Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristina Graff.
Hi Cristina, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I am your local flower dealer serving Brevard County, FL! I had always loved floral arranging but fell hard for dried florals when I traveled to Sevilla, Spain. It is quite magical to think that a city and other artisans selling their work can ignite a passion within. When I arrived home, I immediately got to drying florals and haven’t stopped. Only a few months after I began drying, I decided to take the leap and make it a full-blown business in my little pint-size flower shop. Now, I am going into my third year being open, & I am shipping dried florals and fully dried weddings nationwide, with 100+ weddings and counting! We also are in the process of opening a flower and coffee shop for 2024!
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
This business journey has come with some hurdles, but it has been an amazing ride with the outpouring of support and love for my work since I opened. I am very fortunate and grateful that this little flower business has taken off so quickly, but I don’t take it for granted and work hard to keep the momentum going. If I can touch on one challenge, it would be opening a small business amongst other shops that are already established, which is that “imposter syndrome” mindset. You always feel like, “Can I do this?” or “I’m not able to run this,” but I can confidently say that it’s just noise in your head. Running after your dream is scary, and there are so many uncertainties, but when you look back at all the hurdles you had to jump, you will be so proud of yourself, especially if you know your brand and what you are bringing to your community.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a self-taught florist offering all services in fresh and dried, but specializing in dried florals! I am best known for my dried flowers, which I dry in-house and make in different creations, from small bouquets to large installation pieces. Thanks to social media, I am most proud of organically growing my business to ship complete weddings nationwide in my first opening year!
So, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you before we go? How can they support you?
The best support is just sharing my work with the ones you love. Seeing my customers post my work and share how much they loved a piece of my art means so much to me. Being a florist is a such a unique job because we get to be a part of many moments in others’ lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/ThePatinaedFleur
- Instagram: @patinaedandco
Image Credits
Photographer: @carissajosettephoto
