#SmallBusinessSpotlight
By Amanda DiGiacomo
This week’s small business spotlight is TQW Designs. They are a local Bakersfield business offering floral designs for special events. Continue reading the below questions to get to know them better!
- What is the name of the business? What is the owner’s name?
TQW Designs, Taylor Willmott
2. What services or products do you offer?
Flowers/Floral design for special events
3. How long as the business been open?
1.5 years
4. What inspired you to start your own business?
I wanted to work for myself and also saw white space in the floral market for a certain technique used to create bouquets and installations.
5. What did you do to develop the skills to start/run your business?
Since my mother was a florist, I’ve had life experience in the business. But I also have a degree in tourism and event planning as well as 10 years in customer service.
6. Share with us one of your biggest success to date?
Being able to attend workshops and events to further my education in Floral design and Business. As well as every wedding I’ve booked this far
7. Share with us one of your biggest challenges to date?
Time management and anything to do with the business aspect. i.e. knowing if I should hire out in financial and technological areas because I am ignorant in those areas and it’s difficult to know which costs more, me learning or hiring out.
8. Please, describe your typical work day.
I also train/coach fitness so I actually wake up at 3:30 a, train a class, come home, work on planner/journal, I listen to podcasts in the car and when I’m doing almost anything that doesn’t require me to fully focus, I work on proposals/emails/social/collaborations next, then I leave to train an evening class/workout for myself, return home, dinner, get ready for bed, read, go to bed.
Trying to get better at time management and time blocking. Hopefully soon there will creative days & days working on the business.
9. What is your favorite part of the business?
The design part. The part I get to create.
10. What is the nicest thing a customer has said about your business?
Everything was perfect and exactly how i wanted it…. The nicest another vendor has said is that my work will be in vogue.
11. Who inspires you to keep going?
My significant other. He pushes me in every single way. He’s changed my life. Other vendors; their hustle, their drive, their empathy, their sportsmanship, their kindness.
12. What advice do you have for someone who wants to start their own business?
Don’t be lazy. Do the homework, the research, and most importantly stop waiting for it to be perfect, just take action.
Thanks for the continued support. Stayed tuned for our next week’s small business spotlight.
Make sure to go follow TQW Designs on Instagram and Facebook the links directly below our to their page! (Photo credit: Sara Weir & Allison Claire Imagery)
