have loved every one of them. It gives me the opportunity to work with a vendor team without the pressure of a client and the opportunity to show off! Styled shoots provide me with a beautiful portfolio of my work and the collaboration with vendors as well as referrals to potential clients.

Any advice for managing a team?

Snacks. Lots of snacks.

As a solo-preneur, I don’t have a consistent team I work with yet, but I do hire freelancers for weddings and events which I love. I had freelanced for some florists when first starting out and had some negative experiences. But I took away from that how I wanted to treat those who were helping me. Prior to a wedding, I always communicate expectations and then I pack a cooler full of cold drinks and snacks. I think it’s mostly for me, but I like to believe it’s appreciated!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.twistedbramble.com
• Instagram: @twisted_bramble
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/twistedbramble/

Image Credits
Courtney Bowlden Photography Jenn Tai Photography Into Dust Photography Eden Photography Vikki Change Photography Madeline Rose Photography