Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Ice.
Alyssa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I actually accidentally fell into the world of floral design when I was 16 years old, because I needed a job and the only place hiring in the small town I lived in, at the time was an old-school flower shop. I had absolutely no experience, but interviewed anyway and got hired on the spot! I started working that same day processing flowers and trying to remember flower names and the rest is history! I knew it was going to be my lifelong passion within the first two hours of working that day. From there, I worked my way up the ladder from a shop helper/bucket washer, to a full-time designer and later, went to Floral Design School in Portland, OR to pursue it even further! I knew that I always wanted to have my own business and after living in San Francisco for 6 years as a full-time floral designer in my early twenties, I felt that I was finally prepared enough to start my own business, Ginger Rose. I moved to Atlanta about a year ago and have since booked many weddings and events throughout the South!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think that owning your own business is a mix of consistent ups and downs. One day, you’ll get to design arrangements with beautiful flowers and flex your creative muscles and then the next day, your knee-deep in writing proposals while trying to flex your business-minded muscles. I find that one of the hardest things I have learned since owning my own business is, to force myself to understand the math, the paperwork, legalities and other left-sided brain functions. These things don’t come as naturally for me as the creative things do, so I am consistently going out of my comfort zone to embrace all the different parts of being a business owner!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Ginger Rose story. Tell us more about the business.
Ginger Rose has really been a true reflection of all of the things I personally value in nature. I really like to use beautiful color palettes and interesting textural elements within my designs and achieve this by using local plant varieties, unexpected foliage and as well as, heirloom blooms. I love to draw inspiration from the flowers themselves when I begin designing an arrangement because I am so drawn to each individual stems shape, movement and color story! I am always on the lookout for flowers that are unusual, meaning not just using your standard bunch of red tulips, but I find the one unique bunch that has a small white stripe going up one of the petals. This subtle uniqueness is where inspiration for the overall design begins and where my aesthetic of a modern take on a botanically organic and textural style comes into play!
On any given day, you may find an Air Plant tucked into one of my arrangements or some scented Geranium for an unexpected nostalgic scent in a bridal bouquet. I really like to learn about my clients and see how I can use flowers to honor their passions. For example, one wedding I did recently was so much fun because the groom was a chef, so I was able to incorporate fresh herbs into all of the bouquets and arrangements as an ode to his passion in life!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I believe that the concept of luck really boils down to how much hard work you are willing to put into something that you believe in. I feel that when you give everything you have into realizing your passion, the world will provide you with the tools you need to be successful. One might view this as having good or bad luck, but I view it more as narrowing down your intentions and really paying attention to the cues happening around you and acting on them accordingly. I have definitely had my share of what you may consider “bad luck” as a business owner, but I really just view these instances as learning opportunities on how I can improve for next time so it doesn’t happen again. With this being said, I think the one thing that has really been a huge piece of “good luck” for Ginger Rose is all of the amazing connections that I have made over the past year with like-minded individuals within my field. Being surrounded by positive people that believe in what you’re doing and cheer you along from the sidelines is all the luck one needs in my opinion!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gingerrose.com
- Phone: (470) 588-5860
- Email: alyssa@gingerrose.com
- Instagram: gingerroseflowers
Image Credit:
Noi Tran Photography, Alexis June Weddings, Our Labor of Love
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