IG Live: With Christy Muck of Wild Blossom Hollow.
Last week's IG Live session featured an insightful conversation with Kristi Muck of Wild Blossom Hollow. Kristi shared her journey from flower farming to running a boutique, offering valuable tips and lessons. Here's a recap of our discussion with Kristi, covering her floral shop's operations, design choices, and community involvement.
From Flower Farming to Boutique Owner
Kristi started her floral journey ten years ago with plans to become a large-scale flower farmer. She soon found that the scale and nature of farming didn’t match her interests. This realization led her to create a boutique that focuses on offering curated floral designs and products. Kristi explained, “I love doing weird, fun projects and color and all the things.”
This shift allowed her to build a boutique that features both her floral arrangements and items from local artisans.
Creating a Comfortable, Welcoming Space
One of the standout features of Kristi’s shop is its welcoming atmosphere. When customers enter, they find a space with comfortable seating, high ceilings, and natural light. Kristi highlighted the importance of making her shop feel like a gathering place rather than just a retail space. She shared, “I have coffee and tea... Kids know they have their own basket and blankets and books and puzzles and they can just lay on the ground.”
A Family Affair and Community Focus
Wild Blossom Hollow is a family-run business. Kristi’s children, Iris and Troy, help out in the shop along with her husband and mother. This family effort reinforces the shop’s community focus. Kristi also enjoys supporting local women artists by featuring their work.
Bouquet Subscriptions
Kristi discussed her bouquet subscription model, which allows customers to pick up flowers whenever they want instead of following a weekly schedule. This flexible approach suits her customers and makes inventory management simpler.
Aesthetic Choices
Each item in Kristi’s shop is selected with care. From the candles to the merchandise, everything matches her shop’s theme. This detailed approach helps create a unique atmosphere that attracts customers.
Product Selection
Kristi provided advice on selecting products and managing inventory. Her suggestion? Start with a small selection of items you love and see what your customers appreciate. Products like local soaps, candles, body oils, and room sprays tend to sell well with floral items. Look into Faire for wholesale specialty products.
The Importance of Systems
Kristi emphasized the need for a strong point-of-sale system for managing inventory and sales. She uses Square to handle both her shop and online sales, ensuring smooth operations and accurate tracking.
Final Thoughts
Kristi’s experiences with Wild Blossom Hollow show how passion and community involvement can lead to a successful business. Her story offers inspiration for anyone looking to combine creativity with commerce.
For more insights, watch our full IG Live session with Kristi Muck. And if you’re near Forestville, New York, visit Wild Blossom Hollow for a unique shopping experience.
Stay tuned for more conversations with industry experts and stories that inspire!
~ The Little Farmhouse Flowers Team