Today we’d like to introduce you to Janci Schofield
Hi Janci, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have always had a love for flowers and designing. When I was young my mom would always have me arrange the flowers she would pick from our bushes. I went to Utah State University and graduated in marketing. After working in the marketing industry for a few years my passion for business and for flowers grew. I started by searching flower arranging and bouquet making on YouTube and then took classes through the Floral Design Institute. My passion and excitement grew with each new skill I was learning and I decided to take a leap and open Little Purple Pansies.
Little Purple Pansies was started in 2019, named after the primary song “Little Purple Pansies” that my Great-Grandma loved. She would have all of us grandchildren memorize the song on the piano and sing it for her. My Great-Grandma also loved her flower garden and every summer I would go and help her weed the flowers and keep them beautiful. So Little Purple Pansies is a dedication to her.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have had my fair share of challenges along the way. A big challenge that florists deal with is that we are working with product that has a short lifespan. You have a few days where the flowers are at their optimal beauty. So being able to manage design time for your event can be a challenge. Another challenge that I have had to learn (sometimes the hard way) is that each flower is unique in the sense that some like to be in warm water and others like cold. Or that some do better with a slanted cut vs a straight across cut. It is amazing the little things that I continue to learn.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Certified Wedding Floral Designer and the owner of Little Purple Pansies. I create unique arrangements for event such as: weddings, dances, funerals, or any other celebrations. I feel like I am known for wedding flowers. I feel so proud when my customers see the work that I have created and they get a big smile and say how much they love it. It is amazing to stand back from a large flower install or a beautiful bouquet or even a casket spray and think I created that. And to know that it is bring beauty and joy to someone on their best day or even honoring someone who has passed on, it is really an incredible feeling.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Yes, when I first started my business I followed a lot of local florists on Instagram. I had quite a few that I felt our values and visions aligned for our business as well as similar design techniques. I would personally reach out to them with questions and opinions and it was amazing the response I would get. They were always so happy to help. There is a huge feeling of community over competition in my industry. We all want to work together and build each other up.
It is also great to build these relationships and network because there are so many opportunities to freelance for each other when we get large events and could use extra hands.
Pricing:
- Bridal Bouquets $250+
- Corsages $30+
- Boutonnieres $20+
- Large flower installs $400+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.littlepurplepansies.com
- Instagram: @_littlepurplepansies
