Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Wertish.
Hi Taylor, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was working a 9-5 at a local manufacturing company in the marketing department & it just work. It paid the bills and kept me busy but it never made me feel like I had a purpose. I walked up to the post office one afternoon and walked past the flower shop & saw the for sale sign outside and it was in that moment I saw the sign I just felt something different, I can’t really describe it. But something just felt like I needed to be there. Looking back now I know it was God giving me a sign. I kept my thoughts to myself for a day or two until I randomly ran into my dad at our local grocery store just grabbing something for lunch. I stopped him and chatted for a minute before blurting out “I think I need to buy the flower shop” his look said it all, like “is she crazy?” but yet he looked proud of me all at the same time. What do I know about running a flower shop or even flowers in general? Absolutely nothing! So fast forward a few hours (literally it was the same day but after work) we went and looked at the building & the rest is history! Ha just kidding, looking at the building it was very overwhelming, yet I could still feel that gut feeling in the pit of my stomach telling me this is where I am supposed to be. We went home talked it over & I just remember both my parents telling me “if you think you can do it, go for it” & that was all I needed to hear to really get my wheels turning! I called the realtor the next day or so and talked it all over, met with my banker & the local EDA representative and got my business plan in place and crossed my t’s and dotted my I’s and it finally was all coming together. Silently I was scared out of my mind, “how am I supposed to make this work? What if this doesn’t work out?”
Fast forward to today 3.5 years later, I am a thriving small business in my little town I’ve always called home & I love serving my community! From happy times to sad, I’ve done it all! I do everything from fresh floral arrangements, funeral work, wedding work, prom’s & graduations! I also have a busy t-shirt pressing company & clothing boutique within my flower shop! I’m a Jack of all trades some tell me, if I see a need in town I try my best to fulfill that need. I love to help people in their time of need, it’s a very humbling feeling helping that family who’s daughter passed away long before she should have or making a beautiful arrangement to honor the life of something grandpa. The hardest & yet oddly easiest part of my job is being in such a tight knit small community, everyone truly knows everyone and 9 times out of 10 when I have a grieving family walk through my door I know/knew the person they are grieving. It makes my job so rewarding that I get to help them on one of the worst days of their lives.
I recently started getting into wedding work as well, I have 2 scheduled weddings (3 if you could my own, yes! I’m a florist who is doing her own wedding florals ha!) I love wedding work & helping the bride & groom create their dream day! It’s always so much fun to see the variety of what each bride is wanting for their big day!
My t-shirt business keeps me busy on the days flowers don’t! I’ve been designing & pressing shirts for just over 4.5 years now! I love that fact that each shirt that goes out the door was hand pressed by me! It takes time & I’m not as quick as some of the high tech machines out there but boy do I care about each item that leaves my doors! I started pressing shirts up stairs in my house, mind you my house was built in 1875 and there’s one outlet in each room and we have no heat or air conditioning upstairs, I used to call it my shiver shack in the winter & my sweat shop in the summer! I brought my heat press & supplies to the flower shop on closing day because I just couldn’t wait to have my own space for my t-shirts!
In the last year or so I started adding in boutique clothing & accessories and it’s going over very well! It’s definitely a learning curve to try and figure out what my customers will love and what they won’t! But that just a part of this business! I do quite a few pop up shows throughout the year and I even have a boutique trailer that gets to come out with us every once and awhile! I love pop ups as I get to see & talk with people I wouldn’t normally see & I get to advertise and get my name out there to new people!
Looking back now, I never would have imagined that this would be my life. I graduated high school dead set on going to college to become a vet tech, I did all my generals my first year of college and started the vet tech program my second year and then Covid happened. I kind of came to the conclusion that maybe this wasn’t for me. I finished school & graduated with a graphic design degree & bought a flower shop like every normal 22 year old! But in all reality, it’s been so much fun. The good, upbeat, fun days definitely out way the bad & stressful days! And there are plenty of those days too.
Being a business owner is hard work, it’s not for the weak you have to be determined, have grit & perseverance to keep going when it gets hard, good self control for when it feels like it’s all going great, great people skills/customer service, you have to fulfill a need that is needed in your community. My community has showed me nothing but love & respect. I love my community and I couldn’t imagine my life without owning my little flower shop. I truly don’t know where I would be without it. It’s made me a stronger person and it’s truly shaped me into who I am today. I’m just so grateful I followed my gut & thank god everyday for giving me that sign & push to take the leap even though I was terrified of falling.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road is never smooth, I believe if your road is smooth you better be prepared for the 50 car pile up that’s ahead of you. There are great days and there are bad days. The good always outweighs the bad in my experience! Pleasing my customers is my biggest struggle, I want everyone to leave my doors with something they absolutely love & are happy with! You will always have those people that try to drag you through the mud but you just have to focus on the people who are praising you for the work you’ve done. Luckily for me, my customers & community itself is excellent at reassuring me & telling me I’ve done a good job!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Magnolia Market & Floral?
Hi, I’m Taylor & I am the proud owner of Magnolia Market & Floral in Renville, MN! We offer a full floral services – everyday arrangements, funeral work, weddings, proms, special events, you name it! We also have a custom t-shirt pressing business & clothing boutique inside our doors! We truly are a 1 stop shop! I love to host vendor events and get the community together! I have 2 other buildings I also own and we pack them to the brim with other small businesses & help them promote their products! We try to host one a month through out the whole year, our next big one will be at the Renville Sugar Beet Days on June 7th!
I think what sets me apart from the rest is how hard I work to complete a task. I don’t have a team of people behind the scenes working while I’m taking phone calls or talking with customers. I do everything myself, everything that goes out my doors was made/put together by me! I think that’s something that’s very unique about me & my store!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I’m not much of a reader, honestly I hate reading! I really am a learn from doing & either succeeding or failing & get back up and do it again! I’m a very hands on learner, I have taught myself everything I know about flowers & arranging! I didn’t have anyone here to help me I just did it & learned as I went! Same with my t-shirt company I just bought the supplies and went ahead and tried until I figured out what worked and what didn’t!
My parents, brother, & fiancé and truly been there through it all. From runs to the cities to go to market or the flower wholesaler or to all my crazy ideas that they just seem to know how to complete it before I can even finish explaining. None of this would be possible without them, and I really don’t thank them enough!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://teesbytco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magnoliamarketandfloral?igsh=MXg5Y3hka3l3ZmF3Nw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ADpGXhu4U/?mibextid=wwXIfr
