We recently connected with Samiya Tuffaha and have shared our conversation below.
Samiya, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?
I actually started out by accident. Back in 2021, My cousin graduated with a masters degree and didn’t want to do anything so I wanted to surprise her with a luxury picnic. When everyone posted I started getting asked if I do this for a living and I should. That’s I got a foot into event design but it still didn’t feel right so I played around with Balloon design and more picnic but once I got my hands on flowers I felt this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I still do picnics and balloons but on a minimum but in the future I want to focus 100% on floral design. I’m still relatively new since I did just start around less than a year ago. My first wedding is coming up in August and I’m very excited and nervous at the same time. Once I finish that wedding up that is when I would feel like I’m at the start of success but I still got a long way to learn from all my flower friends and event designers who are kind from the beginning and help me out with everything from pep talks to freelancing opportunities I have the pleasure working with.
Samiya, 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’ve always been into art and design. I got a my bachelor’s in Art History which helped me a lot in gravitating through different styles and design periods. With this knowledge I always wanted to continue with my career in the art field but I did not know what exactly so I dabbled a bit in wood burnings to balloon design to picnics then I found floral design to be calling. I’ve had a good amount of work for the first year still did not land my dream event but I’m getting there with my passion and hard work. I have met so many wedding vendors that have been kind and floral designers who have helped me navigate through my work and learn more about flowers from designing to flower care. I work with foam free designing I wanted to start with foam free from the beginning to get my hand and head on with taking care of my health and the earth’s health. If you don’t know what foam free floral designing is it is using products other than the foam or oasis in floral arrangements. I tend to use chicken wire and flower frogs to secure the florals in place.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Not everyone is going to have the trust and good intentions as you give them. I had a birthday event a couple months ago when I gave the price of the event she agreed. It was very last minute so I asked for the full payment but she insisted on paying 70% of the payment and the rest the day of and I thought that would be fine she gave most of the payment the rest won’t be a stretch for her. I made her a mood board with the exact style of florals and colors. I even went out of my way to talk to my wholesaler to see what flowers he has to offer in the color scheme and it was perfect and then I accepted the event because like I said it was last minute. The day of the event came and I went to set up at the restaurant no one had arrived so I set up with my assistant and left. I messaged her letting her know that I had set up and for her to send me the payment and she said yes of course. By the end of the night she messaged me a very obscure message letting me know that she needs to have a talk with me. The next day she gave me a call to let me know how disgusted and disappointed she was in my flowers and how ugly they were that they could not look at them. I got heart broken so I felt like it hurt me so I asked some of my flower friends with more experience than me to see what they thought and I had the best thoughtful and honest response from my mentor and friends. Moral of the story, be nice but this is your work so I have to take it as work not just a hobby.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
So far my new clients all come through instagram. A lot of people told me that as I grow in my business that it would be word of mouth but at this early in my business it is through instagram.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
these images are a mix of photos taken by me or by the best photographer Salma (instagram: @salmaphotography_