Martha Dawn Acklin.
Hi, Martha Dawn; please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Blooms was founded in 2019 out of a love for nature, creativity & wedding flowers. However, it started long before then. My mother has owned a flower shop most of my life, and I have grown up in the business. After working in education for 10 years, I realized I was ruining my passion for working with flowers. I left my education career in South Carolina and came home to Titusville, Florida, to learn everything I could about the floral business from my mother, Dawn. My business name is an ode to her, Blooms by MarthaDawn. Blooms wouldn’t have been possible without such a unique, hard-working mom who has owned her business for 30+ years! It is such a joy working with & learning from her.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t believe a smooth road exists! There have been and will always be struggles. Changing careers at 35 was a gamble. But it is a gamble that has paid off! I truly love my job! Also, working directly with my mother was an adjustment. I have lived my whole adult life out of state. So, working that closely together took some time to adjust. However, we are closer now than ever and have created the dream team!
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a florist, I do many things, like birthday arrangements, holiday bouquets, and funeral and event flowers. I specialize in fresh, dried, and preserved flowers. I love working with live, real products. I also have a fresh flower cooler in a local coffee shop, Sunrise Bread Co. I fill it several times weekly with fresh flower arrangements and grab-and-go bouquets. I also sell my dried flower bouquets there as well. However, my favorite floral arrangements to make are for weddings. I love being a small part of someone’s special day. A day they will remember for the rest of their lives! I enjoy meeting with Brides and helping them create their dream wedding flowers! Then, delivering their bouquets and watch their face light up as they see the flowers they’ll be carrying down the aisle. It is a fantastic experience that never gets old. The part of my business I’m most proud of is my flower camper. I have a 1963 Shasta camper that is my mobile flower shop. We have lovingly named her June. My family and I completely remodeled her ourselves. It was a total work of love! I take her to markets and events. Customers can come inside and make their flower bouquets. June is adorably vintage, and we have decorated her with all vintage flare. From the lighting to the fridge, we have done our best to preserve and honor the decade she was made in. I love filling her with fresh flowers and helping customers create their bouquets. As it says on my welcome sign, pick a few flowers and let your creativity Bloom!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
I am always learning! I love listening to the Flower Clique podcast by Vonda LaFever & Lori Wilson. Also, Floret Flower Farm comes to mind. They have a lovely blog I enjoy reading. Learning flower tips and trends has always been a part of my daily life. And, of course, my most significant resource is my mother, Dawn. Having been in the business for so long, she has helped me understand the ins and outs of floral care and the business/financial side. She also has an amazing green thumb and has been teaching me her ways to grow our greenery since we lived together!
Contact Info:
- Website: Bloomsbymarthadawn.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/bloomsbymarthadawn
- Facebook: Facebook.com/bloomsbymarthadawn
Image Credits
Photographer: Rose Quartz Imagery, Alyssa Scrivener
