Check Out Jolene Powell’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jolene Powell.

Hi Jolene, 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 been happily married for 26 years and we are blessed with five beautiful children. Our family lives in Rockingham County Virginia. When I am not working, I enjoy quilting, gardening, and anything creative or crafty.

I am a retired lieutenant/firefighter/paramedic.

When I was in high school, I stopped at a flower shop with my aunt while she was running a few errands. I looked back into the workroom and saw a lady creating a floral arrangement, and then thought to myself “She gets paid to play with flowers“. I remember thinking that was such a wonderful job that that is what I wanted to do.

After searching for some classes, I completed a “floral design“ certification from a correspondence school. Shortly after that, I began to do weddings for friends and family, and then I was able to work part-time in a flower shop to gain more experience. Since retiring from the fire/rescue department in February 2021, I am now the owner of “Floral Expressions with Jolene“ in Elkton, Va.

While I make all types of arrangements to include wedding, holiday, and corporate event designs, I specialize in custom Sympathy Tributes. Examples of this would include shaped items made out of silk flowers, such as a car, cross, heart, patches, and logos. I have obtained a lot of my training from the Floriology Institute out of Jacksonville, Florida. I am a member of the Florida state floral Association International

In 2022, I competed in the Florida State floral designer of the Year competition and placed second. I also tested and became a Florida State Master Designer (FSMD). Recently, I placed third in the Illinois state Designer of the Year competition. This fall I will be teaching a floral design class at our local career and technical education school.

Over the past two years, I have been working diligently by studying and practicing to take the AIFD American Institute of Floral Design test known as the PFDE, Professional Floral Design evaluation. I am happy to report that I passed both the written and the hands-on evaluation and will walk across the stage this July and Chicago to receive my pin and certification as an AIFD-certified Floral designer.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Some obstacles that I have had to overcome, are things like trying to manage my time and meet deadlines while having small children at home. After opening my flower shop in March 2021, there was a period of time when I struggled to get supplies because of the COVID-19 situation. Another challenge was a year into my business, the local funeral home closed for renovation for a little over a year.

I saw a decrease in my sales in funeral work because all of their funerals went out of their primary location which was about 20 miles away. I think this automatically put in people’s minds to call a flower shop close to that funeral home. It has also been an adjustment to balance my time with family, friends, and other activities that I enjoy.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am the only florist in my area, and possibly the state that specializes in Custom Floral Symbolic Tributes. These are floral designs of shapes, logos, and patches. Having been in the fire department, most of the ones that I have done are for fallen firefighters or police officer funerals. The patches are approximately 4 feet tall. I can create them with either fresh or silk flowers. However, I encourage customers to pick silk flowers. This way they’re able to keep the arrangements. One of the local fire departments has used the patch floral design for three different funerals of their volunteer firefighters over the last three years.

A local business ordered the business logo and flowers when the business owner passed away. That logo is now hanging in the foyer at the entrance of the business. Police and fire departments will use the patches at events, such as their annual banquets or public relations events as decoration. Several times I have created cars that were a favorite of a loved one that had passed away.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Creativity, patience, and self-motivation. These specialty items can take 2 to 3 days to make. They are very time intensive. So being a good manager of time is also important.

Pricing:

• My specialty patches and logos range from $800 – $2400 depending on the size and amount of detail involved.
• Will ship anywhere in the United States.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.FloralExpressionsWithJolene.com
• Instagram: @FloralExpressionsWithJolene
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.FloralExpressionsWithJolene