Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara.
Kara, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
A little over 15 years ago, I was shopping for flowers for my house, as I was having company over and just wanted to buy a few fresh stems. At my local florist, I was unable to even see the selection of flowers available. Only pre-arranged things were visible and I, having spent almost 10 years in the floral industry already, had my own ideas of what I wanted to make… It was then I had the idea that we needed a really unique shop in this growing area. One that was more like a European market, with only the best of the best of flowers that available seasonally, where you can buy custom hand wrapped bouquets, single stems, you can pick what you like and have amazing arrangements created custom for you as well, all at a low cost that is competitive in the market… That idea, coupled with the fact that at my current job, I was doing the job of 3 people and was bored and asking my boss for more, was the initial spark. A mere weeks later, an opportunity presented itself, when a local developer was designing and pre-selling space in the new Market Village in downtown Smyrna and I had heard that he was looking for a florist. Someone recommended me and I agreed to meet with the developer.
Skeptically, I went on my lunch break to meet him, with only his blueprints as we stood on a piece of dirt… By the next day I had signed a lease and put in my notice at my current job. We have been growing and improving while serving our loyal customers for the last 15 years now.
Has it been a smooth road?
The Valentine’s Day week when we had a major ice storm comes to mind!! Well, that and basically every Valentine’s Day and most Mother’s Days…. There’s always something to keep us challenged. It keeps things interesting!! There is nothing quite like overcoming a challenge that most people would deem impossible… I have been told to quit by lots of people over the years as well. That only made me more determined. : )
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We specialize in higher quality, longer lasting flowers. We take many extra steps to ensure that our flowers last longer and perform better, as well as buying only the best values on the market. Once people try our flowers they are sure to come back, and we build long lasting loyal customers one at a time. I am most proud of our diverse base of customers. People of all walks of life feel comfortable to come here, like we are their friends. I’m also very proud that people recognize our floral designs when they see them around the Atlanta area. They just have a quality that our customers have come to expect and when they see our flowers elsewhere, they know our work… I’m also very proud of how much we have given back over the years to make a difference in our community and the world.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think it is a good place for a business like mine, however the floral market has become extremely competitive, and I don’t think even I would start a retail business in this environment. We will have to see what the future holds and how we adapt to the changing market. Regardless, I plan to always make sure we are able to keep a personal approach and really understand the needs and wants of our clients.
Pricing:
- Bouquets, gifts and plants for pick up from $15-$100
- Delivery arrangements and plants from $30-$300
Contact Info:
- Address: 3246 H Atlanta Rd SE, Smyrna GA 30080
- Website: vgfgatlanta.com
- Phone: 7704359393
- Email: vgfgatlanta@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/milestonesfloralatl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AtlantaFlowers/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/VGFlowers
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/village-green-flowers-and-gifts-smyrna
- Other: milestonesfloral.com
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Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
