Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Trahan.
Hi Kristen, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
From humble beginnings as two retail florists meeting in fortuitous happenstance to joining forces to become a breath of fresh air in Houston’s floral wholesale market, myself, Kristen Trahan, and my business partner, Kasey Miller, have set out to become a tried and true force in the field of flowers and floristry with a combined eight years of experience. Amidst trying times during a global pandemic, we decided to take the brave step into the world of independent business ownership. Exercising all of our knowledge and skill learned in the industry we’ve grown to love and adore, Kasey and myself work together to bring fresh flowers into the homes of our neighbors, family, and friends under the new moniker of “Ponderosa.” With a combination of modern techniques and a fresh take on traditional “old school” arrangements, floral gifts, and decorations, Ponderosa hit local farmers markets in late 2020 to great success. Moving into 2021 with wide strides, Ponderosa will continue serving their customers every day of the week through our website, any custom orders, and the weekly local farmers markets throughout our beloved community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Opening a brand new business among an economy stunted by a global pandemic has had its obvious challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the struggle of working with perishable merchandise, might signify that our journey has had its fair share of trips and stumbles along the way. However, these blows have been tremendously softened by the support of our community, family, and friends. Every path to victory has its bumps and rocky places, but we have counted our blessings to have had the continuous strong encouragement of our lovely community, who have made those bumps and rocks look more like shimmering stained glass in the sunset.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Houston’s Bay Area neighborhood flower studio and market, Ponderosa, can fulfill all your floral and event needs, big & small. We are most passionate about bringing quality blooms to our community, family, and friends. Ponderosa specializes in creating modern, garden-style arrangements and bouquets, utilizing dried and preserved botanicals for a refreshing twist. When designing our weekly offerings, we source and curate groupings of unique seasonal flowers to create fresh and trendy color palettes. Ponderosa also offers gifts, such as potted tropical plants, pressed flower frames, handmade greeting cards, seasonal wreaths, garlands, and more. We are currently hosting a Botanical Pop Up Shop weekly at Bay Area Farmers Market, located near Baybrook Mall. We will be there with seasonal blooms and unique gifts every Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm. You can also contact us for any custom orders at our website www.ponderosaflowerstudio.com. We can’t wait to meet you!
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
The road to discovering my passion for floral design was not necessarily a clean cut path. Growing up, my hands were always covered in superglue, glitter, or paint, reaching out for the next craft or DIY project. Naturally, the pressures of school and finding a “career” in which one can become successful can tend to smother creativity. But creativity increasingly beckoned me. From dabbling in multiple professions, all the way from cosmetology to restaurant management, I finally settled in what is now my happy place, my comfort zone, my forever career. As a 20 something professional, I found my home in flowers.
Contact Info:
- Email: ponderosablooms@gmail.com
- Website: www.ponderosaflowerstudio.com
- Instagram: @ponderosablooms
- Facebook: /ponderosaflowerstudio
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