The stars aligned the day I met Laura Morimoto of Joy Blooms Farm, just 8 short minutes away from my floral studio in Fall City, WA.
For years, I traveled one to three times a week into Seattle to buy professional-grade floral products for my floral business, First & Bloom. Each trip taking roughly two hours roundtrip and 55 miles every time, added up quickly. It wasn't cheap to get flowers. Shipping to my studio location was an option, but I preferred hand-selecting my flowers for the best quality and selection.
Washington State is actually the second highest producer of domestically grown flowers in the US, but there weren't any specialty cut flower farms in my area. Until I discovered Joy Blooms Farm.
Laura Morimoto has always been an avid gardener and landscape designer. She lives on land that's been in her family for almost 100 years. On the very first visit, I knew I wanted to support her newly launched business.
Laura is meticulous about the quality of her blooms. She started with a few small plots and has expanded every year since. This year she planted 200 cold climate rose bushes. Every time I visit her farm, she's got big plans for more!
As a florist, having her just around the corner (actually, she's 8 minutes away), was a blessing! She and I worked out a bucket deal. Each week, I picked up an assorted bucket of seasonal flowers cut from the field just that morning. I still had to travel into the Seattle flower wholesalers each week for certain supplies but having her so close was incredible! The quality and freshness of her flowers couldn't be beat!
Last year, I decided to hang up my floral clippers and shift my attention to small business consulting. One day while Laura and I were out for coffee, I shared my new plans. She immediately asked if I might help with her website. Joy Bloom Farms became my first official consulting client.
Helping Laura achieve her business goals has been incredible. Recently, I asked a few questions about her experience with Lora Bloom Consulting.
How has your experience been working with Lora Bloom?
"Along with having someone with years of experience in the flower industry and general business marketing expertise, working with Tammy has been tremendously impactful as a sounding board for ideas, goal setting & planning. She has been very instrumental in my business growth."
What are some of the benefits you've seen in working with a small business consultant?
"I love the practice of collaborating with someone I can trust, someone that I can bounce ideas off of and someone that can also reel me in when I'm spinning with too many projects and thoughts. Tammy provides this service and best of all she knows the market and strategies to get me where I want to be. She is also extremely knowledgeable and savvy with new trends in e-commerce as well as all the social media platforms. Tammy has all of the strengths and skills that I am looking for in a small business and marketing consultant."
Have you noticed an increase in sales over the last year of working together?
"My sales have doubled since I began working with Tammy."
It's been amazing to see Laura's transformation as a business owner. We meet at least every month, and each time she has more and more plans of expansion. Hearing her updates make me so happy. She's excited and enjoying the challenges of business. She officially launched her website early in the spring of 2024, co-hosted a spring plants sale with another local produce farmer, has secured several business accounts in the Snoqualmie Valley, sponsored flowers for a few local non-profit events, and this weekend she launches her first spring bulb sale!
I think the thing I love the most about Laura is her humble heart. Joy Blooms Farm is her way of giving back to her community, honoring the ancestorial land she calls home, and bringing "joy" to people's lives.
Speaking of joy, Laura is hosting three "Spring Bulb Pop Ups" in the Snoqualmie Valley, starting this weekend. She has curated a beautiful selection of spring bulbs from tulips to alliums, and even peony roots. You'll have to plant these bulbs before the end of December, but the reward will be worth it in the spring!! See below for dates and details!
Aroma Coffee | Fall City | Nov 2nd | 9am - 11am
Down to Earth | Snoqualmie | Nov 2nd | 12pm - 2pm --> I'll be there!
Carnation Farms | Carnation | Nov 16th | 11am - 2pm
You can pre-order here --> Buy Bulbs! You'll need to choose which location to pick up your bulbs and meet Laura in person!!
Want to learn more about small business consulting? I would love to connect. Send me an email and I'll be in touch!
