Hannah Carter was made redundant during the pandemic, but proving you can achieve anything you set your mind to, the young mum set up floristry business The F* Word Flower.
She has shared her top tips to help other young women who might be thinking of starting a business.
Bouncing back from redundancy
Hannah had not long returned to her job in the charity sector from maternity leave in June 2020 when she was faced with redundancy due to Covid.
“It hit me hard and I found it incredibly difficult to deal with,” she said. “Being a usually happy, outgoing person, I really struggled.”
But Hannah wasn’t going to let circumstances get in her way.
Training as a florist
“I decided while I didn’t have a job, I would make the most of online courses so took one in floristry,” she said. “I always loved flowers and I loved giving them and seeing people smile.”
Hannah added: “I struggled to find a relatable brand that targeted my age range, that was fun and a little quirky. I wanted to create a brand that was colourful, cheeky and affordable and that’s how The F* Word Flowers was born.”
The brand has gone from strength to strength, picking up loyal fans and rave reviews.
“To start with it was something to keep me busy but the more I created floral arrangements the more I fell in love with it,” Hannah said. “Since last August I’ve well and truly thrown myself into it and I’m incredibly proud of how far I’ve come in such a small amount of time.”
Blooming business
The F* Word provides made-to-order bouquets, flower subscription and events floristry.
Hannah’s passion for floristry has been matched by her enthusiasm to learn and she can often be found during downtime attending online training or upskilling.
It’s all paying off, with business blooming, with Valentine’s Day being incredibly busy.
Advice to budding business owners
If you are thinking of starting your own business, here are Hannah’s top tips.
Become an expert in what you do and advance your knowledge.
If you can’t find something out for yourself, speak with an expert who can help you. Take opportunities to learn. At the moment lots of experts are offering help in the form of live social media lunch sessions or evening courses, so jump onto those and listen. You never know what you might learn in five minutes.
Educate yourself
Teach yourself selling, advertising and promoting and never be over-confident that you think you have nothing more to learn. Social media is forever changing, and you need to adapt and keep up.
Believe in your product!
If you don’t, how can you expect others to?
You are your biggest salesperson and if you truly believe you have a unique and exciting product, showcase it. It would be great if you could sit back and watch the sales run in, but often that’s not the case. It’s hard work and dedication and you need to absolutely believe in your product.
Surround yourself with positive and encouraging people
Starting a business is tough, let alone during a pandemic. Having individuals around you who want to see you succeed is powerful. There have been many occasions that I have had to prioritise my business over spending time with family and friends, but thankfully they understand. They know that in order for me to succeed, I have to put the work in.
Don’t let negativity creep in
It’s not good for you or your business. Focus on the end game.
Set goals!
Nothing is unachievable.
To find out more, visit thefwordflower.com or find the company on Instagram @thefwordflower
