Episode 1: Welcome to The Business & Pleasure of Flowers!
It finally happened. After talking about it since 2016, Vonda LaFever hit record, and The Business & Pleasure of Flowers officially launched. In this very first episode, Vonda and co-host Lori Wilson introduce themselves, explain why a podcast for retail florists was missing from their feeds, and lay out what they have planned — all in under thirty minutes, because they know you're probably listening from the delivery van.
Why a podcast for florists?
Lori is a self-described podcast junkie who got Vonda hooked too. Fun bit of trivia she dug up for launch day: the roots of podcasting go back to the 1980s, when it was called video blogging, before the medium really took off around 2004. The two of them noticed that the shows they love — even wildly different ones — share a common thread: you walk away inspired to build something, whether that's a new business or a freshly wallpapered bathroom. But neither of them could find a show like that for the floral industry. So they decided to make it themselves.
Who is Vonda?
Lori puts Vonda on the spot with a mini interview built around three questions: who, what, and why. The who: Vonda is AIFD, PFCI, and a certified floral designer who has worked in flower shops since she was 14 years old. A friend of the family, Peggy Harrison in Ames, Iowa, gave her that first job — cleaning shelves and glassware up front before "graduating" to washing buckets in the back room, where she watched the designers turn buckets of flowers into something beautiful and thought, I want to do that someday. She went on to own a flower shop in Dixon, Illinois for almost 20 years, and she credits her mentors along the way for making all the difference.
The what: she's just launched Flower Clique — that's clique, C-L-I-Q-U-E, because the floral industry really is one — a company built to help shops and anyone who wants to get better at what they do. And the why: passion, plain and simple. This profession isn't always easy, and Vonda believes shop owners shouldn't have to feel alone in it. As Lori points out, Vonda gives the same energy to a six-month-old startup struggling with its books as she does to a $4 million high-end shop — because it's about the person and their potential, wherever they are in the journey.
Who is Lori?
Lori doesn't claim Vonda's four decades of floral experience — what she brings is a love of people and a seriously good listening ear. With a communication degree, consulting internships, a teaching certification, and years coaching cheerleading, she learned early that over half the battle is simply sitting across from someone and listening. Often, as people talk through a problem, they discover they already know the answer. And when they don't, Lori's favorite part is tracking down someone else in the industry who has solved the same problem and bringing that solution back.
What's coming in 2020
The hosts preview the topics they hear about most from shop owners: marketing that actually works (some of those 1980s tactics have to go) and employee situations — not HR paperwork, but building a drama-free culture and spotting the natural leaders on your team. They'll also cover balance, wellness, and holiday survival, plus guest interviews with respected industry professionals, HR experts, and even a conversation planned on handling grief in the workplace — something every flower shop faces when grieving families walk through the door.
The name says it all: every form asks whether your trip is business or pleasure, and Lori always wants to answer "can't it be both?" That's the show — Vonda brings the business, Lori brings it to life.
Key takeaways
- Inspiration is the point: seek out content (and mentors) that reignite your passion for your business.
- Mentorship matters — who you learn from can shape an entire career, as it did for a 14-year-old Vonda.
- Listening is a business skill: let people talk through a problem and they often find their own answer.
- Business and pleasure aren't either/or — a successful shop life needs both.
- Have a topic you're struggling with? Email lori@flowerclique.com and it might become an episode.
Sponsored by:
Flower Clique
Flower Clique Prep School
Real Life Retail Florist