The Bloom-Print Podcast

My loves! We're reached 100 episodes!!!! This feels like such a beautiful milestone to have been able to share this space with you for 100 episodes, to have shared 100 little lessons, nuggets of wisdom, interviews with awesome guests, life updates, business updates, shit that works in my business and all the things we've learnt along the way over the past few years as I grew my business in new and wonderful ways. 

So it only felt fitting that for episode 100, it would be you behind the questions this time. So I put it to you Bloomees and here are a few of the key questions that came through. Some that I get asked alot, and some very fun and specific ones too. 

And you know what, you really got me in the feels on a few of these. 

So here's to Episode 100, here's to you listening, learning, moving your mindset on the other side of the speaker ... and here's to 100 more episodes to come!

All the love

El x

Firstly — can you believe we’re on to episode 99! Wowsers! That means next week we’re going to be celebrating episode 100!!!

I’ve been having a lot of discussions with people lately about attracting your ideal client, about transparency in our industry and there’s something I want to touch on when it comes to content, when it comes to sharing information.

Because I’m the first to say there isn’t enough transparency in our industry and so couples really don’t know what to budget for their wedding flowers. 

However, there’s a difference between educating couples and just having a whinge.

And sometimes the rhetoric online borders the line, or downright crosses it into whinging territory about “how people don’t understand what’s involved in the floral or wedding industry behind the scenes”.

In this episode we're talking what IS and IS NOT educational content, how to decide what to share and what you can do to show your ideal client what you do and how you do it exceptionally, instead of telling them what’s wrong with the industry and what’s wrong with couples today.

Because all that does is point the finger at them, instead of shining a light on you and sharing that light with them.

So get yourself a cuppa and let's dive in to educational content. 

When you think about the people who are a part of the fabric of the Perth wedding scene - Kirk Goodsell is the sparkling thread tying it all together if you ask me. 

Kirk Goodsell started his celebrant journey in 2008 in Melbourne. Moving back to his hometown of Perth in 2015, he went head first into full time celebrant (and father!) officiating both weddings and funerals.

Kirk is now a Celebrant Trainer teaching Cert IV in Celebrancy to new aspiring celebrants and has mentored many new and existing celebrants through ongoing professional development.

In his 18 years, he has officiated over 2000 weddings ranging from very intimate and private to all the bells and whistles... and then some!

Kirk and his husband finally married in Fremantle in 2021. These days,  whenever he is not 'celebranting' he is either running his 11 year old son around or walking his dog Milo!

Kirk prides himself on having built a small business based on the core principles of customer service, professionalism, organisation and genuineness and is amazed that somehow after 18 years the business is still growing and going from strength to strength each year!

This year, Kirk is celebrating 18 years in the industry, so in this episode we're talking about his journey as a celebrant, how he stays relevant and continues to build his business, the biggest lessons he's learnt throughout his career and his advice for wedding business owners everywhere. It's a beautiful conversation, an enlightening and enriching one, and I hope you get as much from it as I did recording it. 

You can find Kirk at @kirkgoodsellcelebrant and while you're clicking links, you should also go and join Wedding Folks 

Hello my loves and welcome back to The Bloom-Print Podcast, how are you?

I want to let you in on a little secret, so make sure you’re listening to what I’m about to say… You can’t sell a secret.

It’s one of my favourite sayings from years working in marketing.

And what does that mean exactly? Well, it doesn’t matter how good you are if no one knows you’re there.

It’s actually not enough to be great at something. To have a great product or offer a beautiful service. If you’re going to own a business, you’ve also got to make marketing your next biggest job.

Because if you’re showing your work but you’re not asking people to book you or telling them how they should, or why they should… i don’t what to point out the obvious byt what reason do they have to do so?

You need to invite them in. Invite them to engage with you. Invite them to work with you.

So in this episode I'm talking about asking for the sale directly and indirectly, how often you should be selling and the best ways to bring in your ideal client. 

So pour yourself a cup of tea and let's get into it! 

Hello my loves, today I’m talking about price guides - do you have one? And if you do or don’t I’m so interested to know why or why not, so shoot me a DM and tell me, because it’s a conversation worth having. And I’m not gonna be a cocky biatch and tell you that I’m going to change your mind with this episode… but there’s every chance that I’m gonna change your mind with this episode.

I used to be that florist, the one who didn’t have a price guide and couldn’t give a client an indication before an in depth discussion, because everything is bespoke and unique to each couple so how could I possibly tell you how much your bouquet is going to be? Quoting used to kind of unravel me, it would take me ages to do. And I was constantly flicking back to my previous quotes, how much did I charge the last person? And so if this is a little bigger than the last one or has more orchids, what would be fair to charge? 

Hear that language ‘what would be fair to charge?’ it was a bit of a guessing game to me. Introducing a price guide into my business was one of the best things I ever did and in this episode I'm  sharing how I structure it, how it helps couples in becoming more realistic with their budgets, how I use it as a pre-qualification tool, and how it keeps me accountable. 

Need more support in your business? Join The Bloom-Print Membership today. 

Welcome back to The Bloom-Print Podcast.

In this episode we're talking about boundaries and schedules as we head back into the wedding & event season. And I don’t mean the boundaries we set for our clients, although that’s an important conversation too. I'm talking about the boundaries we need to set for ourselves.

During a recent Bloom-Print Members call one of our members was having trouble setting her work schedule.

And it was such a great question because it seems like a simple thing: You do the work to build the business.

But when you’re used to working in a job where there are set hours, set expectations, set KPIs, set deadlines, even set work, moving into entrepreneurship where it’s all on you, up to you and on your timeframe can actually feel a little unsettling.

What should I actually be working on?

When should I be doing it?

How much should I be getting done?

And importantly, how do I schedule it amongst the rest of life and home?

That's what we're diving into today!

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Keen to get more of this in your life?

The Bloom-Print Membership is, it’s my coaching container and mastermind for florists and wedding and event business owners in the first five years of business who are ready to strap in, take their business more seriously and shortcut their way to success.

You get access to all the resources, tools, processes and expert advice I’ve garnered over the last 10 years in this business, plus our mastermind sessions where we work through the actual issues you’re facing in real time so you can get results faster.

We’re talking wedding processes, consultation formats, staffing, budgeting, terms and conditions, marketing strategies, business planning and so much more.

Join now - let's shortcut to success! 

This episode, I'm joined by a very special guest, introducing an incredible product that I truly believe is going to change the landscape of the floral design industry - for real!

We are all very aware of the foam-free conversation, of sustainability amongst an indusrtry that starts with a very natural product, and over in the most remote city in the world here in Perth, accessing those great foam free alternatives, also presents challenges. 

Enter Kristina. 

Kristina Bircsak is a floral designer, eco artist and innovator, and she’s a WA girl - born in Busselton and raised in the Pilbara. Although now living and creating on the East Coast.

With a lifelong love of floristry, art and the natural world, Kristina was influenced from an early age by her mother and grandmother — both passionate gardeners, painters and elders of the South West . Their influence instilled in her a deep appreciation for the relationship between people, land and creativity.

Today, Kristina combines her creative practice with her scientific background and growing passion for sustainability. As the creator of NATRAFORM™, she is developing innovative, plant-based floral mechanics using mycelium and hemp, with a vision to reduce the floristry industry's reliance on traditional floral foam.

NATRAFORM™ is launching across the country very soon - and if you want to get on the waitlist to get a sample of this incredible product head to: https://www.myconetsolutions.com.au/products/natraform-sample-pack

Follow Kristina at: https://www.instagram.com/natraform/ for all the latest and to see how this product is getting put to use by florists all around the country. 

Hello my loves, and welcome back to another episode of The Bloom Print Podcast.

I got to play with flowers last week, actually a couple of times during the week and it felt so good!

That might sound really strange to you for a florist to say that, but the thing is, I haven’t actually touched flowers much the last few weeks, even the last few months.

I’ve spent the off season in the business development space and my days have been consultation focused and admin focused. I can’t tell you how many proposals I’ve done over the last few weeks but it’s been a lot, which is amazing. The admin load has been really heavy, which is THE BEST problem to have, having enquiries to get back to, proposals and moodboards to create and quotes to cost. 

So while I’ve been very laptop focussed lately, there are a few things that have been working really well for me at the moment.

Not necessarily massive strategies or groundbreaking business ideas. Just little changes I’ve made that I’m noticing are having a really positive impact.

So in this episode I'm sharing a few of those with you, because maybe there’s something in here that you can take into your own business.

None of them are particularly complicated.

I'm not talking about a new piece of software or some groundbreaking marketing funnel or a complete overhaul of the business.

They're actually all about removing friction.

In this episode, I'm joined by Norman Yap - Perth-based wedding photographer with close to a decade of experience documenting weddings throughout Australia and around the world.

We dive deep on building a luxury brand in the wedding industry, nurturing a team and managing the work-life flow while creating a sustainable business. 

About Norman Yap

Before photography he spent almost fifteen years working as a paramedic in emergency care - a chapter that taught him to remain calm when emotions are heightened, to think methodically under pressure and if you’ve ever witnessed Norman on the job, you’ll see how this has transferred into his photography work as a calm and reassuring presence at a wedding.

Beyond photography, however, he is first and foremost a son, a husband and a father. Moving through each of these stages of life has changed the way he see people, relationships and the significance of the moments we often take for granted. It has shaped not only the person he has become, but also the artist he continues to grow into.

His approach to weddings is deeply relationship-based. Taking the time to genuinely know the people he photographs to create images that feel honest, considered and true to who they are.

Norman believes weddings are not simply events to be photographed, they are reminders of where we have come from, who has helped shape us and the people we have chosen to walk beside as we move through the chapters of our lives. 

Follow Norman on instagram @normanyapphotography and @nobleandyours

Discover Norman Yap's beautiful work https://normanyap.com.au/ and https://nobleandyours.com.au/

Hello my loves! As you know if you’ve been listening the last few weeks, I've found myself in a bit of a state of reflection lately on just how much my thinking around business has changed over the past decade of doing this. 

There are things I was absolutely convinced were true when I first started that I don't believe anymore.

And there are opinions I hold today that 30-year-old El would've probably argued with.

So in this episode I wanted to share some of those.

They're not all cold hard facts.

They're not rules as such, although some of them are definitely rules I biz by. 

And they certainly won't be everyone's experience. And that’s ok. 

They're simply the business opinions I've formed after ten years of building, making mistakes, trying and testing things, changing my mind and expanding my thinking. 

And if these resonate with you, perhaps you're in the right place and perhaps you need a little bit of help navigating them in your own business. I'm here for that! Join me in The Bloom-Print Membership and let's turn your side hustle into your soul-income! (and I mean that double entendre, it's totally intentional).