Jeri Solomon

There are so many things I enjoy about being a florist/floral designer. Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me. I love working with flowers and creating beautiful things. I love working with my clients taking their vision, no matter how formed it is, and creating décor that will have them say “this is exactly what I wanted.”

My business is small by design. I am the only full-time person. I hire additional help on a per-job basis. I do not have a retail storefront but operate in a commercial studio space. I provide floral décor for approximately 30 weddings per year. In addition, I do dozens of corporate and other social events such as showers, mitzvahs and general parties. I also provide flowers on a weekly basis to businesses. My annual sales are just under $200,000. I am a founding member of the Boston Wedding Group, a dynamic networking group that has been going strong for 19 years, and I have received dozens of five star reviews on WeddingWire.com.

Here’s a bit of what we can cover in our PivotPlanet session(s):
• Networking – how to build business and referrals by creating relationships with other vendors through groups or one on one.
• Marketing – how to figure out who your target client is and how to reach them and “speak their language.”
• Sales – how to present your work and your business to get the jobs and close the sale without sounding pushy.
• Client relations – how to manage your clients so they love and appreciate you and feel confident and secure.
• Pricing – how to price a job so you get what it and you are worth.

There is a sense of theater working on events…the show opens at 8pm! All the elements must come together by then to create the production. I like the challenge, and that no two events are ever the same. I like solving any problems that arise and being my own boss with the control and freedom to choose my projects. I sometimes joke if the boss is a jerk, I just need to change my attitude.

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My first job at 16 was in a flower shop. I continued to work in flower shops through college. After college I didn’t know what to do with my political science degree. I had to earn some money so I got a job in a flower shop with the intention of figuring out what my “real job” was going to be. However, that never happened. I slowly realized flowers could be my profession, but I wasn’t happy working for my boss at that time. I wanted more opportunity for creativity. So, I took the plunge and started my own business in 1994, and it is still going strong.

I am creative and extremely practical and organized. Many creative people struggle with the business side. I really love both, and I believe that gives me an edge in business. Clients feel very confident and trust me completely because I operate in a very professional and organized fashion. They know I will do beautiful flowers for them, and they never question whether I will deliver on time. My staff also enjoys working with me because they know what to expect and it’s “drama free.”