Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Tran.
Hi Cynthia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In 2019 we lost our youngest daughter four short days after birth to a rare genetic disease. My husband and I were devastated but still mustered up the energy to resume our everyday routine.
At the time, I was working for a large clothing retailer as a Visual Merchandising Manager. I loved my job and was grateful to all the lovely people I got to work with everyday. However, each day became mundane and I lost purpose and motivation.
The pandemic hit and lockdown was put into place. Our busy routine was interrupted and we were given TIME. Time to really reflect on how we were living and what we deemed important as a family.
I was tired. Tired of working so hard for someone else’s gain. I thought to myself, “What do I have to show or pass down to my girls?”. Nothing. Losing my youngest daughter gave me the courage to leave what felt comfortable and safe. I wanted to make her proud. I wanted to make her sisters proud. I wanted to be able to pass down a family business and teach them valuable lessons I learned myself from this journey.
Thus, Hadley & Ren came to fruition. A business inspired by my girls for my girls.
Yes, Hadley & Ren came to be during the pandemic alongside many other great small businesses. As to why I chose to work with flowers, it felt natural.
I have always been creative and had a natural knack for piecing things together by color, shape, feel & vibe. I worked with clothing and hard goods for over eight years. Flowers were just a new element I experimented with.
I have no formal floral training. Everything I know to this day has been self-taught through countless hours of research, trial and error, and asking questions.
Flowers have become a way for me to bring joy to others. I specialize in dried and preserved flowers meaning the flowers I use last for years to come. This was a really important factor to me as I wanted my pieces to hold a special memory. For them to be preserved like my memories of my daughter.
I strive to not only grow my business but better myself in the process. For my girls and clients, I hold very dear.
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?
It’s been a rocky road. Lots of ups and downs. There is no concrete manual to tell you how to run a small business. You just have to dive into it and learn from any mistakes/obstacles you come by.
I feel the largest struggle is yourself. You are the sole owner playing so many different roles needed to operate your business. It’s so easy to get in your head with negative thoughts of “Am I good enough?”, “What if I fail?”, “What if I can’t provide for my family?”.
I am grateful for such a supportive family and online community. When things get rough their patience and warmth pulls me up from the negativity.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in dried and preserved floral arrangements for the home and events. I feel what sets me apart from others is my heart that goes into making their pieces. I want each piece to feel warm and be able to hold a memory for its new owner. I always like to ask what the occasion is and what lead up to this moment. It brings me joy knowing my creation will be cherished for years to come.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I am working hard to grow my business and be able to offer my products to not only my community but nationwide as well.
A lot of florists will usually specialize in weddings and events alone or more retail-based.
I’m working to be able to do both. Because I worked in a retail setting for so many years, I love the idea of having my own space where locals can browse & shop.
I also took a part-time job at a bridal boutique for a short period. That is where I fell in love with the connection of being able to be there for other women. The wedding planning process can be quite vulnerable and it brings me joy being able to contribute to that.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Hadleyandren.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/hadleyandren
- Facebook: Facebook.com/hadleyandren
Image Credits:
@poemastudios @karenkhucphoto @badlands.photos @hadleyandren
