In this episode, Chris talks with Joe and Shelley Montoya, co-owners of Here Come The Blooms, a Garden Grove flower shop.  

Shelley always dreamed of owning a storefront. Once she discovered her love for flowers and eye for design, she put the pieces together and opened a flower shop. The idea began as a traveling flower truck, but Shelley and Joe realized that most flowers came from the 1-800 megastores while the mom and pop stores were few and far between. Wanting to push big business to the side, they opened a storefront. In 2019 Joe left his full-time job to join Shelley in the business. 

Little did they know that just a few short months after leaping into a full-time partnership, COVID would strike and they’d need to do what every great business owner does at some point or another — pivot. While many floral shops closed their doors permanently, Shelley and Joe began livestreaming and donating flowers to first responders for every flower purchased. They formed deeper relationships with the community they served rather than letting a pandemic diminish their success.

Chris, Shelley, and Joe discuss reaching customers as the underdog, going into business with your spouse, and the keys to surviving business ownership early on and for years to come.

I don’t think it matters where you’re at in life. If you have a dream I think it’s almost your responsibility to see that through. And be prepared for failure along the way but that will not be your end result. Your end result will definitely be success, I think, if you just keep at it day-to-day.” ~ Shelley Montoya

Main takeaways 

[11:26] When you’re a small business, you have to connect with your customers in a meaningful way. That connection is the key to becoming the local go-to for whatever it is you sell or provide. 

[24:40] Know your niche as a business owner. And understand what you’re not strong in so you can hire people to fill those gaps. 

[27:07] Balancing the stress of working with your spouse or partner as business partners may be your biggest business win. 

[39:58] Forging relationships with vendors and wholesalers is invaluable as a small business owner. Your business will rely on those relationships.

Links

Here Come The Blooms

Here Come The Blooms on Instagram

Join The Late Bloomers

Join The Late Bloomers Podcast

Shelley on LinkedIn

Joe on Linkedin

BloomNation

Etsy

Vanguard

BlackRock

State Street

Fidelity

TD 

Charles Schwab

California’s Starting A Business Checklist

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Chris Struckhoff website

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