Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Caughey.
Hi Samantha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have always loved flowers. I love their colors, textures, and how they fit together when arranged. I love how they bring people together and how they are used worldwide as a sign of celebration, sympathy, apologies, and simply a kind gesture. Tulihulipoosies was just a thought in 2018, but I had no idea how to start a business and had no formal floral design training. Fast forward to the end of 2020, my mother had just passed away and I felt it was time for a career change and to dive into something new. On March 23rd, 2021 Tulihulipoosies was official! My Dad (Paul Caughey) and I designed the flower cart together and he was busy building it while I started getting our name out to the public via farmers markets and social media. Now we are five months in and bring the cart to farmers markets and pop-ups, we rent it out for private events and parties, make weekly deliveries, and even have a subscription plan called “The Bloom Room.” We also provide full wedding florals which have quickly become an unexpected favorite part of the business for me. We are currently home-based in the Orlando area. I am proud of how far this small business has gone in such a short amount of time and excited for what’s to come in the future.
Alright, 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?
I have been blessed to have a lot of support from family and friends throughout this entire process. As mentioned previously, my dad was a huge help in bringing the cart to life, but if you come visit us at the cart you will most likely find my husband working it with me. I like to say he’s the quick math, muscle, and moral support of the business. This small business has been a huge learning curve for me and without my support system I’m sure there would have been bigger struggles, but I’ve been lucky to have a somewhat smooth road so far.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I would say as of now we are mostly known for the flower cart, and I love that! I enjoy watching people use their creative side and design their own bouquets. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” and I love to see everyone’s different idea of beauty. Our shower eucalyptus bundles are always a favorite, too. We do a lot of custom orders including many different sizes of bouquets and arrangements. There’s no “one size fits all” with our flower orders and I think our customers appreciate that there’s something for everyone. Once I get to know our returning customers better, I always let them know when we have a favorite flower of theirs in stock and try to have some of their favorites on the cart each weekend, too. Getting out to the farmers’ markets and pop-ups really allows me to get to know my customers.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
To me, success is getting to do what I love every day. Having my own business and being able to use my creative side every day has been a fun challenge, one that I didn’t see as possible. So, to me, watching my business that was just an idea only five months ago grow is success.
Pricing:
- We make weekly doorstep deliveries in Orlando. Our hand-wrapped bouquet prices are $35 for the “Sweet” bouquet, $55 for the “Charming” bouquet, and $75 for the “Enchanted bouquet.
- We also have a subscription service called “The Bloom Room” which is one monthly payment for a weekly or bi-weekly delivery. The bouquets are discounted to $30, $50, and $70 and members also receive 10% off of all other Tulihulipoosies orders excluding wedding packages.
- Pricing at the cart is by the stem. Our stems usually start at $3 each and go up from there, so customers can build their own bouquets within their price range. We also have $35 pre-designed bouquets to grab and go if customers don’t want to build their own or are in a hurry.
- Weddings, events, and custom order deliveries pricing all vary.
Contact Info:
- Email: Tulihulipoosies@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.tulihulipoosies.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tulihulipoosies/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tulihulipoosies
Image Credits
Elevate Brand Media
Brittany Borders Photography
Roo & Co.
