From Zero Sales to Sold Out: How I Turned My Cut Flower Business Around

[@appleblossomfamilyfarm3553]

Your bouquets are gorgeous! Thank you for sharing honestly - it is definitely a downer when everyone on social media seems to be selling lots and you are not.

[@ShiftingRoots]

Yes, I feel the same way!

[@MallouMakeup]

The perennial is lady’s mantle (alchemilla mollis). It can grow in sun or shade and the leaves can also be really beautiful in shorter arrangements, they have a velvety texture that I love. Water droplets catches on the leaves, so pretty.

[@ShiftingRoots]

Thank you!!!

[@maryrydell]

yes, these flowers are really very beautiful, amazing😍

[@DenSvaraTradgarden]

So happy for you! I’m glad it worked! Don’t take this as criticism, but I am hard of hearing and when there is music when you speak it gets hard to hear what you say. (For me.) And I really don’t want to miss anything because it’s all so inspiring and useful! So maybe just consider lowering the volume of the music when you speak? Not criticism, just a suggestion from my very selfish point of view! Love your channel!

[@ShiftingRoots]

Don't worry, I'm not offended. I'll be a little more careful in my editing!

[@kit2130]

One thing I do is not open the video but hover over it before clicking on it. It subtitles & plays it for you. It’s small but you can read it.

[@robina3206]

Thank you for sharing so honestly about the setbacks and pivots. It's so refreshing to not have things sugar coated and a great lesson to learn from.

[@artistinagarden]

I love your bouquets, you are very talented and have the eye for beautiful arrangements! I wish I was local, totally would support your sales!! Keep it going, you will be selling out every day in no time!! Thanks for sharing!

[@NJGardengirl1961]

Congratulations! Stick to it! Your bouquets are TOP NOTCH. I am a florist and flower farmer. I loved seeing your bebe in the car with you. Working moms rule! (I am not a mom, but totally respect your balancing act!) I subscribed. I am inspired. Love from New Jerseyland, USA

[@ShiftingRoots]

Thank you, you are so kind!!

[@kellykilfeather]

I’m not sure about hiring influencers... I don’t know anyone who has has success with that. But what about approaching other businesses for a collab? Like restaurants... they have a local following. You give them some free flowers for their restaurant and they then show off the pretty flowers on their table display on their social media, linking you. And going out and meeting the restaurant owners or managers will help build relationships and they might become customers too.

[@ShiftingRoots]

That’s a great idea!

[@cindylouhoo144]

Thanks for sharing your thought process. I'm in zone 3 in northern Alberta.

[@FarmerJay90]

I like how you view problems and approach them I believe you're going to be very successful

[@lisafeck1537]

Comos for greeans! Never thought of that, what a good idea, they look great, add so much to the bouquet and they are abundant.

[@ShiftingRoots]

Yes!! I plant them more for the greens than the actual flowers.

[@tmzumba]

You have a very sophisticated eye. I think you’ll do very well with weddings or big events.

[@ShiftingRoots]

Thank you!

[@Merb.]

Thank you so much for showing the ups and downs! Not to mention your processing on how you adjusted and problem solved ❤️ SO helpful!

[@growingcrazy4481]

It’s a little hard to tell but the perennial from your mom’s garden might be lady’s mantle. Btw I’m in Denmark, Europe. If I was closer I would buy your gorgeous bouquets

[@katricejohnson.]

When you said the sunflower arrangement didn't sell👀... I tried to, unsuccessfully, grab it through the screen 💐 and sell it for you!!! AHHH,🥰 it was beautiful!!

[@ShiftingRoots]

Aww, thank you!!

[@lesliemandujano3216]

Very inspiring, I love your determination and positive attitude if you have to switch things up!

[@lisafeck1537]

Now now, don't hate on the "highlighter yellow". 😊 Lol. You are a dedicated hard working lady, well done. Please, never apologize for baby noises, this is reality, your life. Good job on the video, I haven't done any of what you are doing, I hear about the work and time it takes to film and edit, all while taking care of your baby, it takes dedication, so much well done. I admire you. Keep it up.

[@Samantha-ps2vv]

Your bouquets are so beautiful! ❤

[@bonetaparrish1714]

Wow!!! Your bouquets are jam-packed with such lovely and tasteful variety! (And personally, I really liked the highliter yellow statice too.)

[@mhubertcfi]

I know in art they say that it takes 7 ‘touches’ to make a sale. Loving your videos!

[@aimeestauffer2844]

Ladies Mantle . . . I absolutely love the way the few drops lay on them!!!!! Just recently aquired a couple plants myself.

[@BrendaBrand-kw6ir]

I just found your channel and I'm binge watching. You're genuinely awesome! I can't wait to see what's ahead! I love your bouquets in both mason jars and wrapped!

[@ShiftingRoots]

Thank you so much!

[@michelleelsom6827]

The filler is Alchemilla mollis - very easy to propagate, just take a bit of the base with a root & pot up.

[@noracoolen2167]

Gorgeous bouquet, love your honesty

[@lisafeck1537]

I read a few comments before watching, the comments about your talent for arranging is true. I see flower farmers arrangements, though they have amazing, beautiful flowers, I really do not think their bouquets hold a candle to yours. Thank your for sharing. I pray you achieve great success.

[@ShiftingRoots]

Thank you!!

[@saamiaharoon2098]

I found your channel. You are an inspiration, have always wanted to start a flower business myself ,I will start hopefully soon. I am from Pakistan and it is v hot during summers and gets chilly during Dec and January. Weather plays a very important role in flower business.

[@PlantRelated]

thank you for showing all the flowers, i love this, more please!

[@ms.iloveteaching7304]

Love your honesty in the challenges you have experienced. Thank you for keeping it real. Your bouquets are absolutely stunning! Would you be able to make a video on how to put a bouquet together (not just the flowers being used, but how they are placed). Whenever I make bouquets, they look like a hot mess! 🙃

[@ShiftingRoots]

I can when I have flowers again!

[@ms.iloveteaching7304]

@@ShiftingRoots Thank you so much! Looking forward to it :)

[@gardenfunwithjane4897]

I just found you this week! New subscriber! I'm really wanting to get more into cut flowers. I'm in utah zone 6. Having a blast binge watching your videos thanks again!

[@AlexaDeLaCruz-h1u]

I wasn’t going to do cosmos but you made see the beauty in the greenery so I’m going to give them a try 😊

[@radmilamiljanic5977]

Beautiful bouquets, good luck with the wedding arrangements, just keep going forward! Wish you success😃

[@martinejaworski9018]

Hi Kristen (from a former Saskatooner!), I'm a landscape designer (M A Jaworski Landscape Design in Ottawa) rather than a flower grower/florist so YRMV. I found that volunteering 1 hour of my services online at each of 2 charity auctions was a win-win situation both for the non-profits (raising several hundred dollars for them), and for me. Wishing you the best in your endeavours!

[@melodymelody6589]

Hi fellow Saskatchewanian something that has worked very well here in my small community is to a weekly bouquet of flowers for say 15 to 20 dollars a week delivered early morn to the door. People would do this as a present for someone for a month at a time and even for a person in long term care. So every week on say Friday your customer whao paid in advance puts a bucket with water on a step or by their door and every Saturday morn before the hustle and bustle starts you deliver the bouquet of flowers. They awaken every Saturday or which ever day you choose to a fresh bouquet of flowers. Works great. Then you can if you have extra flowers sell at a market or however. Let me worn you in advance have an extra container or two and a jug with water when you deliver because sometimes the bucket is forgotten. Wrapping hand tied bouquets in tissue and brown craft paper make a bouquet extra special. Just a suggestion. 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

[@ShiftingRoots]

I love this idea, it’s like you’re the milk man, but with flowers!

[@dianecotton9531]

Oh, l LOVE that sunflower bouquet!

[@danielledoan1384]

Love you! Keep on keeping on girl!

[@LittleGardenSK]

Congrats! I’m close by so hope I can get to one of your sales. Your bouquets are beautiful.

[@ShiftingRoots]

Thank you so much! I’d love to meet you!

[@sowmanyseedlings]

Thanks for sharing! It's so discouraging when things don't sell. Loving watching your hard work unfold. And yes! I'm totally finding the same thing regarding the jars. Hand tied is easier to travel with and instead of paying for the jar you get to include more flowers instead... or maybe people like to use their own vessel 🤷‍♀️ I dunno but it's unfortunate because I really like putting together arrangements in jars 😆

[@ShiftingRoots]

Me too! The jars are way more fun for me.

[@ilenehales7849]

Awesome that you sold out. Love your honesty too. Do you know any where to get Maltese cross

[@ShiftingRoots]

No! If you find a gardener with them, you can get seeds out of the dried flower head

[@ilenehales7849]

@@ShiftingRoots thanks 😊

[@appleeaters2083]

Loving this video. Totally going to grow statice after seeing this. But not highlighter yellow! That perennial looks like lady’s mantle.

[@agardenramble4479]

So happy for you!

[@ElderandOakFarm]

I'd love to know where you got your dresses!

[@ShiftingRoots]

Joe Fresh and Old Navy!

[@SigningWithTheByrds]

If I lived close, I would so buy your flowers! Love from Texas

[@kristinwillimack7240]

I love your videos. Especially love the realism in this one.

[@michellejanzensignaturesug1683]

This was so nice to watch! I can definitely relate; awhile ago I took a gamble with retail sales and didn't do well! I find my sales are better at in person events or custom orders. I will have to try to get to the city once more this summer, when I know what day I am going I will see if you have any arrangements available!!

[@ShiftingRoots]

Sounds good! I'll make sure I have something for you. Maybe next summer we could try and collaborate on some sort of special treat-yourself package. Always gotta keep trying new things!

[@michellejanzensignaturesug1683]

That sounds awesome!

[@flowergrower1247]

The filler from your mom is Lady's Mantle. I also grow it and it is fantastic!

[@Willow_and_Sage]

I did all my highschool years in Stoon and Regina!

[@Willow_and_Sage]

I will have to send my friend your way for flowers for his girlfriend!

[@martinagonzalez6434]

I love your bouquets just beautiful wow!!

[@heatherbnice7457]

We have a girl that sells them out of her cute van. You gotta hit the farmers markets fun little towns. Go to small towns. I feel like unless you're doing a big event event people will pick up cute flower arrangements when they're out and about but not want to drive some place to go and actually get them. The local flower place I told you about puts small little bouquets together and sets them in a local coffee shop daily daily they are beautiful and for sale if not it's pretty and a good idea yeah for business

[@janeferguson8678]

Your bouquets are lovely! Can you sell weekly at a farmer's market? Have you watched "common farm flowers" utube videos? She is in the U.K. and she makes amazing bouquets and has many years experience. I think you could learn a lot from her.

[@socutebracelets]

I personally like a tied and kraft wrapped bouquet better than a mason jar bouquet. To me the mason jar bouquets often don’t seem to have great scale (though it depends, of course) and can read a bit too much of “just grabbed these from my garden and stuck them in here.” But I see people taking them to farmers markets and whatnot, so the market must be there? 🤷🏻‍♀️ Glad you found something that is working for your area!

[@HardKnocksHomestead]

I am a new subscriber. Thank you for sharing.

[@JaninesPlace]

What do you sell your bouquets in? A container of some sort?

[@dougzwife]

Lady's Mantle!! I love it too, I have three bushes.

[@GavinAndShea]

Hello, I’m wondering if the delphinium worked out for you the next day and what type of preservative do you use? Beautiful bouquets and keep up the great work! Best wishes, Dorothy

[@ShiftingRoots]

I actually don't use preservative atm. Some of the delphiniums ended up being fine, so I used them

[@sowmanyseedlings]

I love the highlighter yellow! 😆😍 My statice mix has mostly white and pale purple. Some light yellow and a very few of those bright ones. Some dark wonderfully vivid purples. No salmons or pinks. Next year I think maybe I'll get specific colours in order to control the mix....

[@ShiftingRoots]

Me too, I'm definitely ordering specific colours.

[@B30pt87]

In the first bucket/first bouquet, you identified everything but the dark red leaves in the back - the ones I was most curious about! Can you (or anyone else) tell me what those were?

[@harveerkaur01]

Your flowers are lovely!! Hope you have great sales.

[@adriennesmith.artist]

How do you store the hand tied bouquets before they are in the hands of the new owner?

[@jeezumcrow8655]

I think the perennial that you mentioned that your mom grows (with the yellow flowers) is Lady’s Mantle.

[@Serenepeds]

Really enjoying your artful yet honest videos! Very valuable information. And kudos to your continued enthusiasm in the face of any setbacks or challenges! I especially like that you’re pulling this off in zone 3! Very inspiring! Just wondering how you manage to grow frosted explosion grass! When are you able to put it in the ground? I always write it off as taking too long. Such a beautiful plant and used to great effect by yourself!

[@kellythompson2267]

Love your videos!!!!

[@ShiftingRoots]

Thank you!!

[@torriemeidell7552]

Have you tried selling through Facebook? I have a larger following on Instagram, but almost all of my sales come through Facebook. Might be worth looking into!

[@ShiftingRoots]

Yes! The smaller community groups work well for me, but the general marketplace is crickets.

[@torriemeidell7552]

@@ShiftingRoots What about a business page? That's where I've been doing almost all of mine. Also, if people use Nextdoor up there, that might be worth a try. Good luck this next week! I'm really enjoying watching your journey since I'm a first year flower farmer too 😊

[@missmrice91]

❤️ that bouquet 💐

[@karenlopez5441]

Very helpful video. I feel like I saw how you changed up the bouquet styles (very pretty!) but not how you changed the marketing. Did you do online sales or a farmers market or something else? Thx!

[@ShiftingRoots]

I used 2 influencers and I also did a Facebook garage sale listing in a smaller town with less competition.

[@karenlopez5441]

@@ShiftingRoots oh yes I remember the influencers you mentioned. .I’m Assuming they charge a fee or trade? I have to look into the garage sales too. I’m glad things worked out for you! I’m struggling too in my first year ...

[@marthaneudorf1899]

Hi I just discovered your channel. I'm about 30 minutes North of you also in Zone 3. The past three years I've had a cut flower garden. I love it and can't decide if I want to expand to sell bouquets or just continue with what I've been doing.

[@ShiftingRoots]

You’ve come to the right place! That’s what I’m doing this year.

[@jerryt9389]

Hello Kristen, I just wanted to tell you your arrangements are beautiful! If I lived closer I would defiantly be a customer! I concur with the other viewers that the green flower is from Lady's Mantle. Have you considered an "honesty box" or roadside display where folks can drive up and buy your bouquets? Many people around us in Rochester, NY sell fruit, veggies, eggs, and flowers that way. You need a lock box for the cash. Best of luck!

[@ShiftingRoots]

I will definitely try it when I move to an acreage.

[@n.v.z.1950]

I’m happy for you, and I like very much your attitude, keep going. Cheers from Ottawa 🌺.

[@edwardgyu7990]

New sub, love your spirit! ❤❤❤

[@rebeccapem5550]

I agree about the highlighter yellow Statice 😀 I had one plant of it grow and it died.

[@greenbeefloralco]

Hand tied bouquets for the win. I can move 50-60 hand tied bouquets at our farmer's market and around 10 mason jars. London, ON. Canada. So at least that's consistent across the country. ;)

[@mmorgan1759]

How much do you sell them for?

[@heartforthehomestead6649]

I love your mug at the end - my husband got me the same one :). You mentioned sharing flower farming Reaources from Dollarama, but I can't find where you posted what they are?

[@ShiftingRoots]

Oh sorry! It’s the video before this one if you go to the list of my videos.

[@rennnnn914]

My florist can't get enough of my yellow statice. The only reason I don't like it is that the plants don't do as well as the other colours.

[@naturekins604]

Are you doing the farmers market? Lots of flower sellers start that way.

[@ShiftingRoots]

No. I might do the occasional one, and I’ll do Christmas markets, but I aim for 1 wedding a week instead.

[@nadmel]

Gorgeous work 😍😍😍 Sending love from Mauritius

[@saamiaharoon2098]

❤the sunflowers

[@atefbasha1809]

Good evening Kristen 💏😻🌻🌵🌳🇺🇸

[@joleenpeters5411]

Your videos are so helpful 🙂

[@breannedeboer3567]

I love your bouquets!

[@flowersbychallais]

So awesome! Great ideas 😊😊💐

[@katieash3408]

How do you store them after cutting? How long do they usually last?

[@ShiftingRoots]

I like to sell my bouquets within two days of cutting. They'll last around 7 days, but I want my customer to have as many of those days as possible.

[@jenniferholter7610]

Just found your channel! Love the info. xo from B.C.

[@tmzumba]

Gorgeous bouquets.

[@donnabauerofbrilliancebyde1178]

Well I am happy for you however I missed what you did to make your sales?.

[@ShiftingRoots]

I’ll have to do a follow up video. When I edited the video I’m currently working on, I realized that I missed about 5 minutes of footage that would have made everything make a lot more sense!!

[@donnabauerofbrilliancebyde1178]

@@ShiftingRoots oh very good.

[@donnabauerofbrilliancebyde1178]

@@ShiftingRoots Have you considered taking your flowers to farmers markets? I am selling flowers this year for the first time and having a slow start in getting people to stop by. Sooo I connected with two FM’s and will join them this Friday. We will see....💚🌱

[@ShiftingRoots]

@@donnabauerofbrilliancebyde1178 I don’t have enough flowers to do that this year, but definitely thinking about it for next year.

[@brittni827]

I'm new here and starting to look into farming flowers. Your arrangements were lovely. I may have accidentally skipped a bit of the video somewhere, maybe...? I'm a bit confused as to what changes you made that resulted in the sale increase. Was it just wrapping the bouquets for the farmers market? You were indicating that the increased followers on your IG wasn't really resulting in sales... Thank you :)

[@ShiftingRoots]

The wraps, new location, and collaborating. I realized when I went to edit another video I missed a few minutes of footage that would have made everything make a lot more sense.

[@brittni827]

@@ShiftingRoots thank you!

[@alhalleck1193]

How much is an influencer to hire? free flowers? or cash? or?

[@katherinewhite5415]

How come you don't have water in your picking bucket ?

[@ShiftingRoots]

My guess is that I was just trying to get a shot and was in a hurry. I'm pretty sure I filled it up later when I was just picking and not filming.

[@Jennyschannel]

Full watch here.... Thank you

[@ShiftingRoots]

Thanks for watching all the way to the end!

[@donaleeslack4925]

Is the flower called LADY'S MANTEL?

[@EmsPlantPlaceEmmaLeeFreistadt]

Do you have a “honestly box” in front of your house? There’s one down the street from my place, they are small/medium/large bunches that are $5, $10, $25. Might be worth a shot?

[@ShiftingRoots]

I love that idea! However, in my neighbourhood, that might be against the bylaws. In our next home, we're hoping to give something like that a try.

[@ShennaHuang]

I love your dress sister

[@ShiftingRoots]

Thank you!

[@dc0145a]

New subscriber. From New Hampshire. Your channel popped up today. 🥰 🌻 🌻 love your bouquets 💕 you are adorable. curious, what do you use for filming? Editing?

[@juanitavaldez1907]

I know nothing about selling flowers but just some comments. I find your arrangements a bit too lacking of structure or color cohesion. They look like my mom just trapped what was I. The yard this week. Maybe try to group like colors as contrasts at use a bit less randomness. Just an opinion. We all like different things. J

[@MKMK-fj8qw]

Looks like Lady’s Mantle that you’re mom grows

[@hukalishohe1337]

Wish I work with you💞

[@tracygale-hansen2016]

Lady’s Mantle

[@wpr7726]

scissors are not good to cut flowers

[@nicholfrancis93]

Try to be a door dash merchant

[@christinathompson1630]

I only grow for my own bouquets but I have a lot more flowers than you. You really don’t seem to have enough flowers to sell. Also if you compare the price you want for your bouquet in comparison to other flower farmers it seems way to high. Alcamila mollus is a classic in flower arranging, the fact you don’t know it’s name suggests you need to study your subject a bit more p. Have you tried selling at a local farmer’s market? You seem a really nice person, so this only meant to help not as a criticism. Good luck.

[@ShiftingRoots]

Hey Christina! Thanks for the comment. It's been a bad growing year, so there isn't a lot in the garden this year. I have two other gardens in other locations that I pick from, plus buy from other growers when I'm short. Prices vary a lot from area to area--my prices are actually on the low side where I am.

[@lululuna3209]

Costly

[@janbeane8330]

No not really,

[@LynnLouisePS]

I think you have rue.

[@jenamann3484]

You probably should cut all your flower stems as long as possible. Your bouquets are too short.

[@ShiftingRoots]

I know, but most of my flowers just don't have the stem length this year. It's very frustrating.