Today we’d like to introduce you to Marin Kees.
Hi Marin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hi, and welcome to Florence & Rose Floral Co.! As you embark on this journey, I am going to introduce myself. My name is Marin Kees, and the beautiful art form of floristry has become my passion in life. I have been in this industry just shy of five years and keep learning every day. That’s why I fell in love with it in the first place. I currently work out of a studio space in Downtown Gilbert, providing everyday deliveries, weddings and events, etc.
As a child, I always picked up a pencil or a paintbrush and would paint the day away. As the years went on, I began my career in art school and moved on to fashion design and merchandising, but I did not feel the love as much as when I got into floristry. Flowers have always been a part of me, from my mother and grandmother, both being florists and my grandmother owning her shop.
It all started a few years back when I found a dream job at a local flower shop in Durham, North Carolina. I was born and raised in Arizona but had an opportunity to live for a year in North Carolina, and that is where my journey began. While working at this shop, I learned a ton about all these new flowers I had never heard of or seen before. Come to find out, the shop I worked for was sourcing local flowers from local farmers as much as possible, and what a beautiful process it was! Nothing was better than the new flowers’ smells, colors, and textures. Not only were we supporting small businesses like ourselves, but these flowers were organic, and we knew where they were coming from. Also, seeing the strength and hard work these farmers were putting into growing the flowers, I knew it was something I wanted to happen in Arizona when I moved back. That is when I started brainstorming ideas for my flower shop.
With only being in a flower shop for a year, I knew I needed more experience in the industry but also felt comfortable enough to design, and that is when I worked in another flower shop in Phoenix for a few more years. Finally, feeling ready to embark on my journey and thinking back on what I wanted to do years prior, that is when Florence & Rose was born. I started reaching out to growers in Arizona and purchasing local flowers from them as much as possible, but with everything in Mother Nature, weather permits, and seasons happen, so local flowers are not always available. Other times the flowers have to come from another state or country when they are in season, but limiting the use of imported flowers is what I strive for.
Another reason why I wanted to start this business is to focus on sustainability in the floral industry. Surprisingly enough, the industry is still very much how it has always been. Toxic floral foam is still on the market, not recycling, and not using eco-friendly methods when arranging. I want to get ahold of that and show my clients that there is another way of doing things. I wrap all my bouquets in reusable bags or bio-degradable paper, use bamboo card sticks rather than plastic, recycle, compost when possible, and use other eco-friendly methods (bio-degradable floral foam), and chicken wire when arranging or installing. This is one of the reasons I got into this industry. I want to show my clients that floristry does not have to be traditional; it can be creative and different in many other ways, but by being sustainable. Another reason I got into this industry is to show clients the beauty of Arizona’s growth and the farmers’ magic that makes it all happen, as well as getting to know them is the best part. The reaction I get most often from clients when they see local flowers is, “No way that is grown in Arizona; I can’t believe it!” It is a beautiful process.
Being a third-generation florist, I take pride in my work specializing in design and paying attention to detail. I want to ensure that whatever the occasion may be, the flowers do the talking. I strive to capture the moment with an artistic approach and create a memorable experience for my clients. I hope to give clients an outlook on this state’s organic beauty of flowers and more sustainable practices from Florence & Rose Floral Co. In the future, I hope to see homegrown flowers from my field offered to clients, more local goods from artisans around the state, and other fun projects ahead. The possibilities are endless; I am proud to see my business grow and excited for the future, something I could only dream about a few years back.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting a new business is different from smooth sailing. One wishes it were, but it is not; it comes with obstacles, not always sunshine and rainbows. Early, my journey was more like sailing in troubled waters or climbing a mountain with unfavorable weather. There were only a few orders from word of mouth and people who knew my work, but the real challenges were ahead.
My biggest struggle has been letting people know who I am and that they can count on me with their most important events. The competition is fierce, and gaining and keeping the confidence of your clientele is as hard a challenge as possible, even more so if one starts from scratch as I did. The first year mainly involves learning how to market yourself and your business, pushing business cards, and believing in yourself despite fewer orders one might expect or wish for—living through financial struggle but at the same time seeing the light at the end. In the beginning stages, I found myself hustling and grinding hour after hour and still doing that very same thing to this day to keep this little business of mine afloat. It is constant learning and testing my abilities, and I would not change it for the world.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
I am a florist specializing in weddings, events, everyday arrangements, and more. I am moved by my innate passion for flowers and aspire to show people that floristry is an art form, nothing less than a painting or sculpture. As a painter, a florist aims to deliver a concept using different colors and textures. As a sculptor, a florist works in three dimensions. As with any art, floristry can take different shapes and forms; taking an artistic approach to floral design is what I strive for in my work. I pride myself on giving my clients unique arrangements, bouquets, etc., seeking to provide a new take on old ideas and combinations of colors and flowers. I also have an uncompromising attention to detail and quality control in each design. I am not what someone would describe as “traditional.” I aim to give clients a different view on floral design, which sets me apart. I want my clients to see something they have never seen before. To achieve it, learning, practicing, and perfecting techniques is critical. My main objective is to give the client a feeling of walking through a field of fragrant flowers. In sum, I love floral design. And I hope to give others a glimpse of what an artistic approach to floristry is. As many say, “Do what you love, and you will never work a day.” I definitely feel that way.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years, we will see shifts and changes toward what is the right direction: increasing attention to sustainability. While considerable improvement has already been materialized compared to just a few years ago, I predict more is coming; I see it as a tidal wave, simply inevitable!
Eliminating flower foam and using more eco-friendly practices is what I strive for in this industry; ultimately, this drove me to this business. Another significant change is increased reliance on local organic flowers fueled by a global rise in flower farming. It has also become increasingly common to see farmers join or create collectives, enhancing a sense of community and granting florists better access to an expanded variety of organic flowers and a more stable network of local business owners operating in the industry. These are a few examples of the positive changes that have already happened, and I foresee them only growing in the near future.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.florencerosefloral.com
- Instagram: florenceandrosefloralco
- Facebook: Florence & Rose Floral Co.
- Yelp: Florence & Rose Floral
Image Credits
Daniel Akridge, Kendra Rubalcaba, Brittany Moberg, Kaylie Miller
