Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melissa Erker. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Melissa, 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?
Self care is a necessity! When I first started out I just powered through everything, but I soon realized that not taking care of yourself means you’ll end up injured or burnt out. I love what I do too much to let myself burn out and no one wants to be injured so I knew I had to make sure that I was prioritizing myself. Unfortunately this country really prioritizes that work-yourself-into-the-ground work ethic so you really have to self advocate and make self care a priority. I make sure to schedule self care like I would a meeting with a client. I set aside time in my planner for myself, for my family, and for friends. My daily self care involves taking early morning walks with my daughter, it’s a time where her and I can connect and chat without any distractions and it’s amazing for your circadian rhythm to get sunshine and movement first thing in the morning. Another thing I do to take care of myself is meditate, I have an app that I really love to use and even if it’s just for 5 minutes a day, meditation helps set the tone for me. Wedding and event florists put a lot of wear and tear on their bodies, so massage therapy is a huge benefit that I try to incorporate monthly and sometimes twice a month if I have a wedding heavy month. I don’t look at it as a treat, but as a necessity to help my body stay healthy in order to lift and design. It’s true what they say on the airplanes, put your oxygen mask on first before helping others.
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?
Hi! I’m a floral designer for weddings, events, holidays, and every day. I’ve been doing this off and on for over 15 years, but I started my own business almost 2 years ago after designing for friends, family, and working in small shops. When I started my own business I wanted to focus mainly on the every day design and only help other florists with their weddings. But as I started t slip more and more into the wedding and event world, I realized how much I loved it and so that’s my main focus right now. It’s so much fun to hear about each couple’s love story and to make their wedding vision come true. The magic truly happens when I finish designing at the wedding site, and take a step back to see the months of prepping and planning come together. That’s my favorite part. next to handing off the bridal bouquet of course! I still have a few dates open in 2023 and have started booking 2024 already!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
A quality that’s been most impactful has definitely been a good work ethic. People need to be able to trust you, if you’re a freelance florist then the florist you’re helping needs to trust that you’ll be there on time and your clients need to be able to trust that you’ll get the job done for them the way that was discussed. Having a good work ethic helps prove that trustworthiness. Other than that quality, I feel like the overall knowledge of both flowers and good design principals have really been impactful. Continuing to take courses and learn from experts has been incredibly impactful. For new florists, (or anyone really), I encourage practice and continuing to learn from experts. Take a workshop, or a course, Investing in yourself will always pay off!
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I’m always looking for folks to collaborate with! I recently did a collab for Mother’s Day with Chrissy from Charcuterie by Chrissy where she provided a charcuterie board and I provided a floral arrangement as a package deal. I also love collaborating with wedding and event planners to create styled photoshoots. Those styled shoots are so beneficial for everyone involved and it’s really enjoyable to spend time with and get to know others in this industry. I’ve also provided flowers for shops for pop up events and I collaborate with bridal boutiques and provide them with sample bouquets. That way the bride has beautiful fresh flowers to hold, it’s such a thoughtful touch and it makes those wedding dress sessions a little more special. I’m always interested in new ideas too. So if anyone reading this wants to collaborate, feel free to email me or send me a DM on Insta!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.flowersbymelis.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowersbymelis/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flowersbymelis/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-erker-7047ba70/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9XYb5XMAv2lQgCvQJAlMpw
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/flowers-by-melis-long-beach
Image Credits
Styled Shoots Across America Tracy Rinehart
