Botanical Brouhaha Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 144), we're visiting with Evelyn Krebs, a Swiss florist, shop owner, and creative entrepreneur with nearly three decades of experience in the floral industry. As founder and owner of Stil & Stiele in Zurich, Switzerland, Evelyn shares what 25 years of shop ownership taught her about growth, courage, and building a business that actually supports your life.

We talk about her unconventional path—from apprenticing in the late 1990s to owning a long-running flower shop in Zurich, launching a concept-driven retail store, and reimagining what a sustainable, values-aligned floral business can look like. This conversation explores courage, redefining success, and building a business that truly serves your life—not just industry expectations.

Whether you're a florist questioning traditional shop hours, dreaming of a different retail model, or simply craving permission to do things your own way, this episode offers thoughtful perspective and real-world insight.

• her journey into floristry and opening her first flower shop in Zurich
• using farmers markets as a high-end marketing and client acquisition tool
• balancing creative work, management, and personal health
• the impact of staffing, scale, and "growth at all costs" thinking
• why fewer employees can sometimes mean higher profit and less stress
• building a second, non-floral concept shop with higher margins and fewer demands
• flexible staffing models using shared calendars and trust-based systems
• selling emotion and experience rather than just products
• redefining success over a long career
• courage, boundaries, and opting out of the hamster wheel
• self-service flower shops and retail models in Switzerland

• TimeTree App – Shared scheduling tool
• Poschtilädeli – Evelyn's second shop

• Website
• Instagram
• Evelyn's second shop, Poschtilädeli

You can find show notes and more episodes of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast at botanicalbrouhaha.com, and you can find the BB Podcast co-hosts on IG @botanicalbrouhaha and @hey.nataliegill.

This episode of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast was produced by Joel McGee. Original music by Landon McGee. 

In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 143), we're visiting with Evelyn Streeter, founder and owner of Eve Floral Co in Cincinnati, Ohio. Our conversation follows Evelyn's deeply personal and inspiring journey as a florist who grew up in the middle of the hum of her mother's small-town flower shop in Michigan.

What began as a family trade became both a lifeline and a legacy when Evelyn unexpectedly took over the business after her mother's passing. Years later, she built her own thriving floral company in Cincinnati—complete with a studio, retail space, and loyal community. But now, standing at a crossroads, Evelyn is considering something few florists ever talk about: selling her business. This conversation unfolds like a love letter to the flower industry—its grit, its heart, and the quiet courage it takes to know when to keep growing and when to let go.

• Her family roots in Detroit and the flower shop that shaped her path
• Taking over her late mother's shop as a young college student and learning business by survival
• The emotional and financial realities of running a business solo
• What it's really like to consider selling your flower business—and why it doesn't mean failure
• How she's preparing her shop and team for a future beyond her own ownership
• The practical process of valuing and selling a small floral business
• Why success can sometimes mean walking away with gratitude

• Website
• Instagram
• Eve Floral Co Shop Instagram

You can find show notes and more episodes of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast at botanicalbrouhaha.com, and you can find the BB Podcast co-hosts on IG @botanicalbrouhaha and @hey.nataliegill.

This episode of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast was produced by Joel McGee. Original music by Landon McGee. 

In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 134), we're visiting with Karla Smith-Brown, founder of Olivee Floral.

Karla's inspiring journey evolved from a career in public relations to becoming a successful floral artist. Her story isn't just about flowers; it's about weaving passion, sustainability, and heritage with personal connections to make a powerful impact.

Starting out, Karla offered pop-up events and hand-tied bouquets, gradually building her brand (named after her great grandmother, Medorah Olivee Wright). With a design aesthetic influenced by her Jamaican heritage, she developed a signature wild yet refined style. As Olivee Floral grew, Karla began to view flowers as a medium for art, not just for traditional events. Now, she works with brands like Vogue, Birkenstock, and Nike, often being sought out because of the strong professional relationships she's built and the unique design aesthetic she's developed.

• the significance of using locally grown and sustainable flowers for funeral arrangements
• addressing the challenges and taboos surrounding discussions of funeral flowers in society
• innovative approaches to creating sustainable funeral flower designs without floral foam
• the role of florists in educating families about sustainable options and practices
• the potential for changing perceptions of funeral flowers to make them more approachable
• the impact of creative and sustainable practices on the floral industry and communities

You can find show notes and more episodes of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast at botanicalbrouhaha.com, and you can find the BB Podcast co-hosts on IG @botanicalbrouhaha and @hey.nataliegill.

This episode of The Botanical Brouhaha Podcast was produced by Joel McGee. Original music by Landon McGee. 

Natalie Gill, owner of Native Poppy flower delivery | San Diego, CA (2 retail locations: South Park & Solana Beach)

A Botanical Brouhaha Podcast listener wrote to us asking for Natalie Gill's advice. The UK designer wrote: "How do you find your mojo when it's hiding?" After a challenging year of fast-paced business growth, the question resonated with Natalie and she was willing to open up with our audience to explore her personal struggles and the solutions she believes are essential to creating a sustainable business while regaining and maintaining her passion for life and work.

This episode is for you if: 

• You've lost your creative flow
• You struggle with your creative voice on social media
• The weight of your creative job is feeling especially heavy
• You're feeling a forced responsibility to be creative which is blocking your ability to be creative

Natalie's Tips for Regaining Your Creative Voice & Passion: 

• Delegate duties where you can, train your team well, and then trust them to cover for you while you take time away
• Step away from your business periodically for an hour, a day, or an extended vacation
• Allow yourself to be reinvigorated by life (which means you have to actually live it!)
• Try new food, interact with someone you don't normally have a chance to interact with, or see something new
• Create moments of pause to avoid feeling forced or trapped in your work duties
• Consider what drains you vs. what fills you up and try to find a balance to ensure you're getting what you need to be successful
• Get to know yourself and then pursue other hobbies or learn a new skill
• Schedule appointments for accountability knowing you're less likely to break an appointment with someone else than break a promise to yourself (ex. scheduling a massage or drum lessons insures you'll follow through rather than making promises to yourself like "I'm going to read more")
• Freelance for another designer you admire to learn, gain inspiration, and work for a day without the weight of being the boss ( Natalie loved freelancing for Mindy Rice Design)

Botanical Brouhaha Online Shop

Host: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha)

BB Podcast Sound Engineer: Joel McGee

Music Written & Performed by: Landon McGee

Maria Maxit | Maxit Flower Design

Former BB Podcast co-host, Maria Maxit dropped by for a visit recently (via Zoom, of course) and we had fun catching up on what's happened at Maxit Flower Design since she last sat in the co-host chair. As we visited,  she shared about her decision to step away from the podcast to continue growing her business in Houston.  After about 15 minutes of catching up, we got around to the topic I asked Maria to share with the BB audience -- profitability. In this episode, Maria shares 6 tips she believes were crucial to building her profitable and sustainable floral design business. Hope you find her insights helpful!

• Hire a bookkeeper
• Hire an accountant
• Find your niche rather than seeking trends
• Produce content you want to see and stay ahead of the curve
• Seek a support system of other business owners
• Stay flexible and offer a little more

Podcast Host: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha)

BB Podcast Sound Engineer: Joel McGee

Music Written & Performed by: Landon McGee

Joseph Massie | Joseph Massie Flowers + Joseph Massie at the UK School of Floristry 

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down his city, Joseph Massie got to work figuring out how to handle the sudden halt of business cash flow due to wedding postponements, class cancellations, and budget restraints on commissioned work. Because he envisions his business being around for years to come, Joseph knew he had to play the long game and make decisions based on building the long-term relationships he'll need to sustain his business post-pandemic. He shares two important skills he's learned while trying to find the opportunities in what he calls his "blank slate moment" when business as he once knew it all changed.

• handling staffing during the pandemic shut down
• dealing with the confusion and insecurities created by an unprecedented situation
• offering great customer service during challenging times
• handling wedding postponements with grace
• finding opportunities in the "blank slate moments"
• why he decided to postpone the launch of his online school until July 1st, 2020 (it's right around the corner!)

1.  Prioritize – Determine what's essential, what you can do in the here and now, and what's important to you.
2. Innovate – Look for new ways to serve your clients, team, and community.

• Joseph Massie's Free Resource Page 
• BB+ Podcast #6: Joseph Massie on Training, Competing, and Winning

Podcast Host: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha)

BB Podcast Sound Engineer: Joel McGee

Music Written & Performed by: Landon McGee

Today we're visiting with Mattie Bush, owner of Amelia's Flower Truck & Amelia's Flowers located in Nashville, Tennessee to discuss:

• How she dreamed up and executed the flower truck concept without a background in the floral industry
• How she scaled her business quickly to include 3 trucks
• Why she decided to add retail shops to her business model
• The challenges of selling flowers from a mobile truck
• Details on sourcing her flower trucks and the accessories she needed to complete the flower truck concept
• The story behind the names of her trucks...Amelia "Amy", Rory, and Melody
• Why she's chosen not to include wedding/event florals in Amelia's business model (with a few exceptions...for now)
• The merchandise and flower options offered by Amelia's Flowers
• The process of shifting to flower deliveries during the pandemic
• How she sources the flowers she sells from the flower bars on the trucks and in the shops
• The challenges of growing quickly and finding community in a unique niche
• Her dreams for the future of Amelia's Flowers

• Flower Confidential by Amy Stewart
• 1767 Designs
• "I'm Not a Florist" by Mattie Bush
• Charlotte's Florals 

    Website | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest 

SEE MORE OF AMELIA'S FLOWER SHOPS HERE: 

    Website | Instagram

REAL FLOWER BUSINESS

Click here  to learn more about online business courses and free training for florists including Flower Math: The Florist's Guide To Pricing & Profitability, and Wedding Templates to help you streamline your proposal process and help clients book more quickly.

• BotanicalBrouhaha.com
• Instagram
• Facebook

Host: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha)

BB Podcast Sound Engineer: Landon McGee

Alison Ellis | Real Flower Business

Alison Ellis of Real Flower Business surprised me when we sat down for a visit. Instead of me asking her a question, she turned the tables and asked me a question she'd received recently from one of her followers! She asked: "Do you have any tips around mindset for showing up on social media even though you'd rather completely ignore it all together?" We had a lot of fun exploring the question together (and I hope we gave her follower some food for thought).

A few of the ideas we kicked around during our visit:

• Posting content on social media is a great way to drive traffic to your business website
• Closely following your gut on when and how to post can produce organic growth
• Consistency will help grow a business (the growth may be slow and steady, so be patient)
• Social media is simply another tool to get the word out about your business and connect with others
• Social media can lead to long lasting relationships with industry peers who live in other parts of the world
• Setting boundaries on time spent on social media is crucial to maintaining balance
• We don't have to like every aspect of social media to use it to the advantage of our business
• Don't get caught up in what you feel you have to do on social media - you are in control!
• Having a business website is crucial (especially in the event that a social media account is hacked or the platform goes away)
• While scheduling posts ahead of time is efficient, some business owners may prefer to post in "real" time
• Practice leads to progress (posts and schedules don't have to be perfect from the start to lead to results)
• Leading with authenticity is the name of the game

Mentioned in BB+ Episode 7: 

• Swan Cottage Flowers
• Planoly
• Tailwind
• Susan McLeary
• Rachel Merkle | District M Creative

Podcast Host: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha)

Sound Engineer: Joel McGee

Original Music: Landon McGee

• BotanicalBrouhaha.com
• Instagram
• Facebook

Today we're visiting with Kate Woodley, owner of  Two Wild Hands located in Cooranbong, Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia to discuss:

• her transition from interior design to floral design
• the significance of having her own studio space
• the teaching opportunity that helped her gain momentum early on in her career
• landing product launch clients through PR companies
• the value in finding the support of a local community of designers
• why she tends to use minimal foliage
• why she prefers to visit the flower market in person despite the long drive
• the technique she uses to achieve her signature open airy aesthetic
• charging for destination weddings
• her color palette planning strategies
• the advantages of freelancing
• her main referral sources

• Sydney Flower Market
• Xero | Accounting software
• Songbird Silk
• The Coterie Silk Ribbons

    Website | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest 

• BotanicalBrouhaha.com
• Instagram
• Facebook

Co-Hosts: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha) & Maggie Bailey (Bramble & Bee)

BB Podcast Sound Engineer: Landon McGee

Over the years, we've had the honor of featuring Joseph Massie's work on the Botanical Brouhaha blog many times. From his rose tunnel installation in honor of the 90th birthday of Her Majesty the Queen to the stunning living dress he designed for Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips to wear to the National Television Awards (NTAs), Joseph's work has long intrigued us. But when I sat down with Joseph recently, there was one thing in particular on my mind. I wanted to know how he became the youngest designer to win 5 consecutive Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medals. How does one attain that honor at such a young age? What had he done behind the scenes to prepare for such a lofty goal?

Our conversation was casual and fun. Joseph's wit (and hilarious sarcasm) made the time fly by way too fast. Before I knew it, we were flying through his memories of being a 14 yr old teenager looking for a weekend job, winning the British Florist Association Young Florist of the Year, walking away with his 5th Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal, and buying a school.  I hope you enjoy today's episode as much as I enjoyed the visit with Joseph.

Mentioned in BB+ Episode 6: 

• St. Helen's College
• The Florist Magazine
• British Florist Association
• Neil Whittaker
• Sarah Horne
• Ian Lloyd
• InterFlora
• WorldSkills Competition
• Chelsea Flower Show
• Stephanie Willoughby
• Gregor Lersch
• Per Benjamin
• Elly Lin
• Hanneke Frankema
• Myers & Briggs Personality Test

Podcast Host: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha)

Sound Engineer: Joel McGee

Original Music: Landon McGee

• BotanicalBrouhaha.com
• Instagram
• Facebook