Running A Business in the 90’s

When I was in business in the 90’s it was easy, honestly yes easy. If I had an idea I would run with it. It was 1990 when I first had my first business all by myself, prior to that my family had a florist shop in Tweed Heads. I was very lucky to have been given free run of it, with some guidance but I did basically run it how I wanted to. We did sell that a few years later and I decided to start my own business in the wedding industry. 

So I had a home based business when it was not cool to be one, it was certainly regarded as a ‘backyarder’ and un-reputable! I did everything to hide the fact that that I had a home based business, all calls were diverted to my mobile so I never missed a call. Back in the 90’s Telstra charged for the service and boy was it expensive! 

Mobile phones were new and although it was a brick in my hand bag, I loved it and yes I thought I was cool and an important business woman should carry this brick everywhere. It really did mean I could run my business and not rely on the answering machine and hope that people did leave a message. 

I built a great business creating wedding bouquets and decorations from Byron Bay to Brisbane. I worked really hard and was always available for brides, I offered a service that they had not heard of before, having me come to their home to chat all things flowers and decorations is was what set me apart from your regular florist. 

Being a wedding florist was wonderful and this led me to drying and framing the wedding bouquet after the glorious event. This was one of the things where I had an idea and ran with it, before I new it I had 30 agents all over the country who would collect the wedding bouquets, send them to me to be dried and framed and I would return it to them about 6 weeks later. I ended up with a complete picture framing set up and taught myself how to frame the bouquets. I also designed the machines that dried the flowers, researched and developed how to retain the colour of the flowers. It was fun times and I did this for the next 23 years.

I honestly think the key to having a successful business is service, going above and beyond to give the customer a memorable experience. Back in the 90’s I was running a little home based business and offering a service that no one had seen before to make up for the fact that it didn’t have a bricks and mortar store. Service is equally or perhaps more important now as it it so easy to have your reputation smeared all over social media. Back when I was doing wedding bouquets yes there was a time when a bride didn’t like her bouquets (size, shape, shade, whatever🤦‍♀️) I would have to go back, front up and rectify the situation it was her day and tension is high! But to have the added stress of it ending up un social media well that just next level, and I don’t miss that.

Sahra

Just one of the 100’s of bouquets that I had the pleaser of drying and framing over the years.