Over seventeen years ago I started the unique niche business of preserving flowers, specifying targeting the wedding industry to preserve bridal bouquets. The business idea was created from the humble beginnings of the necessity of needing a job and the desire to work for myself.
My husband had decided to take the golden parachute granted by an early retirement with Bristol -Myers Squibb and we started a new adventure by leaving the Midwest and moving to the sunshine state, knowing that we would need to reinvent ourselves.
The opportunity to reinvent ourselves proved to be quite the challenge and we began our first adventure with the upstart of a small catering business which we participated in area festivities and craft shows, but we soon realized that catering was not part of our long term plan.
My interest was sparked about preserving flowers reading an article about the Victorian art of pressing flowers. Since my husband had a Degree in Science and I had my Degree in Business and a ongoing interest in art the concept of preserving flowers as a business was born. Now the critical question “Was there a lucrative market for preserving flowers?”.
For the next year while maintaining the catering business we started the research and development stage of what became Deb's Keep Sake Flowers so with clippers and a grocery bag in hand I began taking every species of flower and foliage I could retrieve and the experimentation began and our home became a laboratory, the house was overtaken with flowers.
Once the we concluded the experimentation I began conducting a grassroots market research with local florist and also participated in area craft shows, my first show and first Blue ribbon was
at St. Richard's Craft Show in October 1992 after Hurricane Andrew.
For the next year we continued to participate in local festivals and craft shows. During an event my husband would manage catering business and I would display preserved floral art. The response from the shows and the florist was overwhelming and I was convinced there was a niche market for preserving flowers, specifically bridal bouquets and creating heirlooms with the preserved flowers and personal memorabilia custom designed in frames and glass cases for all special occasions.
It is seventeen years later and my husband has passed, so I have lost my partner but I continue the adventure on my own during a turbulent economy and find that I have to reinvent myself again.
After much thought and research the business has expanded offering custom floral art for the home or office, custom framing and encasing memorabilia for all occasions. Deb's Keep Sake Flowers is also an authorized dealer for The Wedding Gown Preservation Company, Cathy's Concepts Wedding Accessories and Passion Parties.
Deb's Keep Sake Flowers is now Flower Preservation Specialist & More.
My business has become a passion and a constant interesting challenge
Please visit
Deb's Keep Sake Flowers
http://www.keepsakeflowers.com/
