Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica McClendon and Sabra Hotujac.
Hi Jessica and Sabra, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our business opened its brick & mortar shop in October of 2019. Sabra had been doing flowers out of her home on the side for years and wanted to open a permanent location. It was just a couple of months after that that Jess came along and their partnership began. We are a full-service flower shop, and we also carry boutique clothing, home decor, accessories, all the best gifts, and more. We’ve always had the same goals in mind when it comes to our business and the environment and community we want to create around it. We’re really here to serve our community and bring the best quality, trendiest, one-of-a-kind items to everyone that shops here at reasonable prices. Since opening, we’ve moved locations from a small, rustic garage into a space that’s over double the size so we’d be able to expand and carry more items. We survived and actually grew tremendously through the pandemic due to our amazing community and customers.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Owning a business is anything but a smooth road, but luckily we both balance each other out well and we’re able to navigate the struggles pretty easily. Into our first year of business Covid shut our storefront down for a little over a month. During that time, we shifted our business from all in-person shopping experiences to online, and we were able to make flower deliveries as long as they were contactless and that’s really what saved us. To be able to show up in that small way for our community also helped us personally navigate the shutdown – to bring a little smile to someone’s face when the whole world stopped meant the world to us.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We’re a full-service floral shop and boutique. We arrange flowers daily for all occasions – everyday arrangements, sympathy, weddings… we do it all. On the boutique side, we carry clothing from sizes XS-4X, home decor, seasonal decor, gifts, accessories and more. We really specialize in being a place where our customers can come in for something unique. We love when a customer comes in to get ready for date night and we can style them in a new outfit and accessories from head to toe and help them feel confident in whatever they choose. And we love being able to help someone pick out the perfect gift for their best friend, boss, family member… etc. helping to pick out something that’s meaningful and thoughtful that the recipient will love really makes our whole day! We also know what an honor it is to be chosen to do floral work for a wedding and even for a funeral. We really feel like we’re there through the ups and downs of life with our customers. I think what really sets us apart from others is the relationships we develop with our customers, the energy our shop has and the items we carry. We hear often that our shop just feels good and feels like home, and that’s truly all we want. We always want to be the bright part of our customer’s day.
Also – once a month, we host “Second Saturdays” where local makers and vendors from around the area can come and set up to sell their merchandise/creations. We host a food truck and a mobile coffee business every month on that day and it’s a great day for shoppers to come and see a variety of things and grab a great lunch.
What makes you happy?
Seeing our customers happy – whether that’s in a new outfit they just picked out or delivering a flower arrangement that surprises them and makes their whole day. We leave the day feeling fulfilled and happy when our customers come in and enjoy their whole experience here.
Contact Info:
- Email: flowerbardesigns@gmail.com
- Website: www.theflowerbarboutique.com
- Instagram: @theflowerbarbasehor
- Facebook: @theflowerbarbasehor
