The Lunch Club Podcast

And the Award for Best Supporting Husband Goes To...

• Andrea Seehagen • Season 2 • Episode 4

Share episode

Codee and I never imagined that our marriage would include managing a floral business, yet here we are, ready to share the intimate details of our entrepreneurial dance in matrimony. This heart-to-heart conversation peels back the petals on the realities of the wedding industry, where unpredictability meets creativity.

From the challenges of wedding costs, executing wedding set up, to the delicate balance of business and pleasure, join us as Codee and I pull back the curtain and get transparent in how much we pay for wholesale flowers, how much made last year with the business and more!

To see Codee's guessing game on wedding floral pricing head to https://www.instagram.com/p/C4brAi2sQNu/ and let us know in the comments. what you thought! 

Andrea:

Alright, this is an exciting episode. It's probably been a year that I've been trying to convince you. It's true.

Codee:

There's a go on the podcast. Yeah, at least that.

Andrea:

At least that. So go ahead and tell anyone listening who are you?

Codee:

Yeah, my name's Cody. I'm married to Andrea. I'm a project manager by trade and currently working on real estate for active, environmental and just real. Stay on the side.

Andrea:

Yeah, so you're the real desk job. Yeah, desk jockey through and through.

Codee:

Yeah, corporate world trying to work my way up. Jump through the hoops, yeah.

Andrea:

That's your vibe. Well, cody and I got married, let's see, three years ago, in April.

Codee:

Yeah, almost three years.

Andrea:

It feels like it's been longer to me.

Codee:

Well, we've known each other for five years.

Andrea:

Yeah, I guess that's right. So we've been through a lot. He's seen the beginning of the business being born, all those scary decisions, and we thought it'd be kind of fun to kind of go through that a little bit and some of the ups and downs and things that he may or may not know about my job, bring it on. Or my business.

Codee:

We'll see if I pass or fail.

Andrea:

Let's see, huh. Welcome to the Lunch Club podcast, a space I've created for entrepreneurs. Come sit with us as we share the highs and lows of building and maintaining successful businesses. I'm your host, andrea Zahoggan, and let's get into it. Ok, so we're going to quickly summarize, kind of how the business really came about, because it wasn't like a typical like OK, honey, I'm starting a business. Like it was kind of a OK, we're in this spot, this is an option. Do we go for it or not?

Andrea:

So the Spark Notes version is that I was working for Lisa's Bridal. We wanted to dip our toes into offering florals to clients, and so I was in charge of that starting in February of 2020. So, before the chaos started of COVID, and then by I think it was November, we opened a store front and we really wanted to focus on doing like classes and hands-on workshops Just for anyone not necessarily people wanting to get into floral design, but also that market. And then, by March, there was kind of it was OK, it was February, but March our lease was going to end in the Riverwood, so we had just a temporary lease, and so my business partner at the time kind of said hey, like you know, I don't really want to continue being involved. You're kind of doing all of the work. In itself, it's not something that I'm passionate about, but it's your passion. So if you want to continue, you can take the lease over. You can keep the name, you could change the name, you could. You know we could be done with it all together. What do you want to do?

Andrea:

So this is like a month before Cody and I are getting married, and so it was kind of a scary position of like OK, well, we're already going to be going through big life changes, of like moving in with someone. And then there was this option of you know this business. So I think we were just finished getting my ring resized and I just kind of said to Cody, like hey, so here's where we're at, like I have to make a decision and I should probably consider you. I feel like I'm a really independent person. So I it took me a minute to realize like, oh, this might be more than just a me decision. So do you remember, kind of what your take on the situation was, as far as we had like four different options, right, yeah, I think I mean there was conversations of like taking the lease over and like how much money would that cost?

Codee:

Like what's? Like how much money are you making in the business? Can you actually like pay for rent before we decided that? And like, if that wasn't the case, like would we, would I contribute to the business you know financially, or things like that. And I think you mentioned like no, I am confident I can clear the rent. Like no, there's like we're not, I'm not worried about that. And I think, at the end of the day, is like I could see that you really wanted to do it.

Andrea:

Yeah.

Codee:

And I don't know, it's always my belief is like just fail fast, so like go for it, and if it's not going to work out, then you'll fail fast and we'll get out of it and move on like no big deal.

Andrea:

Yeah.

Codee:

Even if we lose a little bit, you know, at least you learned.

Andrea:

And I think the other motivation for me not doing this space that I think you helped me realize was like I was there all the time. Yeah, yeah. Like, because when you're in a retail space they have requirements. Especially we're in a shopping mall, so they require you to be open 10 am to 9 pm.

Codee:

Yeah, like it's like written in your lease that you have to have somebody there.

Andrea:

So that was something that was tough. Especially going into wedding season was like well, I'm going to be gone half the time with weddings. That means I have to have someone there that I can trust. I just had a bad employee experience that you also got to live through with me of having someone just kind of be a little bit of a snake, and that was fun.

Codee:

Yeah, yeah, you learned a lesson there, for sure.

Andrea:

We've learned a lot about running a business, but ultimately we decided we had Cody had a condo that was actually like five minutes from where I already was in North Prevo and there was a spare bedroom, and so it was kind of like you know what. We might as well just take advantage of the space we already have and get to stay home and just take weddings and not have to worry about the pressures of clearing rent and being open, yeah, and it saved like a ton of money, probably at least 12 to 15,000 dollars a year.

Andrea:

And there were definitely tax benefits to that too, for sure. Which we learned once we went.

Codee:

Yeah, you can write off the square footage of the home that the business uses.

Andrea:

Yeah, which, which is nice. It takes over more than you'd think, yeah, so that's kind of how it all happened Moved at home and it was really, really nice because then Cody actually at that point switched his career, started working in office where he had been at home, and we have a really active dog. If you've never seen my Instagram, blitz is usually around. So it was nice because I was able to be home and kind of manage the dog and then he left. So it was kind of sad because I thought we'd get to like Be at home together, yeah, we like work from home at the same time.

Andrea:

Ok, so what do you think? What were your thoughts? Having me be an entrepreneur or being married to someone that was going to be an entrepreneur that didn't make you nervous? Were you apprehensive? Did you not really worry about it? I don't know. Like, what were your initial thoughts there?

Codee:

I wasn't really ever nervous about you being like a business owner. Like I was kind of like that, like you've always been motivated and that's been attractive to me. But yeah, I was never nervous, like I think we've been fortunate enough where I've had a career that can pay the bills.

Codee:

So, like we don't have the financial pressure for you to perform in a way like we're going to be in trouble if you don't sell wedding. You know what I mean. Like if you don't book weddings. So like there was no like not ever pressure or nerves there. I think there was like apprehension of like you failing. You know, like, is this actually like your dream job or is this like, is this just a phase that you like flowers and you just want?

Codee:

to play with them all day and you know, try to make some money your own way, because that's kind of your personality, like you go for it all in and you see if it works. And it's worked, it's been great.

Andrea:

It's been fun. Yeah, it's both it's fun. It's fun and playing with flowers.

Codee:

It's fun and playing with flowers, and it's stressful and it's like, yeah, it's a learning curve and you've been able to figure a lot of things out, like your website and pricing models and different approaches and sales methods, and it's been cool to watch you and grow and like you have a ton of skills that I don't.

Andrea:

And you have skills that I don't have to. You're more of a realist, I think I'm a little bit of a daydreamer yeah, I think there's realism and there's some pessimism, and I think you have like the hope and dreamer.

Codee:

you know, I think we're a good pair for sure.

Andrea:

OK, so how involved would you say you are in the business?

Codee:

I'm not super involved. I mean I help when I'm asked to be like to be there. You know like I think the most, like the area I help most in, is like pickups and late night pickups, and those are probably both of our least favorite things.

Andrea:

Yeah, going to the airport.

Codee:

Yeah, we're going to the airport. I'll come help set up if it's needed, but now that we have a baby, I think it's just.

Andrea:

That's going to be your.

Codee:

I'm going to support at home with the baby so she can focus or you know what I mean or I can be there holding the baby while she designs and make sure, like the team's working, how she wants it to work and wants it to look like.

Andrea:

But you're definitely not telling me how to do my job.

Codee:

Well, you're not the personality to let me tell you how to do the job. I always have some perspective and opinions of like hey, you could really scale this and get a lot of florists under you and like build a huge business. But I think, like the design and the like creativity of the design, like you want to control and I think that's what makes it valuable and that's what people pay you for, you know, as your style.

Andrea:

Yeah, we definitely have our differences and opinions on like what. The balance of like what is, how much of it is money like? Yeah worth it for money, and then how much. Of it is like I'm doing this because I love it like it's kind of a fine line and I think that's why it's important to have two perspectives, because you reminded me you know like we have to make money yeah but then I also have to remind you like, okay, but I also, this is my, this is my baby, like I, I don't want to, just I don't know, only care about the, the money and stuff.

Andrea:

Okay, what would you say you knew about weddings? Whether, like you had, did you have any idea how expensive they were? Or did you have any understanding of what went into, I guess, a wedding or wedding vendors?

Codee:

Yeah, no idea. Like I was a wedding virgin, so to say, like I, yeah, I had no idea like so many vendors existed and like the cost that each vendor like charges to perform in like professional manner. You know, like and like you can spend like $100,000 on a wedding and it could be awesome. Or you can also spend like five grand and it could be awesome too. Right, like I had no idea that it was such a range. Personally, I didn't like weddings when I married, like even before I married you, like they've grown on me for sure yeah.

Codee:

I think that also comes from, like, the Utah pressures and I was 28 when we got married. So, like I was perceived as this imperfect dude that you know, like the late bloomer.

Andrea:

Just goofing off.

Codee:

Yeah, yeah, the bachelor that got stuck being a bachelor too long.

Andrea:

But it was so. Your dislike for weddings was more of the pressures you felt, probably.

Codee:

Yeah, I think that's where I'm from is like the social pressures of and like yeah, I mean I went to like hundreds of weddings of friends getting married and I'm like what's wrong with me? But I was just waiting for the right person, so yeah, yeah, I'm glad I went through that.

Andrea:

But now, how do you feel about weddings now?

Codee:

Yeah, they're a special moment. They're fun. It's like a celebratory moment. I think going through our wedding I had anxiety. Going into our wedding and like realizing that it's like your people there to celebrate with you.

Andrea:

Yeah.

Codee:

I think that was a huge change of perspective and it's just a fun experience to be enjoyed instead of, like, an event that you have to plan and everything has to be perfect, and you know what I mean. Like, I think a lot of people get caught up in that and like and I don't know if this is just the male perspective of like I wanted the wedding to be everything you wanted, right. Like it's not so much for me. I would have been happy with five people there getting married in a remote location, but you liked the food we picked out.

Codee:

Yeah, the food was awesome and you went.

Andrea:

Cody actually picked the venue.

Codee:

I did yeah.

Andrea:

He did have opinions.

Codee:

I did have yeah, like I think you inviting me to have opinions was was healthy for me too. It's like hey, like this is also my day and I can. I can help choose and I have important perspectives to provide and share.

Andrea:

Yeah, so it's fun stuff. So now here's the other question what are you not like about the wedding industry, or weddings? Um if any, I guess.

Codee:

Yeah, I don't know if I don't like the wedding. The wedding industry is interesting. Like vendors don't always play nice with each other, yeah, um, they're not always perceived in an equal manner. Like, a photographer is treated differently than the florist and the caterer and the.

Andrea:

You know the venue and and do you think that perspective has come from watching me in my business, or just kind of yeah?

Codee:

for sure. Yeah, Like building relationships with vendors and other florists and photographers and kind of building your community and your networking. And yeah, it's been, I guess, eye opening and there's a lot of work that goes behind the scenes to to build a business like this.

Andrea:

Yeah.

Codee:

Um, that, like your customers, just think you, you know you go buy a flower, like flowers and put them together in a pretty manner and yeah.

Andrea:

And that's kind of it Right.

Codee:

But that's not technically days.

Andrea:

Days, weeks, months.

Codee:

Was that shocking to you? Like how much goes into one day's worth of floral prep, like for one day, yeah, I think the labor was surprising, right, like I remember days that you were working on a wedding that's tomorrow, and it was midnight or one AM and you're finishing the last like 15 bouquets or you know, like that's. That's always surprising. And then the transporting of flowers and the making sure they're still alive and pretty when you like, deliver them like that's a big deal, yeah.

Andrea:

So it's definitely a multi part.

Codee:

Yeah.

Andrea:

So that orchestration for sure. Um, what would you say you're most proud of about where the business is at, or having me being, having been running the business, like? Is there anything that's been kind of stood out to you as like a cool moment or something you were kind of impressed by?

Codee:

I don't know if it's like a cool moment, but like I've always been impressed with like, I don't think I've put a dime into this business.

Andrea:

Yeah.

Codee:

Like you've been able to make the money that you've needed and survive for. I mean, how many years has it been? Like four almost, and you created it from scratch, and just relationships, and I think like that's that's the second thing I'm I I'm always proud about is you build this community right, like you have your Slack channel with florists and like you're always willing to give and teach and share your perspectives. And it's like that's not always the perspective that people take in business as like, hey, this is, this is my product, I'm not going to share it. Right, I want all the customers I, you know you, you don't have a greedy bone in your body. Yeah and uh.

Andrea:

I think I wish I did. I'd probably be making more money, yeah.

Codee:

But like you'd probably be less happy, right. And like I don't know, you care about the customer and you care about their experience. And like it's so funny, like even four years later, you're still nervous when a bride comes and picks up your product. Like, oh my gosh, are they going to love it? Right, but with the number of weddings that you've done, like your percentages, like 98%, like people love it and like you know.

Andrea:

So that's like it's just funny. What skills do you observe you feel like really make me successful in business and I'll, and then I'm going to hit you with what I think, what skills I think you have that help me in business Really Okay.

Codee:

I like that. I think there's two main ones right. Like I think you're a very personable person, like people just gravitate to you and love to be around you and love to talk to you and you're just an expert in the field. You've, you just know weddings back and forth. And like you love new creative ideas and you love you know like that's, that's where you I don't know find your joy in your job. And then I think another skill that I wish I had in spades like you have been spades it's just networking. Like you can just meet someone and they're like, oh my gosh, you should do that. Like you're a collaborator and you have so many relationships with venues and photographers and cake baker. You know like just everyone in the business knows you. And it's like when I go out you're like, oh, you're Cody, you're, you're Andrea's husband, and I'm like, yeah, and they're like yeah, we know you you know, and like I just don't know any of these people because, like of your social presence too, it's just

Andrea:

it's just so funny and well, and I think it's just funny because I don't think I don't know, I don't think people realize how much of this job I do it like you said, like I genuinely love it yeah, so. I think I get so excited when other vendors love their job the same amount and like we're like, oh, let's make something amazing happen yeah like it's more than just like okay, how are we gonna pay the bills?

Andrea:

yeah and I feel like that's what it is. For me is like it's a shared passion and there's not that many people like I mean, there's a lot of wedding vendors but there's not that many people who understand like the crave for chaos and like, yeah, the whole wedding, I don't know. Weddings are very unique because it's a fun, exciting time for a bride, but there's also always these underlying things that have to go right for everything to kind of be a good time for everyone. And as a vendor too, it's the same way like I love like the end product, but there's a lot that goes into making it be a good experience for sure and so I think it's it's a lot of fun.

Andrea:

But for me, I think, something that you have that I I don't know. I don't know if it's different, but I dated a lot of people specifically in the year before I met Cody, and a lot of times there was this pressure of like well, what are you gonna do it for school and what's your career gonna be, and and then you're gonna be a mom, right, and it was kind of hard because I didn't always fit the mold of like traditional education and careers or even motherhood. I didn't feel exactly the same as everybody else. But I think what stood out to me when I met Cody is I think it was right after I met Cody, before I actually dropped out of college, but I was in my semester still and I was kind of just talking in the hallway of our church building like, oh yeah, I just, you know, I want to.

Andrea:

I don't think I was even really into floristry at the time. I don't think I had started it, no, but I was just kind of generally knew that I always wanted to like, I wanted a business and I wanted to make it happen, and so I was saying like, oh, I have this goal that in 10 years I'm gonna buy myself a Range Rover. And I was specific and love, like I didn't want help from my husband, like I wanted it to be my thing. I didn't want it to be like you know some sugar daddy thing or like, oh, I want to marry someone to buy me a Range Rover like you're not a gold digger, for sure, I'm really not, and any who.

Andrea:

And I remember Cody was just kind of a casual friend and you said what to me?

Codee:

I said well, your goal was like do it in 10 years, right. And I was like well, you can do it in five, right?

Andrea:

like I pushed you, I cut the goal in half and you're like well, like it like really shocked me, because most people, when I would say something like that, would be like oh, that's so unrealistic or like that's stupid or like oh, like that's a bad idea, like just kind of negative about it. But it really shocked me that Cody was like oh no, you'll do it even faster than you think, like I believe you can do it and I believe you could do it faster than you even think you can. So I think you've always believed in me and you believe in other people and I think that's a really powerful thing, because you might not be the person that's putting yourself out there and making the scary decisions, but you believe people can do it.

Codee:

I do, yeah, and it's funny that you say that, because it's like I don't treat myself no, and it's interesting like I'm always like the risk averse, right, like okay, like let me go get a stable job, that, but it's funny because you're not that way with me no like you're never like, oh, take the easy way out, or you know.

Andrea:

So I think that that is. There's a lot of power in being a supportive spouse. Yeah, like you kind of have to have both right, because if you were both risk takers. I mean that's not a bad thing, but I think it can get a little dicer if we're both for sure I think it would.

Codee:

It would just add to the stress, right, like if I'm quitting my job left and right, and like we're like okay, how do we pay the mortgage? Yeah, how do we pay the bill, you know, like. I think that that would change it a lot. So like, yeah, and I also.

Andrea:

I think that this lifestyle is not probably best for you, because the anxiety of the unknown for you is tough for sure and this job is very like you don't know what weddings you're gonna book until the book yeah, it's kind of a scary like roulette of like okay, january hits, I've got one thing on my calendar and I'm just gonna right wait around, and I don't think that would work for you.

Codee:

No, and I think like it's dependent so much on like the seasons, right like COVID time, not a lot of people are getting married, but then post COVID it was like this big, huge, big boom in the wedding and then it was like last year it was kind of quiet, like I think things that have died down, but I think like understanding those like hills and valleys of the seasons and the kind of planning for that and then having the stable yeah, you know financial income that's coming through, that that kind of just takes away the financial financial pressures.

Codee:

I think that's it's a great pairing and it works very well. Yeah, so we're, yeah, just we're super blessed.

Andrea:

Okay, this is a question on how much do you listen to me when I vent about things.

Codee:

Oh no, that's not good.

Andrea:

What would you say? My pet peeves are in business or with my job. Specifically, is there anything you've picked up on from my many, many rants or?

Codee:

Yeah, I mean, maybe I'm in business is like, I think, a pet peeve. I don't know if it's a pet peeve, but I've heard you like rant about it as, like other people in the industry, like not taking their business seriously and like not setting it up in a legal way, not paying taxes, you know, like not cutting corners and then bragging about it. Almost I think that really just rubs you the wrong way.

Andrea:

Well, because it's just not that hard.

Codee:

Yeah, that's true too.

Andrea:

It's not that hard. And then to see people like setting themselves up for failure.

Codee:

It's like, oh my gosh, if they're super successful, they're really gonna have a hard, like a really bad time when it comes.

Andrea:

Yeah, if you're successful and you're not paying your taxes.

Codee:

Yeah, I don't want to know. It gets hairy really fast yeah.

Andrea:

Well, it says a lot to say about that too.

Codee:

But like I think a pet peeve in like the wedding space and especially like florist, is like this might sound bad, but like overbearing parents and like you have like to the core, you believe that the wedding should be about the person getting married.

Andrea:

Well, yeah.

Codee:

And I agree with that right, and I think, like when you have a mother or a father that's getting like so involved that you can tell that like the daughter or whoever it is that you're working with is like having a hard time or not being able to express what they actually want. I think that's like it, just it gets under your skin.

Andrea:

Well, it's hard because I can't say anything.

Codee:

Yeah, right yeah, and it's not your place to say anything, but like I think you can see it on the bride's face. You vent about that a lot Like, yeah, you're like I wish this bride would just speak up and like because, yeah, she has great ideas, but the mom has this plan, you know yeah.

Andrea:

I think that's just a hard concept for me because it's like so often. I think people are people pleasers, which can be perceived as a good trait, and it's not a bad thing. But it can be bad if you're putting yourself on the sideline. Just to like avoid any contention. Like I truly believe in like communication and I think it's hard for me when I'm watching like.

Codee:

And nor do you want that bride to like turn into this bride Scylla and like tell off for her mom in front of you on like on the console call or you know, like those are not my favorites. There's for sure a bad one Mom stop.

Andrea:

I'm like oh no. You're like, yeah, cash this out later. Yeah, that's funny because I wouldn't even guess that those were the things that you picked up on, but it is true.

Codee:

Yeah.

Andrea:

Especially because I love wedding so much and it makes me sad when I see the wedding becoming a stress point rather than this fun, exciting experience for brides, where that's what it was for me was like. Oh my gosh it's finally my turn. Right, I get bummed when I'm like oh, she's not, she's not having it.

Codee:

Yeah, and there's personalities, right like, there's people that don't really care, right like, and that's fine too. But, yeah, I think you want the bride to have the experience you had and, yeah, to have the best day ever.

Andrea:

Okay now these are some kind of fun money questions like pricing and like kind of a yeah, education on pricing. So I did, I'll be very candid, and what's the word?

Codee:

Transparent.

Andrea:

Transparent. That's the one we did 66,000 in revenue last year, which was a low year. Just so we're also being transparent. That was a low year. The years before I was closer to like a hundred thousand, which was way awesome. But last year, like Cody said, was a slower year for me, for whatever reason. But it ended up being a blessing because I ended up getting pregnant and I know it would have been really tough to balance everything. So I've been looking at it as, like you know, the universe knew what was going on for me. But now my question is how much do you think I spent on wholesale flowers? How much do you think I spent on hard goods like my cost?

Codee:

of goods. Yeah, just cost of goods, like not labor, not anything else, what would your guess be? I think you spent like 18 grand.

Andrea:

It was 23 grand actually no, it was more, because 23 grand was just from one wholesaler. It ended up being 30,000, which was not ideal.

Codee:

Yeah, because that's half, which is not the right markup.

Andrea:

But for context, I had let's see three family friends.

Codee:

Yeah, that's, true. Family members family friends, so I did more discounts than I wanted with Like huge discounts, like didn't make any money, like, but that's just because you love it, right? I wanted to give people their magic dreams. Yeah.

Andrea:

So yeah, if anyone out there is like, how much should I spend? This is again transparency, I think is just really important in this industry, because when I got into the industry it took me so long to price what I was worth because no one would tell me, like, what should I charge? What does a good markup look like?

Codee:

I don't know why people are so sketchy about it, but I don't know money is always that way, like even in corporate, like we don't. It's yeah how much money you make it. I don't know.

Andrea:

People are really like it's an uncomfortable topic, but I think I wanted to share that. Like it's not always a good year, it's not always like perfect, but I think that's what I love about running your own businesses instead of getting a slap on the wrist and you're like, okay, you're fired. You messed up big time.

Codee:

Right, it's like okay, because like really, when you factor in labor and everything else and gas and food, you know like all the many other costs that come with running a business you probably made like 18 grand.

Andrea:

Yeah.

Codee:

Like you know, like on the year.

Andrea:

Yeah, which is like not a ton.

Codee:

You could go work a part like a minimum wage job for the full year and probably clear more than that, yeah.

Andrea:

Well, I think there's two parts in this of like yeah, I like the opportunity that I have as a business owner to be like okay, yeah, like I kind of shot myself in the foot there, I need to do better next year. And like feeling the motivation. When you have the skin in a game, you're just more motivated.

Codee:

Yeah.

Andrea:

Like I'm working for a corporate company and I'm like, yeah, you guys lost money. Well, that sucks, but like you know, they still have thousands and thousands of dollars millions of dollars like you wouldn't be, as like, oh wow, I need to make a change.

Codee:

I mean, some people are, but I think generally yeah, like if they're commission based, like I think they care.

Andrea:

Yes, you're going to care, but if you're just like, yeah, I'm here day to day, this doesn't matter to me. Yeah, but I think the other thing, too is just like I don't know people, don't people. I still got so many comments through the year of brides and their family members shopping around for florists, which obviously is understandable, but so much of the time I feel like the attitude is like wow, you're charging so much and you're ripping people off, but like I'm here to say like it's literally you didn't make that much money, right?

Andrea:

It's just not true and it's sad because I'm like. I don't like that people think that we're just here to like.

Codee:

Right, rip people off or money gouge or whatever.

Andrea:

Yeah, it's like at the end of the day, I'm still not even making like crazy amounts of money, but I enjoy what I do. Now. My next money question for you is do you know? You don't have to know this, I'm curious on how much you listen. Okay, do you think you know what the industry standard for floral markups?

Codee:

I think I know what you say. Okay what you tell people. It's like a three-time markup right.

Andrea:

Yeah, and then do you know about labor?

Codee:

So not not as much in labor, right, but it is a three-time markup.

Andrea:

Three-time markup on cost of goods, yes, yeah and then labor is 20 to 25 percent of. So basically, if a bride's like oh, I'm spending 10 grand, I will just say okay, what's 20 percent of 10 grand? Yeah and then that's what I'm gonna factor in for labor. You could do it like the hard way and do like how much money per hour is this thing gonna take me?

Andrea:

But the easy way is just to do like the 20 percent which it's actually been funny to me, because I've had only like two people Ask me like why is your like, oh, labor, because it is a big cost, like if a bride is spending if it's a huge wedding like $10,000, that's a ton of work. That's several thousand dollars. Well, you think about like just those mesh boxes.

Codee:

That's like at least two or three mesh boxes and those things are heavy. You know like, yeah, you gotta like. Yeah, put water in the buckets and then you gotta. Buckets, put them all together and then truck them all to the venue. Yeah, and then clean it up and then make it look pretty and sometimes like the what is it? Like the the linens aren't down and you can't even do it and you got to wait, and it's just like oh wait, I only have like an hour to do this like this is.

Andrea:

I try to stress that point to my clients and sometimes they. It's not always their fault, but I get there and I'm like.

Codee:

So here's the tables right and you have to do table arrangement or table greenery and then, like you only have a certain amount of time before the event starts too, so it's like, yeah, it can get really stressful really fast, and I think that's what makes me bummed.

Andrea:

When people opt to do their own flowers is they have no idea.

Codee:

They have no idea till they actually do it and then they regret it. Yeah, it's gonna be yeah chaos from yeah and I think that's like the perspective your mom had on our wedding. With the food right, she's like I don't want to stress it was her and the linens right, like I don't want to wash all these things and yeah.

Andrea:

I was getting quotes for the linens and I was like, wow, this is so expensive. Yeah, let's just, you know, get our own linens. Yeah it's not like an uncommon thought like and she was like no, no, no. She's like I don't I am not gonna be steaming these and then get collecting them, then washing right and then what you're stuck with.

Codee:

You store them right yeah box of 20 table runners in the basement. We're under the stairs right and like you'll never use them again, unless ten years later Someone else is getting married in the same color.

Andrea:

I was her fourth daughter to get married and so yeah her advice was really helpful because she's done. They did the DIY flowers for One of my sister's weddings and it was like, okay, yeah, that wasn't pleasant.

Codee:

Yeah, like we've done, I like that perspective right, cuz like it is a special day and I think like the family should enjoy it too. Yeah, and I think like I wish more Mothers, mothers-in-law, like have. That perspective was like oh my gosh, like I don't want to be working in the kitchen till 2 am.

Andrea:

Yeah before the night like so I can't enjoy the day because Cody sister got married this last November. Yeah, and it was a ton of work.

Codee:

Mom did like everything granted like they wanted a backyard wedding and they wanted the Western feel and like they wanted like all of these unique things which is hard to purchase too. So but and also my dad is just a doer and my mom's a doer, like that, like it's kind of fits their personality.

Andrea:

There was a moment we had to be like okay, yeah, there's no scenario. I think both of them were so stressed the dress and the food and the tails and we had to kind of take over a lot.

Codee:

Well, we had to help them get organized, cuz they go over that. You get overwhelmed really quickly, right, like we were hanging these linens in the backyard and like the wind blew them all over, and then there's just so much, there's so many little things that you can't predict and it's it's. I think it's worth every penny to pay Just someone else to worry about it. Everybody needs to be on a budget nowadays, right, like it's just the economy is a little bit tougher, but, like, at the same time, like you also, like the family, should just like, just enjoy the day with yeah, like celebrate the individuals.

Codee:

You like the mom shouldn't be in the kitchen all day. No, that like. And her son's getting married that day. You know like she should be. They're enjoying and involved. You know, like I'm not sweating and not sweating and not stressed, and not Like a sigh of relief when it's over right, like it's just a funny perspective that I now have. Yeah, being married to you and seeing you so many weddings and it's just different.

Andrea:

So kind of, on that note of being being husband to a florist, what's something that you didn't expect that would like come along with that um, I think, I think I didn't expect that I would like weddings.

Codee:

Yeah like I didn't. I really didn't have that perspective before, like I dreaded going to weddings. I think there's still some anxieties going to weddings, just I don't know why.

Andrea:

But you just have social anxiety. Yeah, yeah, they're so yeah they're social anxiety, for sure.

Codee:

But like, once I'm there, I'm like, oh, that's fun. Like I always say that, like I'm glad we went like the food was good or like the, you know it's fun yeah but like actually I didn't and like this is probably just specific to us because we run the business from home, is like how much of our home is consumed with the florist need, right, like we have the whole, like one whole half of the garage is yours, right, with the giant cooler and the arch and the the displays that you have and like yeah and the weird requests of like hey, can you make this, like folding wooden, like, but like just like, hey, can you make this?

Andrea:

or like yeah, just yesterday. I want new freestanding art.

Codee:

Yeah, she's like can you weld and I'm like I'm never like I've watched people weld.

Andrea:

But I don't have a welder or anything. If you find out I have freestanding arch bases that my husband welded. After this conversation, we just know that we figured it out. I cheered him on this time. I knew he could do it, because I always do know I'm like you could figure this out.

Codee:

Yeah, we can figure anything out, it's just really worth it. Like I can't find it anywhere else yeah. Yeah.

Andrea:

Okay, this is our last fun one before we have. Kind of a fun guessing game is when do you see the business in five years?

Codee:

Yeah, that's a hard question. I think it just grows naturally, like you have. Like every year you have more referrals than ever before. You like you know what I mean like I think it's gonna grow just naturally I Don't know like to be total transparent as well as like I think you love being a mom, yeah, and like spending time there. So like I don't think you're gonna let the business get in the way of being a mom at the same time. So like I don't ever see you not Dreaming up some business in the wedding industry in some way or the other right, if it's floral, or if it's a venue, or yeah whatever in the talks for yeah, like whatever it might be like I see you working and being entrepreneur forever but at the same time, like I think you value that time with with your kids and family, and so like I don't, I don't.

Codee:

I don't know if it'll grow into like a Hundred-thousand, like multi hundred thousand million dollar business and that's not the goal.

Codee:

No cuz yeah, but I think it'll just grow naturally and you like you'll just do more high-end weddings and you'll you'll have less weddings to pick through and you'll you'll prioritize your time and yeah, I think it would be cool one day to like just have a commercial place, just Get all this stuff out of the house and make some room for the family, you know, and like we are a bigger house or or a space.

Codee:

And yeah, and I don't know if you make enough money to clear like a rent, like that too. So like I think we have to grow.

Andrea:

Cody now knows with commercial real estate.

Codee:

Yeah, I, that's what I work at like for for active environmental.

Andrea:

He looks for those spaces all the time.

Codee:

Yeah, I ask him about little and they're getting more and more expensive every year. So it's like they're harder to find and it's it's an interesting market of like what exactly we want, but I think we have some cool, unique goals that I think, once we achieve them, we'll be excited to share with everybody Right for sure. Yeah.

Andrea:

Okay, so I'm gonna show Cody three different photos of inspiration found from Pinterest and we're gonna and I'm gonna have him guess how much these would cost. And this is just gonna be base cost. Labor would be added on top, but that would be separately. This is something that Ride would do to me. She'd say I want this arch, and then I have to say okay, this is how much I think it costs.

Andrea:

Now obviously like if I was doing this, we get more meticulous right, and I'd be like, okay, I'm going to count all of this, but based on looking at it, we're curious what you think it would cost, and then we'll do one at a time With my knowledge now, or like as if I had nothing. I mean both. Right, we're going to see how much of your knowledge of florists like if it does or doesn't impact how much you know things cost.

Codee:

All right.

Andrea:

So we first have this little arch. This is a garden arch. This is a big popular request. How much would you guess that a ride would pay for this?

Codee:

Well, for one. I know that those are more expensive than you'd think they are Because, like I always hear you complaining about, like I want this arch for $500, you know.

Andrea:

That's my least favorite.

Codee:

That's going back to the pet peeves Anything under yeah, no, I'd say, I don't know, like two grand.

Andrea:

Yeah, that's actually really good.

Codee:

Yeah, I'm shocked.

Andrea:

So I would say like two grand again off the top of our heads right, I haven't done any math here. And then 20 to 25% on top of that.

Codee:

Just for labor yeah.

Andrea:

So I'm actually really impressed by that. But yeah often brides are like. My whole wedding budget is $2,000. By the way, I want this arch. And I'm like I hate being the bearer of bad news.

Codee:

Right.

Andrea:

But that is just not going to happen. Next is this centerpiece. I got to get the picture. Okay, that's pretty standard. We call these a compost centerpiece. How much would you guess that would cost?

Codee:

That's just one.

Andrea:

Just one.

Codee:

I'd say like $150, $200.

Andrea:

I'm actually pretty impressed. You're doing pretty good.

Codee:

All right.

Andrea:

I would say like $200. I even asked my floral friends to make sure to check my math and what I would guess. One thing about this one is there's not tons of like premium blooms, so like there's not like peonies in there, there's no garden roses, like there's some renunculus, but that's kind of it. So these can get up to like $300 or $400 for one centerpiece. So just again, mind you like, imagine when a bride's like I have 16 tables and this is what I would like in a way On every table. Oh no.

Codee:

Yeah.

Andrea:

Okay, our last one. This is kind of a fun one. Okay, this is also a really popular trend right now with cakes. It's a cake meadow. Yeah, this is going like front and back.

Codee:

Okay, I'd say like probably like $500 to $700, depending on like what flowers they like. You did really good. Okay, all right.

Andrea:

Yeah, like I would say like $500 to $600. Which again, it can be so hard when someone's like, oh, and then I want some cake flowers. This is what I have in mind and I'm like, well, that's going to be an additional $600 to your already slim budget. On a cake Like yeah.

Codee:

When they only want to spend $800 on the entire wedding, it's really tough.

Andrea:

Yeah, tough stuff. Well, I'm really impressed. Actually, how do you feel, like what influenced your confidence in how much these were going to cost?

Codee:

I don't know, I don't know, they were just guesses, those are just total blind guesses. For sure. Yeah, I mean I'm going back to pet peeves. So like it is a pet peeve of like you, like they're like a customer coming in with false expectations of what things cost, so like I mean I think that's the whole point of the segment, right, it's like, but I've been around like hearing about it and I've been to enough weddings and knowing your costs, did they just want to see?

Andrea:

I just didn't know. If you know like my costs, I'm not just like oblivious. Well, I don't know. Yeah, you never know.

Codee:

Yeah.

Andrea:

Okay. The another question was do you feel like you could do a centerpiece or an arrangement like on your own?

Codee:

I mean sure it's not going to be as nice like right, but like I know what like the airy design looks like, or the full design. You know like stick around.

Andrea:

If you badger Cody enough in the comments, maybe we can get him on for like a little. Let's do a date night and we make an arrangement.

Codee:

Yeah, maybe.

Andrea:

I've really never had you design anything.

Codee:

No, you just had me help, like hold the flower while you put it in.

Andrea:

Yeah, he's a, he's a hander. He hands me the stuff.

Codee:

Yeah.

Andrea:

You're confident with the zip tying of stuff?

Codee:

right, sure, yeah the foam.

Andrea:

The foam. He understands that Pretty good. Yeah Well, thank you for joining me today, taking this time out here my pleasure Very busy Saturday.

Codee:

Yeah, there's a little long commute over here it was tough and you know what?

Andrea:

It only took me a year to secure this guest.

Codee:

So yeah it was a maybe it'll be another year for round two.

Andrea:

Probably. We'll see. Well, I hope you guys enjoyed this. If you have any follow up questions for either Cody or myself, you can always send me a DM at the lunch club podcast or you can shoot me an email from dailyfloorstudiococom and we'll see you next week.