Over the last several weeks, I've been spinning my wheels. While that may sound like going nowhere, I've actually been building the foundation and mindset of what Lora Bloom is and needs to be now. Yesterday, I found myself on a series of YouTube videos and Shopify Dev pages and literally went cross-eyed. At this time, I think I have a pretty good idea of my strengths and weaknesses and becoming a full-blown web designer isn't it. I love the strategy of business that results in a sale. I love being in the trenches of ecommerce, but I don't necessarily want to construct the building.
This year, my word has been balance.
I don't believe we should go too far one way or too far the other. Too far this way and the boat tips over completely. Too far the other way, and everything falls out. Balance is realistic. Sustainability is a good example of this. I don't know if it will ever be 100% achievable. I would love to say yes, but realistically there are moments in time when we need a convenience like plastic. I prefer using reusable containers and mason jars, but dang it sometimes I'm in a situation where only plastic wrap is available. The problem becomes our heavy reliance on conveniences like plastic, hence the boat tipping over too much on one side. I've seen many eco-friendly florists and hidden in the mechanics are zip ties. I'm sorry, but that's a single-use plastic! I even gave myself the eco-florist title; admittedly, I use tape on vases to create a grid over the neck (I've pretty much eliminated plastic everywhere else I can). I just don't think 100% plastic-free will ever be possible. (Don't get me wrong though, it doesn't mean we shouldn't try.)
Digging deep into what makes Lora Bloom tick, I've had to reflect back on my time as a business owner. Ten years! That's a long time. I survived the initial start-up and transitions my business made. I also survived a global pandemic, which I went on to not only survive, but thrive in my floral business, First & Bloom. These are some huge accomplishments.
Taking a good hard look at Lora Bloom, she's about balance.
Years ago, I went to a book event in Seattle. The book, In The Company of Women, by Grace Booney, featured a long list of inspiring female makers, artists, and entrepreneurs. One of them was Arianne Foulks, the founder and CEO of Aeolidia based out of Seattle. I loved her calm practical demeanor on stage and have followed her on Instagram ever since. Recently, I looked her up again. Wow!! She and her team have created an incredible portfolio of ecommerce sites and brands, including Floret. I vaguely remember her talking about working the business herself, with only a few freelancers as needed. Now, she has an entire team! It's wonderful to see but the internal red flags started going off in my head about myself, immediately. Self-talk started saying to me, You're a fraud! You will never be like Aeolidia! You can't call yourself a web designer! Who do you think you are fooling!
And the truth is, I'm not a web designer. And, that's ok.
You see, my background is totally different. I didn't go to school to do web development. Heck, the internet had just started! I started off as a schoolteacher, who eventually moved into a corporate job, which lead to ecommerce and marketing, and now to the business owner I am today.
But, here's what I am.
I'm a fairly clever person, who had a dream of owning a business. I had always loved flowers, and actually worked at flower shops part-time in my early years. When the time seemed right, I worked up the courage to start a small business of my own. Along the way, I experienced what felt like failure again and again. Yet soon enough I learned failure was just a series of lessons on how to get it right. Figuring out the basics of how to run a business, I watched what made money and what didn't. Since I've always had a strong background in retail and ecommerce, I built a website on the best online platform (Shopify) and became very focused on my business goals. I'd learn a little about this and a little about that, until I could manage a fairly smooth process. I paid close attention to what worked and what didn't. I listened carefully to what customers said and observed how other successful businesses made it work.
You see, I did this with balance.
It didn't come all at once. I didn't go too far one way or too far the other way. I kept it slow and steady, watching my footing and calculating what would happen if I focused in one area or the other. Always coming back to my ROI. If I invested here, what would I get in return.
So now you might be reading this and think, Why would I hire you to help with my website, if you don't want to be a web designer? The reason is because you're not hiring me to necessarily be a full-blown web designer. You're hiring a person who has been in the trenches of owning a business. I have experienced what you are experiencing now. You and I are probably a lot alike. We didn't start out as entrepreneurs but evolved into being one. We went down one path only to discover we might be on the wrong path or wanted to take a new path. We probably shed the same tears and needed someone to help prop us up. I'm pretty good at building sites for businesses in the early stages and utilizing the amazing network of colleagues I've built from a decade of experience. My goal is to help you stand up straight (er). I can help explain things that seem too complicated or far out of reach. And just maybe, if you created a really great foundation to build your idea on, you'll be ready to take that dream to the next level. Then, when you've gone as far as you and me both, I'll say to you, it's time to contact Aeolidia.
I know Lora's place. I know where Lora stands in the hierarchy of experience. I will never call myself a Shopify Expert, maybe even not an expert of anything. But, I do know a thing or two about business, entrepreneurship and the pursuit of reaching for a dream.
Now, let's get started.
