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

Paula, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

We came up with the idea of an Honorary Stand called the The Little Corner Stand in 2019 when a high speed chase ended with a truck and horse trailer in our home at 3am. We wanted to build a garden or heavy duty fence to break cars from missing the turn. There were no road signs prior to this accident so it was pretty much a blind turn. So we built an honorary stand from all materials left over from the house rebuild. Spring of 2020 the stand was placed near the corner and filled with plants that I propagated, fresh eggs and overflow produce from the gardens.

Covid then hit that early spring and people were wanting to get outdoors where they felt safe. I then became that hidden gem and was featured on so many social media pages. I soon had to add racks and more shelfs to house more plants and homemade goods. So each year I got bigger and bigger.

Then in 2022 I started my floral journey. I always created floral behind the scenes so to go publicly was a huge step for me. This is when Paula’s Petals bloomed. I then became a business owner and we created a floral shop in one of our garages. I started creating for weddings, funerals, birthdays, holidays and went on all the rural floral deliveries. I created a website in that time and social media pages. Running things myself can get tricky sometimes.

In 2023 in the winter months I had decided I was going to go into the working force again to help support us. But since I have been a stay at home mother for the past 12 years it was hard to take me away from the home incase our kiddos needed us or they got sick. So my husband decided to support me and my dreams and we bought a greenhouse in April of 2024. I then put myself in a few floral courses to learn a bit more on harvesting your own flowers and growing them. We then started clearing land on part of our 10 acres to be able to build on. Rains stood in our way and machine break downs. But we began our building journey in August finished the build in November and heat was finally installed in January of 2025. It was a long few months of cold before we got the heat running. We had 4 propane portable heaters to keep things alive but it wore us out getting up in the middle of the night to replace tanks. I then started propagating my collection of almost 500 plant varieties to get the stock up before grand opening. We had our grand opening this past April. We then started clearing more land in May to add more gardens for next spring. I was able to supply my own flowers and greenery from my property for all floral arrangement from March to September this year. The journey we are on right now is amazing.

We took it one day at a time and have met so many people along the way to give advice. There wasn’t anyone to help us on what to do to start a business and all the paperwork needed. So I did my own research and knocked off one paper at a time and one inspection at a time.

Paula, 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?

My houseplant & floral journey started from my mother when I was a little girl. I always use to help her water her plants and watch her get her plant book out to read more about the plant or learn their names. Then in High school I took Vo-Tech at my high school and was in the FFA. I took floriculture and greenhouse there and it made me change my major going into college. I started college and played volleyball. I didn’t love sitting behind text books I was more of a hands on coming from a Vo-Tech program. So I came home after semester and applied at a local greenhouse. I was hired and started before the spring season began in January of 2000. The owners taught me so much of what I know today. They then retired after I worked there for 7 years. I fell into a union shop and traveled the USA selling products to union members. It taught me so much about myself and also helped me to be brave in all circumstances.

I then fell away from that company because I just didn’t love it, it wasn’t what I wanted to do in life. I soon became a mother of 2. I have always wanted to have kids but just couldn’t conceive. As I became a stay at home mother for the past 12 years, I was able to plant gardens and grow produce. I taught myself how to make bread to slime to laundry soap. I learned my love of flowers and plants was what I was ment to work with. I just didn’t know my dream job was in the works when I look back.

The things I help customers with are pest problems, what care certian plants need, home remdies, things to plant in your landscaping. Then I also help those who lost loved ones by creating floral pieces that will bring a little happiness in a time of such sadness. I create for dances, weddings and so much more. The only things that arise in the floral industry is flowers wilting which stems usually from being in the sun or heat or extreme cold.

I am most proud of the journey we are on taking. I am proud of us teaching our kids what running a business can look like and also the responsibilities it takes. I hope to show people that you can start from a dream and make it come to life. Patience is key.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

We funded our business from our own savings. We paid for everything outright so we wouldn’t owe anyone. We dumped all extra savings and weekly paychecks into the business build. We did this for one year, then after we opened the business has been making its own. We are not in profit margin just yet, but its a good feeling when the business keeps itself going and we use almost nothing from our personal accounts now.

How’d you meet your business partner?

My partner is my husband and we met in high school. We have been married for 20 years. He has been my number 1 supporter in this adventure. He told me that I supported him all these years and raised our kids and took care of the home. He has moved up to the top in his job so he said it was time for me to pursue my dreams.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.paulas-petals.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulaspetals2022/?igsh=MWx0N2lhenFwNTJ0cA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulaspetals24?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=k34B9ZLKVRzrM3DU#
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/paulaspetals2022/?invite_code=f01d10ded37a473f87a9c1425e524b7d&sender=929641685489724155

Image Credits

Paula McCloskey