Meet Caitlin Pohle

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Caitlin Pohle. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Caitlin, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?

As a florist, it is so easy for us to over-work, hustle and experience burn out. Before owning my own business I worked in the field for over 10 years. While working as a freelancer or employee with other florists, it was normal to work 12+ hour days on your feet with only a quick lunch break. I never aspired to own my own business or pursue a real career in the floral world partially because of this. Everyone thinks being a florist is a romantic job just playing with flowers but behind the scenes, it is a long day of heavy lifting, pricks from thorns, knives and clippers, sweating under the hot sun from dawn to dusk and in some circumstances dealing with toxins. Once I came to the realization that I have a creative calling as a florist, I decided to start my own business and knew all the ways that I would run my business differently than those I’d worked with in the past. Self-care became a priority in my business model in order to prevent burn out and support my creativity as a designer. One of the first decisions I made was to make efforts to avoid use of toxic chemicals and prioritize use of local and organic grown flowers. As my business grew I realized the importance of boundaries. I wouldn’t be doing anyone any favors by being a yes-man. I learned to hold my boundaries both as a business person and creative. This was hardest in the beginning as I wanted to accept every client at every budget in order to bring in as much work as possible. Soon I realized the value of my creative integrity and time. I’ve been able to accomplish a successful business balanced with a rich life outside of work by limiting the open hours of the shop to just 6 hours per day, 5 days per week; creating a consistent routine which includes time for my hobbies and connecting with nature; surrounding myself with capable and creative coworkers; and by working with clients who trust my creative vision.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I love being a florist. I am amazed everyday at the beauty of nature. My favorite part of my job is discovering and using new flowers that I haven’t ever seen or worked with, or even with a common flower that has grown exceptionally gorgeous this season! One of my favorites this year is a local grown variety snapdragon that most people wouldn’t even recognize. Designing with flowers is something that will never grow old to me because there are so many ways to create something different through varieties of textures, flower types, color, types of textiles, and use of unexpected elements. Every design I make and event that we design is different and unique and there are always new ways to grow and expand as a business. The Velvet Poppy is now in it’s 6th year of business, nearly four of those years at our location in Silver Lake, CA.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

My enthusiasm to learn and grow as both a creative and a business person has always been my greatest asset. From the beginning of my life in the floral world over 20 years ago (shh, don’t tell anyone I’m old!), I’ve always been eager to participate in every aspect of the business and proactively learn. That hasn’t changed. I still love learning from other artists and florists to perfect my technical skills and expand my ideas of floral design. As a business person, there is always so much to learn and I enjoy the ability to find creativity in all aspects of the business, including the more boring parts. Endurance and persistence are another valuable quality. There are so many challenges on the way to being able to be independently successful and it’s important to be able to roll with it and think on your toes, react positively and grow from mistakes. My advice to those early in their journey as a florist is to put your ego aside, remember to find the art and creativity in all you do and work with others in order to learn from their mistakes and successes.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

One of the most impactful things that my parents taught me was to earn my way. Even as a child they taught me to do chores or grade well in school to earn my spending money. The concept of work and finances became natural to me at an early age and independence has always been important to me. They also taught me the value of nature, travel and enjoyment of life on a non material level. I may never be rich for LA standards as a florist, but I know I will be happy in my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.the-velvet-poppy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_velvet_poppy/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevelvetpoppyflorist/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-velvet-poppy-silver-lake
• Other: https://www.velvetpoppyflowers.com/

Image Credits

Raina Virginia, Novasclickshop, Carly Martin Photography