Rose Study, CFD Certified Floral Designer

I attribute my success to grit - that's so important. You have to be willing to learn, and learning is important as well. I had to humble myself and be open to all the possibilities out there. I went through a really difficult beginning where local florists wouldn't help me because they saw me as competition. I had to drive to Orange County and actually pay a florist to let me work in her shop, deliver for her, clean buckets, and clean the shop just to get the training I needed. I also paid thousands of dollars for training that turned out to be wrong, and I didn't know that until I went to official floral school. It was a school of hard knocks at the beginning. But I knew I had to do the work and put a lot of time into it. Everything doesn't happen overnight, even though you would want it to. Once I went through the Floral Design Institute and got my official certification, my designs changed from night and day. I learned the principles and elements of flowers, all the color palettes, everything. Now I continue my education every Wednesday to maintain my certification. My husband has been my right-hand man throughout this journey, and having a family-owned business with four people working together has been key to our growth.

I would tell them to be ready, and they gotta have grit. Grit is so important. And be willing to learn. Learning is important as well. Humble yourself and be open, because there's so many things that you can do out there, but you have to be willing to go for it and get it. Just know everything is not going to be handed to you. You're gonna have to do the work. That's important. And you gotta want to do the work and put a lot of time into it. It doesn't happen overnight, even though you would want it to be. It just doesn't happen overnight. When I started, I didn't have the support I needed. Local florists wouldn't help me because they saw me as competition. I had to drive to Orange County and pay someone to let me work in their shop just to learn. I cleaned buckets, made deliveries, cleaned the shop, and paid for the privilege of learning. I also spent thousands on training that turned out to be wrong. But I kept going, got my proper certification through Floral Design Institute, and everything changed. This work is hard - it's lifting, carrying, delivering, managing logistics. You're on your feet all day. But if you're willing to learn the proper way and do the work, it's incredibly fulfilling.

The biggest opportunity I see is in education and preserving floral design for the next generation. I don't want this to be a dying art, because it is something that's very fulfilling and gives you joy. That's why I'm offering floral classes - I did three last year and I'm planning to do at minimum 12 in 2026. I want to show young florists and anybody else who wants to learn how to put these florals together the proper way. I didn't have that support when I started - local florists wouldn't help me because they saw me as competition. I had to pay someone just to learn. So I want to be different. I want someone to walk me through and show me how to do it, and I want to do that for the next generation. It's kind of like the catch and release system when you go fishing - I'm having an opportunity to make beautiful items, and then I extend it out. My hand is extended out to the person that's receiving it. I want to pass that knowledge forward so floristry doesn't become a lost art.

The values most important to me are hard work, grit, and continuous learning. I believe in humbling yourself and being open to growth. I value being present for people during the full spectrum of life - at the best of their lives and the worst of their lives. Whether it's death, sickness, sorrow, weddings, or babies, I'm here for the people with the flowers. That service aspect is deeply meaningful to me. I also value craftsmanship and doing things the proper way - that's why I went through formal training and continue my education every Wednesday to maintain my certification. I had to learn the principles and elements of flowers, all the color palettes, everything. Quality and proper technique matter to me. Family is also central to my values - this is a family-owned business with four people, and my husband is my right-hand man. Outside of work, I value travel and inspiration. I enjoy traveling and seeing the whole world because that gives me inspiration to see how flowers influence our society. Even the color palettes for the year mean something. An opportunity to see flowers and to see the world inspires me a lot. I also believe in passing knowledge forward and preserving floral design as an art form for future generations.