Meet Jo Batzer

We recently connected with Jo Batzer and have shared our conversation below.

Jo, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

Creativity is born from inspiration, and creative types will find inspiration everywhere they look. It might be in something logical, like an art gallery or a garden, but I love it when ideas come from unexpected places, such as an alleyway or at the DMV! Never dismiss an opportunity to go somewhere or do something because you think it will be dull or boring. You never know when inspiration will strike!

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m the owner of JB Design, a multifaceted company that specializes in garden and floral design, as well as custom and decorative painting. My pet project is Garden-Lou.com, an online resource featuring private gardens, tours, and plant reviews for the St. Louis metro area.
I hold an art degree and a horticulture degree, both which provide a strong foundation for creating imaginative garden environments and floral design work, along with unique design offerings, such as painting botanically inspired murals and ceilings. I’ve been in the landscape business for almost 30 years, but my career began in the floral business 40 years ago, where I worked on weddings, events, and other occasions. Since 1997, my floral design work has been almost exclusively commercial holiday design for hotels, shopping malls, office buildings, and restaurants. This year, I am excited about offering residential holiday design so I can bring holiday magic right to your home!

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?

Communication is the number one key to anything in life, but even more so in business. No matter what your business is; if you can’t communicate effectively with clients or coworkers, you will eventually fail. I hear many horror stories about professionals who don’t return calls and emails, or who show up but never respond back. I’m not sure when “Ghosting” a client became a professional practice, but here we are. You want to stand out above the crowd? Return a phone call. Show up on time. Send a bid promptly. Only after you get to that point can you prove you are good at what you do. Everyone has things that come up, like a sick child or a flat tire. If you are too busy to take on a new client, be honest. Most people will understand and forgive anything if you are open with them.

I’m also a firm believer in ‘training your eye.’ This applies to all creatives, including writers, photographers, fashion designers, and painters. Watch videos, read books, and the trade magazines, but even better, visit places in person, such as art fairs or trade shows, paying close attention to the work of newbies coming up behind you. Examine the best work of others, AND just as important, the not-so-great work…If you learn from others’ mistakes, you won’t have to make them yourself. Analyzing why something worked or is considered “good”, as well as the whats and whys something didn’t work is the only way to grow and improve your skills.

And finally, prioritize polishing your craft. Business owners often get caught up in the demands of running their businesses, which is important, but it’s also essential to take time out for a class or workshop. Even if you’ve been doing something well for decades, never stop learning new methods and practicing on your own. If you have employees, lead by example with this and make it possible for them to do the same.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

When it comes to holiday design, it started with family. Growing up, we had two full-sized Christmas trees. I got a tree for my room when I was about 7, so it’s no surprise that I ended up specializing in holiday design. Mom insisted on the living room tree be formal, whereas the family room tree was the fun, “anything goes” tree. This taught me you don’t have to choose when it comes to a theme, or the dreaded “color lights vs white lights” argument. You do both! Dad was in charge of the exterior lights and was also a perfectionist, so it really came from both sides—and it runs in the family; my son, Paul, is now the Holiday Specialist at Ambius in St. Louis.

My first bosses as a ‘real’ floral designer were the Rose family, who owned a nursery and two flower shops in Kansas, where I lived for two years. They taught me how to be a true professional and provided a solid foundation in floral design. Once back in STL, Chas Marfisi and Lisa Neiley of Flowers by Chas were huge influences, and to this day I have Chas the back of my head when I create an over-the-top Christmas tree topper! Lisa taught me how to make true designer bows-a skill I still use today. But the most significant influence on my holiday design work was working side-by-side for 27 years with the award-winning Charlee Storner, who specialized in holiday design for decades before retiring from Ambius last year.

On the horticulture side, my professors at St. Louis Community College were and still are invaluable resources throughout my horticulture career; Dan Billman, Dave Tylka, and Jerry Pence, who now heads the SLCC Meramec Horticulture Department. Through that program, I’ve met many well-respected horticulturists and garden designers whom I’m lucky enough to consider friends.

Looking back, I’m fortunate to have been surrounded by so many knowledgeable professionals and creatives who were not only talented but generous enough to share their knowledge and secrets of the craft.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Charlee Storner, Linda Godsey, Marvin Storner, Jo Batzer

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Where does your self-discipline come from?

One of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. We asked some

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
Working hard in 2025: Keeping Work Ethic Alive

While the media might often make it seem like hard work is dead and that