Q&A with Out of the Bloom
Jayne Jardine is the 20-year-old head florist and owner of Out of the Bloom, a home-based floral business based right here in Canberra. The business specialises in unique pieces for a wide range of events, including weddings, functions and funerals. Jordan McSweeney recently caught up with Jayne to discuss the challenges and obstacles a young person faces when running their own business.
When did you start Out of the Bloom?
I still have a hard time believing I’ve been doing this for three years now. I actually wanted to start up Out of the Bloom pretty much all throughout high school but I couldn’t, for obvious reasons. By 2015 I was old enough and had enough money saved up to actually make it become a reality.
Have flowers always been a passion of yours?
Yeah, I’ve loved flowers for pretty much as long as I can remember. There’s just something so beautiful and pure about them. The way they can change the mood and personality of a room has always fascinated me.
How challenging was it to get your business off the ground?
Extremely challenging. I had to set up a website, buy a whole bunch of accessories like vases and ribbons and pruning equipment, work out all the costs, establish relationships with as many potential customers as I could, come up with a logo, try to set myself apart from every other floral business in Canberra, not to mention the painful process of actually registering Out of the Bloom. It was so much work and took up so much time. If flowers weren’t my passion, I honestly would have given up.
As the owner of Out of the Bloom, what’s the biggest obstacle you’ve faced?
Oh, that’s a tough one. There’s been so many, it’s hard to narrow it down to just one. Probably dealing with negative feedback online, to be honest. It just bums me out so much when I see it, especially since I always strive to provide the best customer service possible. Out of the Bloom is a small business, so its reputation and revenue pretty much lives or dies by online reviews.
Do you think being a young person increases how difficult it is to run your own business?
Definitely. I think a lot of people view me as lazy and unreliable because of my age, so I have to work extra hard to get past that stereotype. Also, I don’t have the same wealth of connections and experience that the older florists around here do, which makes things pretty tough as well.
How do you balance the business with your social responsibilities?
By using time more efficiently and not procrastinating. It sounds cliché, I know, but it’s true. If I manage my time well, I can give myself an hour or more than I’d usually get a day to spend time with friends and family. Also, when work is finished, I try my best not to think about it and just focus on enjoying my time off.
Is there any advice you can give someone running or looking to run their own business?
If you’re going to start a business, make sure it’s a business centered around something you love. It will make all the hard work and suffering worth it in the end. Also, don’t be afraid to fail. If you are, you’ll never get anywhere in life.
Get a plan going as well. Without one, every decision you make will be a messy and ill-thought-out one and in the business world, you can’t afford to make decisions like that. Don’t forget to swallow your pride, either. You have a whole group of family and friends to help you. Don’t ever let a support system like that go to waste.
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