Meet Michelle Barry of Iris & Barry Blooms in San Gabriel Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Barry.

Michelle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was introduced to the floral industry when I was 17 years old. A woman from our church owned a local flower shop and gave me my first job. I learned a lot of the basics such as how to clean and process flowers along with tending the register and working with customers. She even allowed me to assist in filling online orders and creating some basic arrangements.

After high school, I moved to the Bay Area where I attended Jr. College. I ended up getting a job at a floral shop at the mall. I started by sweeping the floors, unpacking inventory, and working on floral designs. I had a lot more freedom here because instead of following a picture online, customers would grab their own flowers in the shop (or I would choose them for them) and I would design them. After a few years, I was promoted to assistant manager. I eventually moved back to my hometown in the San Gabriel Valley to be closer to my family.

I worked at two other flower shops while I finished my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Earning a degree was a long journey for me, as I struggled a bit in college. Getting a degree was always a goal of mine, and I never envisioned owning my own flower business. While I was in school/working at the shop, I became interested in wedding work. I was also wanted to branch out and learn how to create more advanced designs and work with more varieties of flowers. Developing my own style was something I really wanted to do, as opposed to creating typical red rose arrangements, etc.

One day I decided that I was going to leave my job and try to start my own floral business where I would work solely on weddings and events. It was really nervous leaving a job with a steady income, but I did it anyway. It ended up working out for the best. I grew my business while finishing up my last year in school… It wasn’t easy, and I always felt swamped, but it was worth it.

I’ve had the opportunity to work on some really beautiful weddings and fun events such as Coachella VIP parties, UNICEF’S Masquerade Ball, and the John Wayne Cancer Institute Auxilary’s Gala. I feel so grateful and blessed to be able to say that I get to flower about twenty weddings a year.

Giving back has always been important to me, so each month a portion of our profits are donated to various organizations and non-profits. In the past, it’s been Meals on Wheels, Save the Children, La Casa Community Center, the SGV Humane Society, and currently, it’s Ozzie & Friends Rescue.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I wouldn’t call the path of a small business owner or entrepreneur a “smooth road.” Like anything in life, there are always obstacles to overcome. Owning a small business is not easy. Many underestimate the time and work that goes into it. Leaving my 9-5 job was nerve-racking and building a business/clientele from scratch was (and still is) a lot of work. Finishing school and starting my business was pretty challenging. I had to study for tests and finish assignments while getting back to emails and clients.

When I first started, it was also just me alone. Often times I’d be up until past midnight finishing up proposals or working on weddings. My husband (who’s incredibly supportive and caring) would often help me clean up at night or do deliveries when I was too tired to keep working. After the first year, I finally got another designer who helps assist me with prep and weddings (she’s great!).

Another difficult part of this job is that the wedding industry is very competitive. There are a lot of amazing wedding florists in our area. Often times, I’ll spend hours creating a proposal for a potential client, only to have them book another florist or not respond at all. This can be very disheartening, but ultimately I have to remember that the right clients who are meant to be will be.

The pandemic has also thrown a wrench in the wedding and event industry as a whole. We went from about 18 full-service weddings for 2020 to about 3. The majority of my expected income this year has become non-existent. Thankfully, I’m home-based (like many other wedding florists), so I didn’t have to worry about paying rent for a retail shop. However, I still need to pay the rent at home, bills, groceries, etc.! Since COVID-19 started, I’ve had to pivot and start an online shop, where I offer single arrangements for local delivery. The money is not much, especially when comparing with weddings, but anything helps. I look forward to a time when things are safe and we can all celebrate again.

There will always be something to learn and an obstacle to overcome.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Iris & Barry Blooms story. Tell us more about the business.
Iris & Barry Blooms is a boutique wedding and event floral business. We specialize in creating floral designs on what is considered one of the most important days of people’s lives. We like to focus on the style and personalities of our clients and translate that into their floral decor. Aside from weddings, we also do private and corporate events, as well as occasional workshops. Recently we’ve expanded by creating an online shop where you can order fresh and dried arrangements.

Our clients tell us that we stand out because of our impeccable proposals, customer service, personability, and creative designs. We love giving back and think it’s extremely important to help others in need. Every month a portion of our profits is donated to organizations and non-profits. For example, last month (September 20′) we were able to donate two clean water kits, one emergency shelter kit, and three goats to families in need through Save the Children.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I wouldn’t necessarily say that luck has played a role in my life or business. I truly believe that Iris & Barry Blooms is where it’s at today through God’s grace and a ton of hard work.

Pricing:

• Products and arrangements on our online shop range between $27-$195
• Wedding & event floral pricing varies and is based on guest count and the number of arrangements requested (we primarily focus on weddings and events- the online shop is just something we’ve been doing since the pandemic!).

Contact Info:

• Website: www.irisbarryblooms.com
• Phone: 6264176886
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/irisandbarryblooms
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/irisbarryblooms

Image Credit:
Simply Wandering Photo, Staci & Michael Photography, Muse Moments Photo, Heather Guzel Photography, and Becca Romero Creative

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