Althea Wiles is the owner and creative director of Rose of Sharon Floral Design Studio in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She is also the founder and education director of J Althea Creative, a floral design course and florist consulting program. Her design studio takes part in 75-100 weddings and events annually and has been recognized by publications such as Arkansas Bride as well as being a featured artist for the Art in Bloom gallery exhibit chosen and hosted by the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. www.roseofsharon-eventflorist.com
FWM: You are the owner and creative director of Rose of Sharon Floral Design Studio. What would we find at your store?
Well, since I have a design studio and not a brick and mortar space, you’d find a lot of supplies organized by size, shape and color. We order fresh flowers based on upcoming events, so that changes week to week. You’d also find a group of people working together harmoniously—it’s always been important to me to have a workplace that both I and my employees enjoy being a part of. Just before a wedding, you’d find organized chaos—buckets of flowers and greenery labeled for on-site assembly; centerpieces packed for transport; bouquets wrapped and ready for presentation to the wedding party. And checklists, of course! Everything we do runs on checklists.
FWM: What will people notice when working with you?
They would notice that I pay attention to the details and that I listen to my customers. When one bride this year saw her bouquet, she said, “It’s beautiful! I didn’t know what I wanted but that’s exactly what I wanted!” I took her ideas and brought them to life…even when she wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted.
FWM: Tell us about The Full Bloom- Small Wedding Package.
The Full Bloom package came about because of COVID. Like so many others, we had to pivot quickly to continue serving our customers. Several of our weddings were split into an immediate ceremony with a reception at a later date. Others reduced the scope of the wedding so that they could get married right away. Some even moved the date up. With all this, we realized that making it easier to order the flowers was critical. So we set up the Full Bloom Package. Customers can call or email, let me know how many of each item they needed, get a quote and place the order very quickly. Even though weddings have opened back up, our customers are still appreciative of the quick service that we bring.
FWM: Can you share a few memorable clients?
Being in business for so many years, I’ve had my share of memorable clients-both good and bad. But overall, I work with great clients. One memorable client truly appreciated flower design and would send his friends arrangements for birthdays, anniversaries, and really just any occasion. He always let us choose the design and the flowers, so we were able to let our creativity shine.
My favorite love story is a couple that sends flowers to each other for every special occasion in their lives. (I love that they both send flowers!)
Weddings are always magical but the ones that really grab me are the small, intimate second weddings. These couples have ‘done it before’ and they are always focused more on the ceremony than on the party at the reception.
FWM: What is your top-selling package? Why is it a favorite?
Most of our work is customized for the client, so we don’t do a lot of set packages. Our clients generally want personal flowers (for the couple, their attendants, and close family), statement pieces for the ceremony, and décor for the reception. This can range from just a few tables to 30 or more. For ceremonies, arbors of all shapes have been popular in the last couple of years. We decorate these with trailing foliage and seasonal flowers.
FWM: You also offer rentals. Tell us more.
Our rental items are designed to support the floral arrangements we create and make it easier for the couple to plan. Over the years, we’ve amassed quite a few vases, compotes, containers of various shapes, urns, large wreaths, columns, and candle holders.
FWM: Tell us about J. Althea Creative, floral design course, and florist consulting program. What do you enjoy the most?
A few years ago, someone pointed out that I’m constantly teaching and sharing the knowledge, tips & tricks, and methods I’ve learned over the years of being a florist. I do this pretty much any time someone asks a floral-related question. Coupled with a desire to help other florists grow like my original mentor helped me, consulting was the natural progression.
Many florists struggle with the business side of owning a shop or studio because their passion is the creative side of designing flowers. I love helping florists become more efficient, more profitable, and more secure in their art.
ROSE OF SHARON:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoseofSharonEventFlorist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roseofsharonfloral/
J ALTHEA CREATIVE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaltheacreative/
