Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Jennifer Bowker of Louisville, KY

We recently had the chance to connect with Jennifer Bowker and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Jennifer, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I started my floral business back in 2019 as j.christine designs, and it has always been a side hustle for me. I’ve always maintained the belief that you can’t live off a florist’s salary alone. That brick-and-mortar flower shops are dead. That I’m just wasting my time. That it should remain a hobby and I need to get “real” job. So, I’ve done just that. I listened to everyone else instead of taking some risks and following my dreams. It also didn’t help that I grew up in Los Angeles and was now living in San Diego where it’s $1,000 just to look at your apartment. Long story short, I moved to Louisville, KY in 2021 because CA was no longer affordable… even with a “real” job. It truly was one of the best decisions I have made for myself in a while. Moving to KY has been awesome because everyone here is so supportive, and kind (in the real way… not the fake LA way), the cost of living is much more affordable, and I uncovered a passion for bourbon I never realized I had. With all of that said, what I’m being called to do now that I was afraid of before is stepping out of my comfort zone, leaving my safe 9-5 “real” job, and pursuing my floral business full time. Oh! I forgot to mention, after I moved to KY I did a complete re-brand of my business and changed the name from j.christine designs to Persephone, the goddess of spring and the underworld. So here I am… pursuing Persephone full time and I have to say, it’s scary AF but I’m also SO excited for what is to come.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jennifer, and I am the owner of Persephone, a full-service floral business that works with both fresh and dried florals. Persephone is the goddess of spring and the underworld, so by working with both fresh and dried flowers, this combination brings together the ideas of “life” and “death,” which in turn leads us to creating elevated and imaginative designs using premium, seasonal blooms and catering to those with a unique, non-traditional floral style. Being a full-service floral brand encompasses weddings, events, memorials, custom designs, workshops, and the rental of our Build-Your-Own-Bouquet (BYOB) Bloom Bar. We also participate in seasonal and farmers’ markets, using the BYOB bloom bar for people to work their creative muscles and build their own bouquet to take home or give as a gift. Since we work with both dried and fresh flowers, any of the flowers that come home with us after the market get dried for future arrangements and projects. We believe all stages of the flower’s life are beautiful and important, so very little goes to waste here. We also dye (almost) all of our ribbon using natural ingredients such as foods and spices.

When I started this business in 2019, I wasn’t entirely sure of the direction I wanted it to take; I just knew I wanted to have my own floral business. Fast forward 6 years, and Persephone was born. The rebrand from j.christine designs to Persephone has been such a fun journey, and I am very excited to see what is to come.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
My dad taught me most about work. Both my parents are incredibly hard-working and driven, but my dad instilled in my sister and me from a young age what hard work looks like and how to succeed. He taught us the importance of managing our finances, investing wisely, and practicing generosity. I firmly believe that’s why my sister and I both share an entrepreneurial spirit and continually advance our knowledge and skill sets.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
A fear that has held me back most of my life is my fear of failure. I don’t like looking foolish, and I certainly don’t like making mistakes. I pride myself on taking whatever job or task is put in front of me and doing it to the best of my ability. I’ve also learned that we are human and failing is inevitable. It’s how you deal with it that matters. Owning a business is scary because you have a lot less room for failure; however, it will still happen. Instead of letting it take you down and cause you to give up, it’s essential to face it head-on and learn quickly from the mistake. One thing I love about owning a business is problem-solving and trying new approaches, seeing things in new ways, and being innovative. It also helps that the co-founder of my business thinks very differently from me, allowing us to balance each other and our ideas at times. Surrounding myself with supportive, like-minded people has helped ease my fear of failure a bit, let go of some control, and go with the flow. By releasing some of that, it has helped me take the risk of stepping out of my comfort zone and pursuing my business full-time.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I think the biggest lie the floral industry tells itself is that it’s not a sustainable full-time job. The floral industry is dying, and you won’t be able to live off a florist’s salary, so it should stay a hobby or a side hustle. With the proper training and knowledge, your floral business can and will be sustainable. The floral industry isn’t dying, it’s changing, as with most things. It’s hard work owning your own business and being your own boss, but with that comes more freedom and time to do things you enjoy. To live the life you want vs feeling stuck in a crappy 9-5 job working for someone else. It’s taken me 6 years to release this lie and fully embrace my potential and what that looks like for Persephone.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people talk about how passionate and driven I was. I hope they tell the story of how I didn’t give up on my dreams and I always pursued my passions. I hope they feel inspired and motivated to do the same. I know I have my flaws, we all do, but at the end of the day, I want to be known as a kind, loving, and hard-working person who loved flowers and wanted to bring that joy to others—someone who wanted to share her creativity with the world and make it a little brighter.

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