Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Franklin.
Kim, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My husband and I started our business literally from scratch. In early 2013, we had a combination of hardships that came at us all at one time. Not knowing what we were going to do, a friend encouraged us to start our own flower shop. I had experience in the industry but I had never felt like, I could actually have my own shop. I did not even have a knife or a wire to start with.
I had worked in the floral industry beginning in 1992 through 2001. I started as a part time delivery driver & instantly had a desire to learn how to design. I had no experience, but I would ask questions, watch the designers to try to learn as much as I could. I eventually learned how to green vases and from that moment on, I wanted to be a designer. Eventually I took a position at a new shop in town and the owner was very good at teaching me the basics. I eventually worked for a DFW chain & and was promoted to manage one of the busiest locations in the metroplex at that time.
In 2001 we moved to South Texas for my husband to take a pastoral position. I never lost my desire to create things so I was always re-doing our church, other churches, friends homes anything to be able to feed that creative side in me.
We felt God leading us back to the metroplex in 2011 but had no idea of God’s ultimate plan for our lives. When I started our “shop” in 2013, I was working out of one side of our garage. We had no experience in owning a business so everything we did was trial & error.
I took floral arrangements to local businesses and asked if I could leave them sitting on the counter with my business cards for advertising. Due to starting out of our home, I could not use any signage. I made up flyers and business cards and I would spend all day long, going door to door to let people know that we existed. I would drive to Dallas and pick up enough flowers every day to do the orders for the following day.
Within 3 months we had outgrown the garage and we started looking for a permanent place for our business. Forney is a small town, but it is rapidly growing. It is nestled between Interstate 20 & Highway 80. The exits limit access to businesses along Highway 80 and there were no businesses, at that time on Interstate 20, except for a convenient store. We searched for a few weeks and quickly came to realize that the few areas available were not a good location for a florist. They were between exits or back in shopping strips that did not have good visibility. Since 90% of the floral industry orders are made over the phone, or online, it was not in our best interest to sign a 5-year lease at the only spaces available.
After much prayer & searching daily, we came across our current location. There is no other way to describe it except that God lead us to this property. We decided one day to go drive around the areas and see if we might “get lucky” and find something we had not been able to find online.
The property had a screen printing business with a home next door. We had no plans to move from our home. We were strictly looking for a space for our business. We saw a sign in the yard, called, made an appointment and had no idea what we were in store for. It was only one piece of property being sold, which meant we would have to sell our current home. The property needed a lot of work, for it to be transformed into a flower shop. With God by our side, we prayed like everything depended on Him and worked like everything depended on us. I had no idea having a business would require so much red tape, paperwork, finances and hard work.
I made a promise to myself when I started, that I would never try to take another business’ customers. There are too many people living in the metroplex to have to ever use dishonesty or be cut throat. I have always believed if you work hard, put out good product and give great customer service the customers will come to you. I 100% believe that God has blessed us because within ourselves it would not have been possible.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?.
As a child I came from very humble beginnings. I watched my elders work hard and they taught me to do the same. I was the girl that society saw as being raised on the “wrong side of the tracks.” I made the decision to quit school after the 8th grade and I have always regretted it. I felt inadequate, insecure and would have never imagined how much harder it made things for me.
When I married my husband at the young age of 16 (31 Years ago) his mother changed the very core of who I was. She was a single mother who loved her family & had a work ethic like none other. I watched her go to work tired, sick, rain, snow or sunshine. She is a proud woman who showed me how to help provide and to appreciate everything you are given. Today she is 91, she never drove and never allowed her hardships to keep her from achieving her goals. I don’t think she will ever know how her example changed my life.
We started our business with honesty, integrity, hard work & a thankful heart. Today we have a thriving business that has grown more than double every year since we started. I do not feel this is just a job for me. When people call me to order something for a loved one they have lost, a new birth, a wedding or to send something to say “I am sorry”. I feel like it’s a ministry. People trust me to put their expression of love or thoughtfulness into their order. I do my very best to make every order unique & special. I do not do mass production. Mistakes happen but when they do, I do my very best to make them right. I have always believed you will reap what you sew. I sincerely strive for 100% customer satisfaction with every single time. I take pride in my work and ability to be able to bring a tiny bit of happiness to someone’s life.
We hire designers and workers at the major holidays but on a daily basis, I design every single bouquet & my husband delivers them to the customers. Together, with God’s help we have been successful.
I never could have dreamed that I would be where I am today. We are living proof that anything is possible when you are willing to put in the hard work and long hours it takes to own your own business.
We’ve always been on our own. Nothing has ever been handed to us, we have had to work hard for everything that we have had. If I had to do all over again, I would choose to work smarter, not harder but I would do it all again.
Kim’s Creations Flowers & Gifts – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Kim’s Creations Flowers & Gifts is a full service floral shop. We deliver daily to all towns within approximately 20 miles from Forney.
We specialize in modern, high style floral arrangements & weddings.
We are known for our unique designs, quality & excellent customer service.
I am proud that we put out fresh, great quality product and we go above and beyond for excellent customer service.
I believe my personal modern style is what sets me apart from others and my goal to achieve customer satisfaction
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I would have to say the weddings that I do. I can’t give just one example but each time a bride tells me how beautiful their flowers were it’s my proudest moment.
I try to go above and beyond to make their day special. It can be challenging to try to read the mind of someone and put it to reality for them. The internet gives tons of photos and ideas that most brides take bits & pieces from. They want you to create something “different” than what they are showing you, but similar.
I strive to make the brides vision into a beautiful reality. I can proudly say that I have never duplicated a wedding.
I use my artistic design to create what the bride wants her wedding to be, not what is the easiest to make.
I do not do the typical package where you choose “A, B, C or D” and it is basically changing colors for the different brides. It is a lot more work for me, but the reward of knowing the bride feels you went above & beyond to make their day special is worth it.
Contact Info:
- Address: 10010 Antelope Way,
Forney, TX 75126 - Website: www.kimscreationsflowers.com
- Phone: 972-357-7687
- Email: Kims1086@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Kimscreationsflowers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimsCreationsFlowers/
Image Credit:
Kim Franklin
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