Today we’d like to introduce you to Spencer Falls.
Hi Spencer, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
In 2016, I was acting in supporting my acting career, working on jobs here and there.
When that wasn’t kind of going to plan, I found myself with a bit of time at my sleeves.
It had long been a joke, the idea of selling flowers out of my van, but when I didn’t have much else to turn to, it seemed like it was at least worth giving it a chance. So, I began selling flowers, and with every sale I found myself having a good laugh.
I was playing the character I dubbed The Unlikely Florist, and it was a character I took two with ease. After being on the street selling flowers illegally, I might add, for about a year, I finally got a cease-and-desist from the city, and my time as a nomadic, outlaw florist was coming to an end.
Luckily, I had gained the appreciation of the Venice community. So, with a new studio location right off Abbot Kinney as my new place of residence having graduating from the streets, I sit out to approach the flower industry similar to most other florist.
I started doing weddings, events, private homes, started a subscription service, and made arrangements for local businesses. I also started hosting events in my studio, like jazz nights and movie nights. I rented my studio to local businesses and brands to host their holiday parties and product launches. I went on to sell my flowers nationwide, sell at all of the LA Erewhon markets.
Most recently, I have taken my knowledge of organic composition and lines from the inspiration of flowers and plants and worked them into elemental sculptures that involve fire, water, air, and earth.
The story of the unlikely florist has taken many twists interns over the years, and it’s been a business teaming with employees and their energies and has also turn back and become a solo venture. At this point the future is filled with opportunity and possibility, and anyone’s guess is as good as mine as to where things are headed…
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it is not been a smooth road!
But I wouldn’t have it any other way. When you start out on a journey, and you don’t know that it’s even starting there is undoubtedly going to be a lot of lessons to learn along the way. The opportunity for preparation is essentially gone and you really are winging it the entire time.
So, I’ve had to learn a lot about business and floristry over the years. I’ve had to pivot and endure lines of revenue being pulled out from underneath me multiple times, i.e., being delivered cease-and-desist for selling flowers on the street and for sharing my studio with the community through events. I have had to endure keeping my business running through a pandemic, as we all have. I don’t know if this is something I would have been more equipped for if I had a better understanding of business, but nevertheless, that was a tough time. I’ve had to learn about managing people and my expectations of what it is to run a business. And I’ve had to learn to manage my expectations of what I’m capable of in a period of time. The Unlikely Florist, and just being a business owner in general, has taught me a great deal about myself, about my community, about art and creativity, and about money. So, it’s safe to say that this business has been a great teacher of mine, perhaps the greatest.
So, it’s true to say that I faced obstacles and challenges and anticipate facing more as the years go by. And ultimately, I wouldn’t change that given that that is what’s helping me grow and become the artist I want to be.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Well, firstly, let me say I think that creativity is one of the greatest aspects of life. When we apply creativity to absolutely everything that we do, we make out of life itself. To me, that’s very awesome.
Most people, I think it identify me as a florist so therefore I’m a florist however, I am the unlikely florist which gives me a little bit of wiggle room and allows me to explore and create and many many mediums. I did not take your traditional approach to floristry and have a past creating in many mediums which has given me a rather unusual set of skills.
At this point what is most compelling to me in the work that I’m doing is the sculpture work that I’ve been creating. I had a show last October of these creations which are named Ikigai. This is the Japanese word for purpose, and it was a show of built of the creative lessons and skills that I’ve acquired over the years combined into works made by manipulating the four elements.
You can see these works on my website under the tab sculptures. They are design pieces that floor standing lamps and tables, lamps and water features and fire features, and different wall-mounted artworks.
This collection of work along with a couple of select projects I’ve done as a florist are the pieces I’m the most proud of.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
There is so many people that deserve credit for their support of me throughout this journey.
First and foremost, my family, they’ve been such a great support in so many ways, and ultimately, just knowing that I have the unwavering care, gives me a lot of strength and ability to take a lot of risk and endure the hard times.
Otherwise, I have had an immense amount of support from different workers over the years, different collaborators, different wholesalers of flowers, local growers, support from like-minded businesspeople and friends who have businesses have given me guidance through to certain times.
The community of Venice deserves a special credit. Their investment in me, by requesting the services I’ve been providing, has been so important to the growth of the unlikely florist in myself.
There really are too many people to list so those of you who have helped along the way, you know who you are, I am eternally grateful for your support.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theunlikelyflorist.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theunlikelyflorist/?next=%2F
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHvfj7izuV55LcF1YLWJPeQ
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-unlikely-florist-venice-2?osq=th+unlikely+florist
