Today we’d like to introduce you to Angelique Gifford.
Hi Angelique, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey of becoming a business owner started long before the floral and décor company. I always had a creative niche and desired to capitalize on it by trying to sell items such as custom-designed and personalized office supplies. That didn’t work out too well because I did not know one thing about marketing and selling. However, during my time in college, I worked in retail and went from an associate to a store manager. I developed skills in sales, customer service, marketing, and management.
Fast forward to 2016, and what is now Stylish Floral Design Co. was created. I started working with flowers as a result of having them weekly in my home and begin taking floral arranging classes to better develop my skills. After much research, it dawned on me that there were a limited number of Black women wedding florists in the area. As a result, I got a business name, found out all I could about best business practices, and jumped right in after some guidance from various workshops. At first, only close friends and family gave me opportunities to design. It was not producing a profit, but each time, I learned more and improved.
Stylish Floral Design Co. will celebrate 8 years in business in 2024, and I’m grateful for the opportunities from God and all of the clients that we are blessed to work with. I truly put my heart in this work and look forward to bringing joy to many on their wedding and event days.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest obstacle at the beginning of the business was obtaining clients who were willing to pay what it cost to produce weddings and events with flowers and décor. Many don’t realize the heavy labor that is involved when working with flowers and various décor pieces such as candle holders, vases, and all of the items it takes to produce an event.
It took some time to build the business to what it is today. However, when you’re genuine, have integrity, do the work, and show love to others, people take notice.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Based in the Houston, Texas, metropolitan area, Stylish Floral Design Co. is a premier full-service floral design and décor company specializing in timeless weddings and one-of-a-kind events.
Established in 2016, our offerings include floral and décor design services that range from intimate events such as birthday parties and baby showers to extravagant weddings. From the elaborate installations to the smallest detail, we take your vision and dreams and ensure that every wedding and event is elegant and classic. We believe life is for celebrating and want to help design those celebrations for you.
As the owner and Creative Director, I’m proud that this business is still standing. We got through Covid-19 when things were slow. Not just slow, there were no weddings happening. There were no events happening. There was no income happening, but yet we’re still here.
The level of dedication that I have for this business and for the people is what I believe continues to help me be successful. It allows people to be loyal to me and my purpose. This work is not just a job to me; it is a purpose. Operating in my purpose is my biggest accomplishment. I get to be a part of the most memorable and some of the most important days of people’s lives, and I do not take that lightly.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters the most to me is how my services and designs make people feel. I truly love to make others smile and laugh because it’s important to spread love and positivity as life comes with many obstacles. I am proud to be in this position and to provide these services to all kinds of people, all demographics of people, and not only that but to be able to employ people as well. That is a blessing within itself to have the ability to create a safe and welcoming environment. A workspace where people can be themselves and put in the work without wearing a mask because that’s not what we do at Stylish Floral Design Co. We keep it real, and we do real work that makes a real impact.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stylishfloraldesignco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stylishfloraldesignco/
Image Credits
C’na Roberts Photography
Rhea Whitney Photography
