Today we’d like to introduce you to Angie Kelley.
Hi Angie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I launched my business, Sunshine + Stems Floral Design, in late 2024 after contemplating my future during a corporate restructuring. After 23 years in a volatile field, I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life pursuing something that truly brings me joy: floral design.
Growing up in East Tennessee, near the Great Smoky Mountains, I developed a love for flowers. My mother instilled an appreciation for nature in me by pointing out the beauty in everything around us. This appreciation deepened as I moved to Virginia Beach after college and later to Honolulu, Hawaii, where I was surrounded by stunning tropical plants. I began experimenting with flower arrangements, even helping a friend with her brother’s wedding, which boosted my confidence.
After living in Monterey, California, where I discovered new local flora, and then to sunny San Diego, I continued experimenting with all of the unique elements available to me. I took my first floral design course at a local college in San Diego. The instructor recognized my “eye” for design, sparking thoughts of a potential career someday. My passion for floral design was growing and developing, but I tucked that thought away into my head for another time. Now living in Tampa, Florida, I’ve encountered new flower varieties that further fuel my passion.
Reflecting on what makes me happy during summer 2024, I realized that working with flowers is truly fulfilling. I love arranging them and learning about their characteristics. Flowers to me are simply magical in their ability to transform a mood or even a whole day. There is so much information about flowers that I could never tire of learning about them and never exhaust the resources available. A floral business could be an enriching experience for the rest of my life. My belief that I could start a business was starting to grow the more I put into learning about the floral industry. This realization led me to question my skills and draw on my past experiences, including event planning and hosting showers, and inspired me to start a new career.
When I searched “How to become a floral designer,” I found an online course starting that Friday, which kickstarted my journey. I immersed myself in floral design and business planning, discovering endless opportunities for learning. My confidence grew as I honed my skills and built a foundation for my business.
In Fall 2024, I designed flowers for a friend’s baby shower with a Woodland theme, drawing inspiration from my time in Monterey. I thought this was my opportunity to answer the question of whether I was good enough to start a floral business. The women loved what I had created. Several commented that I should be doing this for a living. After the shower I shared with some of the women that I was thinking about starting my own business in floral design. I received a resounding YES, that I absolutely should be doing that! My confidence bloomed! This support, along with encouragement from my husband, family and friends led me to officially launch Sunshine + Stems Floral Design in November 2024. The name reflects my desire to bring a little bit of sunshine into people’s lives, which is inspired by a close friend who has called me “Sunshine” for the last twenty years.
Today, I run my business from my home studio, focusing on everyday arrangements, custom floral, and weddings and events. I recently launched a Bouquet Bar, booking baby showers and pairing with local businesses to display my flower stand where people build their own bouquets. One area I’m exploring is wearable fresh-floral jewelry for special occasions.
As a Naval veteran’s spouse, I am passionate about serving military families by providing floral services for retirements and ceremonies. I’m excited to continue learning and experimenting with flowers as my business evolves, feeling fortunate to pursue a passion that brings joy to others while allowing me to learn continuously.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m still in the very early days of starting my business, and there are definitely challenges. The administrative side of running a business is completely new to me, so I’ve had to invest in my education around record keeping, inventory and navigating the tax system. One of my biggest struggles is in keeping up with social media. I am a casual user personally but am finding that in order to be successful in business that it’s something I need to be spending more time doing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I do floral designs for everyday arrangements, weddings and receptions, corporate events, military ceremonies, bereavement and custom floral design. I really enjoy doing custom floral work. For Gasparilla I created one-of-a kind floral treasure boxes complete with beads and pirate accessories. I recently completed an installation using preserved moss and other natural elements in glass for a fireplace mantle. I’m also exploring custom fresh-floral jewelry for special occasions. I recently launched my Bouquet Bar, where people are able to create their own bouquets using flowers from my flower stand or table setup. It’s a really fun activity that is perfect for baby and bridal showers, community events, and partnering with local businesses. One area I’m passionate about is working with the military and their families. As a Naval Veteran spouse, I’d like to pay tribute to their sacrifice and commitment by providing my services for retirements and ceremonies.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Leaving the customer with an exceptional experience is my number one goal. Aligning with the customer’s vision and expectations is paramount, and customer service is equally important to me. All of these things are vital to my success in floral design.
Pricing:
- Available upon request
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sunshineandstems.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshineandstems813
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568806511400#
Image Credits
Angie Kelley
