SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Bouquets By Carolyn is planted at the intersection of Selby Avenue and Milton Street in Saint Paul. Owner Carolyn Smaller is a local and has been arranging beautiful bouquets for more than 30 years.
"If you don't love what you're doing, you're not going to stay around to do it," Smaller said.
Smaller said she is at her store all of the time. She cuts stems, designs arrangments and greets people with a friendly smile.
Each month, she manages 500 to 600 orders. And with Valentine's Day on Wednesday, she's cranking out even more.
St. Paul neighbors have loved having her around, and Smaller said they respect that she has stayed and planted roots in the neighborhood.
"It's really important to get people to respect you and appreciate you," she said.
She started that process back in 1990.
"When I first opened up, I picked up the flowers. I delivered the flowers after I made them. I did absolutely everything," Smaller said. "I never turned anything down."
People noticed that hard work and business poured in.
"A lot of it is by word of mouth. I don't do a lot of advertising," Smaller said.
Opening her store in 1990 was a proud moment. She says she was the first Black and woman-owned brick-and-mortar floral business in St. Paul. Over the years, though, she said many businesses have come and gone beside her.
"It's hard. Everything is expensive," Smaller said.
Even though it is hard to stay around sometimes, Smaller said she takes time to invest in herself and her skills as a florist.
"If it's something you really want to do, I would risk it. I took another class in horticulture to make sure I knew how long a flower lives," she said.
She advised that you should find people who will invest in your vision alongside you.
"If it wasn't for my husband, I wouldn't have been in business all this time," she said.
She said she wants to see other businesses, especially Black-owned businesses pop up and stay around like she has.
"It's not how much you have. It's the work that you do while you're there," Smaller said.
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