07/02/2023
Hi. It’s hard to believe that it has been almost a year since I have made a post on this page. I still often have people reach out asking about placing an order, not knowing that the business has closed. Now that I’ve had some time to heal, I wanted to share what happened, thank those who supported our small business and talk about what the future holds.
Unfortunately last October we were forced to close after 6 years in business. Ultimately, challenges from Covid caused issues that we couldn’t recover from. Because of the backup in US ports, many seasonal supplies that were ordered were coming in months late. We were receiving Halloween supplies in January, Valentines Day supplies in April and Christmas supplies in May/June. That combined with the cost of living seeming to skyrocket not long after everyone went back to work after the height of the pandemic proved to be a hurdle that we couldn’t get past.
For those who supported our small business during the last 6 years, thank you. Since closing last year, I have seen so many small business’ be forced to close as well. It has made me realize even more how blessed we were to have so many who supported our business over the years. With the current economy it seems harder than ever for small business’ to survive. When Blooms was still open, I was so busy trying to keep everything up and running that I didn’t realize just how many other small business’ were struggling. Money is tight for a lot of families and it seems that spending money on nonessential items has been cut back significantly. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this and what you are seeing in your area!
As for the future, I have been an entrepreneur for 13 years. Since Blooms closed, I was extremely lucky to find a job that I enjoy but it was definitely a big adjustment. As time has went by, I have went back and forth on whether or not I would ever want to start a new business. It wouldn’t be a wood flower business as it brings up so many bittersweet memories, but running a business and watching it grow is what I truly love. Going to the markets and finding new/unique products is something that will never get old. I also love the business side of things and have learned so much over the years that I’d love to use to help other business owners.
I’m not sure what the future holds, but I’m hopeful that I can find a way to fill a need in the market or to help other business owners. This will be the final post here on the Southern Blooms Co page. If you’d like to keep up with future updates, make sure to follow Bloom & Branch. And if you are looking for wood flower bridal arrangements or home decor, our former head florist has started her own business and makes beautiful custom pieces. You can find her at Wild Woods Floral Design, LLC ❤️
