Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Linda Bradley.
Hi Laura, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I founded Wood and Wine Succulents in 2018. What started as a personal love of plants and woodworking quickly presented itself as a business opportunity. I’ve never been one to turn down a challenge; I also loved playing store as a child so I jumped at the opportunity to learn and see what could be created.
My Grandfather was very influential in my love of the outdoors, thinking outside the box and understanding the importance of hard work. I bring my love of nature and creativity to each new season and collection.
Wood and Wine launched on Etsy and quickly grew in popularity. I was very fortunate to have a number of high-profile customers who loved the designs and were generous enough to share them on social media. You truly never know who’s watching, through an Instagram story a buyer for Home Depot reached out. That set in motion us going into select California Home Depot stores, as well as launching online across the country. Going from Etsy to Home Depot was a huge opportunity that came with a crash course in business management.
Since Home Depot, we’ve joined the Amazon handmade, QVC & HSN families, and we’re not done yet! I like to challenge myself and maybe just maybe it will turn out better than you can imagine.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I’m a very optimistic person, and one of the greatest lessons you can learn is when you’re told “no” sometimes that means simply “not yet”. I’ve been blessed to watch Wood and Wine grow at an extremely rapid pace. Some days it feels like a real balancing act, and you have to slow down to enjoy the accomplishments; but also know what you don’t know. Ask for help and keep a curious outlook, and always be working to improve on what you started.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in reclaimed wood, floral design. Wood and Wine started as a small business and has grown into a thriving sustainable and eco-conscious brand, in large part to our commitment to community enrichment and creativity. One of the ways we’ve been able to scale with our Home Depot, HSN & QVC partnerships is through remaining true to our original core values of locally sourcing all materials and investing in community artists. As we’ve grown, I strive with each new level of success and opportunity to be an example of how you can maintain sustainability regardless of size; it simply requires community! As a female-owned business, I am proud to partner with women who make room for others besides them, not behind! What started as succulent arrangements in reclaimed wood planters has now grown to include air plants, orchids, cactues and so much more! This year marked a long-term goal of mine; expanding into weddings and special events.
All of our unique and statement centerpieces are handmade in Southern, CA. Using only reclaimed materials, organically grown succulents and eco-conscious packaging. We’re extremely proud to be a certified green business with a portion of all sales going to environmental and conservation charities.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
To those who know me, it’s not so much a secret… but something customers of any small business should try and be mindful of; is how this “brand” is someone’s life work. It’s their passion, their dream realized, and the thing that takes up most of their free time! I like most small business owners and entrepreneurs am a creative perfectionist. We put our heart into everything we make, and seeing the business grow, seeing something you dreamed up in someone’s home or selected as a gift makes all the late nights and endless to do lists worthwhile!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.woodandwinesucculents.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodandwinesucculents/
Image Credits:
Wood and Wine Succulents
