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

Alright, Melinda thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

I was a single mom of two beautiful children in high school. Recently started dating one of my good friends from school years. He is a father of two wonderful boys. I was working at a Floral Shop in Akron, Ohio. Constantly contemplating what I was going to do with my life when it all fell on my plate. I was visiting what used to be our old elementary building now being turned into a reception venue. The owner was a childhood friend. We started talking, and next thing I knew I was leaving the job I loved to start. It was a slow start to 2014. We did everyday flowers, took on Teleflora a wire service, working out of a small classroom, double door cooler and finishing the year off with 6 weddings. The venue was growing and needed our room so we changed things up, moved to the other side of the building, dropped Teleflora, built a walk in cooler, work stations and from there on we knew that things were right where we needed them to be. It was always a work in progress. We had to be disciplined and any profit had to be put back into the company so we could continue to grow.

Melinda, 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?

I grew up in a family landscape business. Employees would bring back half dead bushes from job sites and I would take them home and plant them. Our home was always surrounded by flowers, a small addiction or some would say obsessed with them. Each room always had a vase of flowers. I needed a change and left the family business and was hired by a local floral shop who needed marketing done. Within a week I was designing flowers. I loved the retail aspect of the floral industry but I knew I loved wedding design. Years later I was hired at a floral shop in Akron, Ohio. My boss, Greg taught me a lot about the business, and allowed me to grow the wedding work. For years I traveled to beautiful wedding venues, worked a lot of hours while being a single parent and driving 45 minutes to and from work everyday. I knew I needed a change but hated leaving. Such great people, so many laughs and they taught me so much about designing. And this lead me to the rekindling a friendship with a former friend from high school, now my amazing husband and being at the right place at the right time, Whitehall. And from then on . . . . We are killing it with the weddings!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Working with brides you have to have an open ear and understand exactly what they want. They need to know that they have your attention and will provide a topnotch service throughout the planning process and day of. My biggest complaint I hear from brides is lack of communication from other florist or it took too long to respond. When you are trying to sell your business, you must respond quickly. My family hates it because I spend a lot of time on my phone emailing brides back or texting with them. I want them to know they have my attention. We all laugh now because I finally put “do not disturb” during certain hours in the evening so that I can spend more time with them. I need to find balance but I also do not want to disappoint.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I don’t do bridal or wedding shows. Some say I am missing out on business opportunities, I say I am working within my business for those business opportunities. I truly believe if you make one bride happy your potential to booking their bridesmaids, family or friends for their wedding is exactly where I am successful. About 80% of my bookings are referrals. Being open and honest with the brides, helping them understand about pricing, service, delivery educates them on why things cost the way they do. Most don’t understand what it truly takes to and how much work it is to bring their vision to life the day of their wedding.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.preciouspetalsweddings.com
• Instagram: @melindaspreciouspetals
• Facebook: @melindaspreciouspetals
• Other: linktr.ee/Melindaspreciouspetals TikTok @preciouspetalsweddings

Image Credits
@swidrakco @swatchstudios