Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Robinson.
Michelle , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After 29 years as a corporate healthcare marketing & PR executive, I entered the second chapter of my career. I never thought I would go from sitting in meetings all day to playing in the dirt for a living.
When my job abruptly ended due to a corporate restructuring, I was forced to make a change. I spent one year trying to decide what I wanted to do again when I grew up!
Traveling to Montauk, NY with my son gave me an inspiration. I visited many adorable roadside flower markets and started researching how I could open a similar business back home in Acworth, Georgia.
With the tremendous help and support from my family and business mentors, I opened Pumpkinvine Gardens Flower Shoppe on April 13, 2019. It was the best career decision I ever made.
Open six months a year, Pumpkinvine Gardens Flower Shoppe is a seasonal outdoor flower market filled with gorgeous hanging baskets, tropical flowers, houseplants and whimsical garden decor. Fourteen seasons later, I can proudly say my business continues to flourish.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When you have a seasonal outdoor business with product you must keep healthy and beautiful, it’s always a challenge. I have a small window to sell the product, and I have to deal with Mother Nature.
During spring season (April – July), I become a meteorologist! I constantly plan how to handle cold snaps, rain or extreme heat in an outdoor flower market.
And during fall season (October – November), football games, fall festivals and increased pumpkin sellers impact sales. The biggest challenge is always determining how much product to purchase without overbuying each season.
Although I have 14 seasons of historical data to guide the purchasing process, the economy and increased competition always adds to the challenge each year.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Location, signature products and a personal shopping experience are key to the success of Pumpkinvine Gardens Flower Shoppe.
Nestled within our Acworth, Georgia community in front of Cedarcrest Centre, a small shopping center surrounded by subdivisions, Pumpkinvine Gardens Flower Shoppe is open six months a year and is a neighborhood destination. We’re often described as a Hallmark Movie, where friends stop by and share stories and show pics of their gardens, children and grandchildren!
Last spring, I purchased a 1959 Chevy Apache Truck, painted it red and filled the bed with seasonal decor. Mater – our truck’s name – is now a landmark in front of our Flower Shoppe. And is a popular background for family pics and selfies.
When you enter Pumpkinvine Gardens Flower Shoppe, it is a garden oasis bursting with colorful flowers and much more. We are proud to support our talented local artisans and sell their hand-painted and wooden garden decor plus whimsical metal yard art.
We specialize in seasonal promotions such as our Bring Back Your Basket and Porch Scape Bundles. Whenever you purchase a signature hanging basket, you can bring it back the following season, and we replant it while you shop! Recycling is an important part of our business.
And in November, we offer Porch Scape Bundles filled with Heirloom pumpkin stacks, cornstalks, Mums and mini pumpkins for your front porch fall decor. We’re known for our gardening tips such as turning your Heirloom pumpkin stack into a snowman for Christmas.
Pumpkinvine Gardens Flower Shoppe is much more than a place to buy flowers and garden decor. We’re a happy place!
We’re a place where friends and families meet and neighbors visit. We’re a place where you’ll smile when you find the perfect treat for yourself or a gift for a loved one.
And we’re a place to escape and enjoy a garden oasis.
And this is why I’m incredibly grateful and proud to own a business located in our wonderful community.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I strongly believe in supporting our community and mentorship. From donating flowers and pumpkins for events, door prizes and school projects to speaking at garden clubs, I welcome opportunities to help our neighbors.
And I’m proud of our diverse team of employees ranging in age from 14 to 82! I love teaching students how a business operates and help cultivate their sales and marketing skills while encouraging creativity. I’m always seeking new talent to add to our team each season.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pumpkinvinegardens.com
- Instagram: @pumpkinvinegardensflowershoppe
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/pumpkinvinegardensflowershoppe
- Other: TikTok: Pumpkinvine Gardens
