Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Champion.
Hi Erin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Ever since I was a child, I was always drawn to the art of making things beautiful. This looked like going out in our yard and picking up any flowers I could find to make little bouquets for the house. As I got older, I had a love for the art of interior design and staging. I never thought I was an artist, but my love for staging and interior design said otherwise. I was known by my friends and family for my attention to detail and would often get asked for advice on event planning and home decor. I was a stay-at-home mom for my two children, doing some at-home jobs and trying to find what I was best at. As my kids got older and they didn’t need me as much anymore, I began to wonder what my next chapter would look like. I decided to start my college career, and on the side was a part-time nanny for the Martin’s.
After working for them for three years, they purchased land and decided to start a farm primarily growing vegetables to connect and give back to the community through donating to charitable organizations. Seeing the work I had done for them, they decided I was a great fit for an operations manager for the farm. Seeing them grow and sell vegetables gave me the idea of also offering flowers. This is where I decided to ask to test out growing flowers on a plot of land for their farmer’s market. They said yes, and I thought to myself- “Oh, crap. I don’t know how to grow flowers.”. After some research, I found the Floret Flower Workshop and learned everything I needed to know. Little did I know, I had just joined a movement. After two years of growing and selling through the Martin’s and seeing the great amount of enthusiasm from the community, I decided it was time to kickstart my own business and go full send. This was when I decided to create Posie Fields. I now rent a plot of land from Martin’s Garden, have hired six incredible employees, and sell at the Alpharetta Farmer’s Market, The Avalon, and to several florists around the Atlanta area.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not. The first two years looked like a lot of dead flowers, long days, sweat, and tears. Trying to balance being an operations manager with growing flowers on a fourth of an acre was not easy. Little did I know- I could not do it all by myself. Most days, my family was lucky to see me! I was determined to do it all and to do it well.
As you know, we’re big fans of Posie Fields. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Posie Fields is a flower farm passionate about the slow flower movement. We grow what is in the season to ensure our customers get the best blooms possible, with a focus primarily on annuals and some perennials. Our farm produces a variety of sustainably grown cut flowers for the flower lover, florist, and retailer. What we’re known for is our adorable flower cart that my husband built from scratch! Our customers often say that the cart brings a European essence to their shopping experience. I have found that the cart brings so much joy and happiness to the people who experience it! I love the conversations it starts and all of the fabulous people and pets we get to meet because of the attention it draws! Our most notable service is our Porch Posie subscription, you receive a farm-fresh market bouquet every week. This is different than other flower delivery services because it is a beautiful, locally grown bouquet that is ready to be put in a vase or rearranged in any vase or presentation you wish.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
As cheesy as it sounds, everything in life is really a risk. I have always been a risk-taker and an optimist at that. Risks have never scared me! I find myself thinking, “I’m 44 years old, and my kids are grown- what do I have to lose?”. Starting the business and putting in the work we already have has been a risk in and of itself, but soon we plan to buy 20+ acres of land and really go for it. I guess risk doesn’t sound so scary when you realize that all things in life really are risky. You buy a house, you could lose your job- that’s a risk! I would rather live my life in action than in fear of the what-ifs.
Contact Info:
- Email: erin@posiefields.com
- Website: www.posiefields.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/posie_fields/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/posiefieldsflowers
Image Credits
Elizabeth Jones
