Posh Petals offers floral, planning and rental pieces, and an exquisite selection of gift items from artisans whose product complements its floral arrangements. Elizabeth Schenk, Posh Petals owner and creative director, tends a long love of floral design that has blossomed into a world of colorful inspiration and delightful events.
What prompted your decision to become an entrepreneur?
When I began doing floral design on the side as an at-home business, I realized how passionate I was about creating the perfect flower arrangements for special occasions. I just felt a tug in the direction of being a business owner and decided it was the right thing for me.
What have you done to create and grow a successful business?
The main thing has been to never stop loving what I do. People can sense how much I enjoy my career, my staff and my clients. Keeping the positive energy even through the down times and never losing the love for the business has definitely been the best thing I could have done.
What is the greatest or most interesting lesson you've learned so far?
To push through the hard times and keep a positive outlook. There are always going to be things that happen that try to get you down, but you just have to brush them off and focus on the good ... because there is SO MUCH GOOD!
What are a few of your favorite things about being an entrepreneur?
As business has grown, my favorite thing now is being an influence on my staff. I love that they look up to me, learn from me and want to grow not only themselves, but they want to contribute to the business growth as well. It's amazing getting to hear them talk about what they're doing and learning and to see their excitement. Also, I love our clients. Knowing that people appreciate what we do is wonderful. Flowers are a wonderful thing.
What sets you and your business apart from others?
This is tough, because there are so many wonderful businesses out there. However, our staff is the absolute best. They take amazing care of our clients. They are always working as hard as they can—no matter how they are feeling. They are excited EVERY SINGLE DAY. Our clients and other vendors we work with can sense their excitement and passion. I'm not exaggerating when I say that every time we get a batch of flowers in—which is almost daily—they chatter about how beautiful the flowers are and how they can't wait to create something out of them. These girls are the best, hands down. It's hard for me to stop talking about them; that's how awesome they are.
What advice would you offer those who ponder following their dreams?
Nike had it right when they said, "Just do it." That's all I can say. Don't hesitate, don't worry, don't second guess, don't regret. Just take a deep breath, say a little prayer and do it. Things will work out as they should.
It may not be exactly as you plan, but it's exactly as it should be.
Entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes. They don't stop at "no"—and they persevere through risks and rewards. When West Michigan Woman sought nominations of local woman entrepreneurs to feature as our cover story, the response was outstanding—as are the women our readers selected. All are in the earlier stages of their endeavors. All have a story to tell. To read the published article introducing these women, click here.
