Flowers says that the Center for Business Innovation played a role in helping her leave her full-time federal position at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. For her, the Business Plan Competition was a launch pad to growing her business.
At a young age, Flowers never dreamed of being a florist. In fact, she didn’t even know what a florist was. She grew up in Baltimore in the “concrete jungle” with one plant in the house, and she only saw flowers on caskets. She thought that was something the funeral home just did.
One day she was at a craft store with her grandmother who was a seamstress at London Fog. While she shopped for fabric, Flowers wandered off and came upon some wreaths that were “ugly and expensive.”
She thought she could do it better and cheaper, so she bought the supplies, made her own wreath creations and sold them at church. At church, a man told her he sent his wife to “flower school” and she didn’t know that was even a thing, but wanted to know more.
She soon started taking retail floristry classes at CCBC and graduated with an associate degree in General Studies. She went on to University of Baltimore, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. The Center for Business Innovation has helped her with everything from education and financing to revising her marketing plan.
“Everything fell into place,” Flowers said. “I did not choose the profession, it chose me.”
Flowers had a popup shop in Belvedere Square in North Baltimore, which closed in December 2021. She is currently working from home and is in the process of having her basement outfitted to be a design studio.
“It’s important to have business partners who are dedicated to your growth. The Center for Business Innovation has been that for me. If you’re able to do the program, do it. They have been so encouraging, and have supported me every step of the way.” —Tasha Flowers
Flowers notes that women are starting businesses at a faster rate now than they have in previous years, but black women have the hardest time accessing capital.
“I want people to stop looking at my skin color and start focusing on my products,” said Flowers. “There are a lot of opportunities coming out now. I’m taking advantage of any opportunities I can, and as far as the challenges of being a black woman in business, I will navigate those with finesse.”
Flowers relies on recommendations and referrals, and it took many years for her to build up this amount of good will. Now she is reaping the rewards for the seeds she has sown. Her long-term goal is to have a televised program like Martha Stewart used to have.
“I want to cover cooking and crafting, but with a focus on flowers,” she said. “I want to show people how to make their homes beautiful.”
Do you have a business idea that is waiting to bloom? The Center for Business Innovation can provide the seeds your idea needs. Register for the next Small Business Ownership program starting Feb. 21, 2023: https://www.ccbcmd.edu/quickreg
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