How I started a flower preservation business…

It all began with a college course named “Picturing Plants” at the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. During this course, I learned how to press wildflowers for future herbarium use and to properly identify plants. I was enamored with the idea to being able to save a plant or flower forever, and thus began my obsession. I was stealing neighbor’s blooms and pressing them in my textbooks (sorry!!). I couldn’t walk by a cherry blossom tree or flowering shrub without taking a couple blooms and Spring became my favorite season by far.

6 years go by and I am still pressing flowers here and there for fun. I would get an iced coffee and go to the thrift store to look for cool frames to put my growing inventory of pressed flowers in. It was my go-to gift for the holidays, but that’s about it. Then slowly, somehow, I got the idea to try and sell my art. I think I was inspired by other tiny business I followed on Instagram like vintage sellers and embroidery artists. I made my own Instagram account to sell my art and it was named “Black Bitterroot”. “Black” because I love black and it’s timeless and you can’t really go wrong, and “bitterroot” because it was my favorite flower at the time.

I slowly gained followers and made a few sales which was so exciting! I had never sold anything before in my life and I couldn’t believe someone wanted to buy art that I made. It really encouraged me to keep going and keep making frames. Then one day, I received a DM from the local farmer’s market asking if I wanted to vend at their Mother’s Day market. I was sooooo excited but had zero expectations. If I could sell one frame I would be so happy. I ended up almost selling out! I was filled with gratitude and inspired to keep going.

I remember one night very clearly. I had this idea in my head to start preserving people’s wedding bouquets and turning “Black Bitterroot” into a real business. I remember thinking that it was such a good idea and if I don’t start this business, someone else will and it would become a lot harder to get customers due to competition. At the time, I was the only person in Reno, NV doing flower preservation that I knew of and that fact was the driving force behind legitimizing the business.

I changed the name to Black Botanical Press (much better if I do say so myself), got my business license, and started marketing to let my town know this service has arrived to any future wedding couples. The first 2 orders I got were from friends and people I knew. I am so thankful to have them be my first orders because I was honestly still honing my craft and experimenting when I agreed to do their frames. The first season was all about figuring out my style, experimenting with preservation techniques, and working out the logistics. I was still working a normal job at the local food co-op, so I wasn’t too worried about getting enough orders to be able to pay myself just yet. I was just happy to be taking some orders and feeling like a real business owner.

After the first wedding season, I decided to quit my co-op job and really go for it. I knew this business wouldn’t work if I didn’t put my full attention into it and give it 100%. I was so lucky to have some savings to get my through the first year since I knew it was going to be slow going to get established. On the bright side, it is really easy to make a profit with a flower preservation business, especially if you start out working out of your home like I did. The only investments you need to make are materials for preserving the flowers (flower presses, silica gel, resin molds, etc.), website and seo software, and frame inventory. Compared to other businesses, I’d say flower preservation is one of the lowest risk financially to dive into and get going. It makes the whole “starting a business” process way less intimidating when you can start with the bare minimum.

The making of the art aspect of this business I feel very confident in. I definitely know how to preserve a bridal bouquet and make it look amazing after many, many years of experimenting and trial and error. But I am honestly still figuring out how to market this small business to the ideal clientele. Granted, I don’t think flower preservation is as popular here on the west coast as it is on the east coast and southern state of the U.S., but I find myself comparing Black Botanical Press to brand new flower preservation businesses in other parts of the country and I feel like it’s not where it should be. I try to not get discouraged when it’s April and I start to panic about the lack of orders and this is the year I failed as a business owner. I try to solve problems as they come and to stay calm and level headed so I’m able to make the best decisions. Every problem can be solved or worked on and every bump in the road helps me learn more and gain more experience.

I never thought I would choose being an artist and a business owner as my career, but I am so happy it happened this way. I am forever grateful for everyone who has helped me along the way and the amazing clients I have been able to work with. I also cherish the amazing community of florists, flower farmers, and flower preservation artists that encourage me and inspire me everyday. I hope hearing my story gives you the same inspiration to follow your dreams. Flower preservation takes a ton of time, patience, and experience to get good at, but if you are really in it and give your full effort you can absolutely start your own flower preservation business.

xoxo,