Today we’re sitting down with Max Gill, owner of Max Gill Design in Berkley, California to discuss:  how he “stumbled into flowers” the parallels between his love of theater and floral design how gardening influences his floral design composition what he grows in his personal Berkeley garden the advantages of sourcing local nurseries his work at Chez Panisse the responsibility he feels to his flower vendors how his talented production manager helps keep his business thriving the challenges of being artistic and living up to public perception overcoming artistic fears the joy he finds in sustaining relationships with clients the importance of self-care in the floral industry  Links mentioned in this episode:  Ariella Chezar Chez Panisse Alice Waters / The Edible Schoolyard San Francisco Flower Mart Dropbox  Today’s episode is brought to you by Holly Heider Chapple Flowers

Episode 23: Max Gill is Keeping It Real

Do you own a flower business or dream of starting one? Are you looking for practical floral design tips? Ever wonder how other florists run their businesses? Or maybe you’re a farmer florist building a flower farm and floral design business at the same time? You’ve landed in the right place!  

At the BB Podcast, we serve floral designers, farmer florists, flower shop owners, and aspiring florists by diving into  practical tips and insider information from real working florists, floral educators, flower growers, and floral industry vendors to help you find the tools you need to start, run, and grow your flower business.

We like to mix it up! Do you prefer hearing real-life stories or diving into specific flower business topics? Either way, we’ve got you covered.

Listen to our storytelling episodes featuring floral professionals sharing the details of starting and running their flower businesses. So many stories just waiting for you to dig in and learn from those who are doing what you want to do!

Browse our topic-specific interviews where you can expect everything from conversations on marketing, staffing, and floral software to pain points like finding your mojo or listening to your intuition in business.

Amy McGee, Botanical Brouhaha founder, brings years of relationship building with floral designers, farmer florists, and floral professionals to the table and invites you to pull up a chair for the conversations where you’ll learn and be inspired by the nitty gritty transparency of the questions she asks.

The BB Podcast is co-hosted by Natalie Gill, owner of Native Poppy.

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In this podcast episode, Sylvia Bustamante Gubbins, the founder of Madrid Flower School, shares her inspiring story of starting a new career in floral design at 48 and following the dream to open a flower school. As Sylvia continues to grow Madrid Flower School, she’s introducing new educational opportunities for floral designers to study the art and business of floristry. With the recent addition of Madrid Blooms Congress, we thought it was time to visit with Sylvia again! She shares how she’s creating a 5-star experience for you to study floristry in the beautiful city of Madrid, Spain.   This episode of the Botanical Brouhaha Podcast is brought to you by: CIRCLE RETAIL Simple Soulful Connection Limited seats still available!  Click here to learn more.   Leave us a voice or text message at https://fanlist.com/botanicalbrouhaha. You can find show notes and more episodes of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast at botanicalbrouhaha.com, and you can find the BB Podcast co-hosts on IG @botanicalbrouhaha and @hey.nataliegill. This episode of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast was produced by Joel McGee. Original music by Landon McGee.     

Ep. 121: The Quest for Excellence at Madrid Flower School

In episode 120, we have the pleasure of reconnecting with the incredible Francoise Weeks, whose hands weave magic with woodland designs. She's back with a treasure trove of wisdom in her new book, Wonder of the Woodlands: The Art of Seeing and Creating with Nature. It's a visual feast over 200 pages long, and trust us, it's a must-have for your collection. Francoise's zest for life is contagious. We're fortunate that she not only inspires us through her floral artistry, but also with her determination to overcome fear in order to live a life worth celebrating. In this conversation, she shares her secrets to staying active and maintaining a positive mindset, proving that age is just a number when it comes to living a full and vibrant life. This episode of the Botanical Brouhaha Podcast is brought to you by: BLOOM TRUST CO. A curated collection of floral resources you can trust.  Click here to learn more.   Leave us a voice or text message at https://fanlist.com/botanicalbrouhaha. You can find show notes and more episodes of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast at botanicalbrouhaha.com, and you can find the BB Podcast co-hosts on IG @botanicalbrouhaha and @hey.nataliegill. This episode of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast was produced by Joel McGee. Original music by Landon McGee.   

Ep. 120: Wonder of the Woodlands with Francoise Weeks

In this episode, Natalie & Meg, co-owners of Native Poppy, take us behind the scenes of their retail shops in San Diego, where they've created an immersive experience for their customers. In an effort to explain the price gap between flowers bought at locally-owned flower shops vs. large grocery store chains, they speak about the unique characteristics of their shops including the extensive training their team undergoes to become skilled floral artists and the seasonal art installations that transform their spaces into magical environments. This level of detail and dedication comes with significant costs, which Natalie and Meg are transparent about, especially considering the high expenses of operating in a city like San Diego. This episode of the Botanical Brouhaha Podcast is brought to you by: BLOOM TRUST CO. A curated collection of floral resources you can trust.  Click here to learn more. Leave us a voice or text message at https://fanlist.com/botanicalbrouhaha. You can find show notes and more episodes of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast at botanicalbrouhaha.com, and you can find the BB Podcast co-hosts on IG @botanicalbrouhaha and @hey.nataliegill. This episode of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast was produced by Joel McGee. Original music by Landon McGee.   

Ep. 119: The True Value Behind Flower Shop Prices Explained

In this episode of the Botanical Brouhaha podcast, Amy McGee and Natalie Gill, the co-hosts, interview Marsha Parker, a seasoned teacher with a passion for history and culture. Marsha shares her experiences teaching around the world and her personal battle with cancer as a 3x survivor. She discusses how these experiences influenced her floral business, Refined Gatherings, which specializes in creating floral experiences for cancer survivors and others facing health challenges. The conversation explores Marsha's transition from teaching to floral design, her dedication to creating meaningful experiences, and her commitment to integrating beauty and healing into her work. The episode highlights Marsha's resilience, her fight for peace over fear, and her desire to impact lives positively through her craft. This episode of the Botanical Brouhaha Podcast is brought to you by: BLOOM TRUST CO. A curated collection of floral resources you can trust. Doors open March 4-6, 2024.  Click here to learn more.   Leave us a voice or text message at https://fanlist.com/botanicalbrouhaha. You can find show notes and more episodes of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast at botanicalbrouhaha.com, and you can find the BB Podcast co-hosts on IG @botanicalbrouhaha and @hey.nataliegill. This episode of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast was produced by Joel McGee. Original music by Landon McGee.   

Ep. 118: How Marsha Parker's Flowers Impact Survivors

In this podcast episode, flower farmer and author Lennie Larkin of B-Side Farm discusses her experiences in the flower farming industry, her book Flower Farming for Profit,  and her educational initiatives for other farmers. She talks about her transition from other careers to farming, the financial aspects of the business, and the importance of strategic planning and efficiency. Larkin also reflects on the personal challenges of relocating her farm and starting over in a new community. The episode includes a conversation about the value of data and business education in farming, as well as Larkin's vision for her website as a resource hub for flower farmers. If are a flower farmer or dream of being one someday, this conversation is packed with helpful information and resource recommendations.   This episode of the Botanical Brouhaha Podcast is brought to you by: BLOOM TRUST CO. A curated collection of floral resources you can trust.  Click here to learn more.   Leave us a voice or text message at https://fanlist.com/botanicalbrouhaha. You can find show notes and more episodes of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast at botanicalbrouhaha.com, and you can find the BB Podcast co-hosts on IG @botanicalbrouhaha and @hey.nataliegill. This episode of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast was produced by Joel McGee. Original music by Landon McGee.   

Episode 23: Max Gill is Keeping It Real

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