Three Generations, One Flower Clique: Behind the Scenes of Family, Flowers, and Fun
First, some housekeeping: listeners keep confusing Vonda's and Lori's voices, so this episode opens with formal introductions ("I, Lori Wilson. I, Vonda LaFever.") — and for the record, the one always talking is Lori. With that settled, Lori hosts a conversation she's wanted to record for years: three generations of one family who have actually worked together. Vonda, her daughter Ellie, and her high-school-age granddaughter Leighton all worked the recent week-long Flower Clique photo shoot in Des Moines — and this pod, recorded on family vacation, unpacks what that was like.
"Just want you to know, Leighton's coming"
Vonda was adamant from the first planning meeting that Leighton — who already works remotely for Flower Clique uploading product images to member websites — would be at the shoot. Ellie and Lori quietly worried there wouldn't be enough for her to do, or that a week of unglamorous production work would bore a teenager. Vonda's reasoning: Leighton used to shadow Ellie's photography as a kid and loved it, she works alone at a computer now, and she deserved to see the other dimension — the professionalism, the teamwork, and where those images she uploads actually come from. She also knew Leighton would bring a different eye to social media. Leighton's own verdict on her favorite part: hanging out with everyone, helping with the social posts, and seeing how much time goes into each arrangement. She also casually wrapped a beautiful bundle in ten minutes when Lori asked ("You are your grandmother's granddaughter"), and it turns out she's made multiple flower crowns. For Ellie, watching her niece run the set the way she once did as a photographer's assistant was surreal — "I remember being her age and watching my mom, and that didn't feel like that long ago."
Social media through three sets of eyes
Leighton's job during the shoot was one most bosses never assign: sit and scroll. What makes you stop and click? For her, it's funny ideas and reels — moving content, not just a pretty still. For Ellie, it's the real and raw behind-the-scenes: businesses have alter egos, a front-of-house face and who they really are, and the brands that pull back the curtain (even boring software companies) are the ones that win her over. For Vonda, it's babies and dogs, this-or-that questions, and — as Lori calls out — mechanics. Send Vonda a pretty palette and she won't notice the colors; she's checking whether the design is put together correctly. The lesson for shop owners: your audience spans all of these generations, so your content should too. Lori and Leighton spent the week recreating reel ideas together — sliding arrangements across tables on a cart Leighton thought to grab — and Leighton's biggest realization doubles as a warning for anyone who thinks social is easy: it takes so long to get one good video. Sometimes 12 takes for a single shot, and you pick the one that's merely okay.
The quiet ones are often your most talented
The trait everyone kept noticing in Leighton is the same one Ellie has: quiet observation that turns into anticipating needs — handing you the thing before you ask. Ellie learned she had it on a commercial photo set, when a photographer chose her over a stronger assistant because "Ellie knows exactly what you need before you have to ask for it." Lori's point for owners and managers: both Ellie and Leighton are quiet-spirited. Neither will announce "watch what I can do." Leighton had a ton of skill nobody would have seen if Lori hadn't said "go try making a bundle." If you lead a team, you have to be observant enough to find the talent that won't advertise itself. (The whole trio also agrees they share one trait: they all hit deadlines, every time. Oh — and the younger two are DoorDash pros, which Vonda and Lori consider a legitimate team skill.)
Family and business can mix
Asked what it means to be part of a family company, Ellie says it's proof personal and business can mix — working together "basically 2x's your time" with the people you love — though it's not for every family, it takes boundaries, and being a virtual company (rather than sharing an office 12 hours a day) helps. For Vonda, the moment that hit was watching Ellie mentor Leighton across the workweek, and remembering her own chance to work at 14 — now she gets to offer that same opportunity to her granddaughter. Leighton, asked honestly whether the week felt like a job: "No." And whether she sees herself in the industry someday: she can picture being part of it in some way, and she likes both the design side and the tech side. Keep those options open, girl. The episode wraps with a rapid-fire this-or-that game (roses vs. peonies, Paris flower market vs. Bali spa — Bali lost on bats alone) and one final question for Leighton: stuck in a walk-in cooler for an hour, or explain TikTok to your grandma? She picked the cooler.
Key takeaways
- Give young team members real work and real trust — Vonda insisted Leighton join the shoot, and she over-delivered on every front.
- Different generations stop scrolling for different things: funny reels, raw behind-the-scenes, questions, and craft — plan content for all of them.
- Good social content takes far longer than it looks: a dozen takes for one usable shot is normal, so budget the time.
- Quiet employees often hide serious skills — observant managers create the moments ("go make a bundle") that reveal them.
- Family and business can mix with boundaries, mentorship, and shared standards — and it doubles your time with the people you love.