Melissa Richardson from JarJar Flowers shares her small business story in this week’s My Small Business & Me podcast interview.
Setting up a Model Agency
On leaving school, she went to drama school. After having worked as a photographer’s agent, then freelancing in styling and casting, she became a model agent. When the model agency she worked for went bust, her dad suggested that she set up a model agency.
Starting a Floristry Business
Aged 55, after having run the agency for 27 years, she decided to close it. She’d always had a great love of flowers, so she started a floristry business from her kitchen table. Melissa shares the reactions from her friends and family about her career change.
Working with Younger People
She then talks about the transferable skills that she’d used in her model agency and then in her floristry business. She also discusses the benefits of working with people younger than herself, including Amy , Talena and India. Melissa explains what JamJar Edit is and how it came about. Plus she discusses the impact of the pandemic on the business.
Botanical Events
The Nature of Thyme, a pressed botanicals exhibition, which they created pressed flower designs for, and their installation for this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show are also discussed in detail.
Listening to this episode, you’ll hear how passionate Melissa is about changing career mid-life and working with a team of younger people. At the end of the podcast, you’ll discover her practical tips, which I’m sure you’ll find very inspiring. | LISTEN & SHOW NOTES
P.S. This week, I’ve relaunched my YouTube channel! And here’s my first video, 3 Benefits of Blogging for Small Business Owners.
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