Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Turner.
Ryan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I moved to Chicago when I was 20 back in 2005, not long after moving to Chicago, began working for a florist on the city’s Northside (Edgewater).
I was their head designer for more than 5 years, then decided in 2010 to launch out and start a name for myself. StemLine Creative was founded in Jan. 2011, with basically no money, no clients, and no booked events, I could only pray it would take off.
With the power of Facebook, word of mouth, and a few entries into bridal shows, StemLine Creative took off, quickly. Our first year in business (2011), we did 41 weddings, and at that time, I had no employees, only friends, I could persuade into helping me out during the weekend from time to time.
Fast forward to 2017 and almost 460 completed weddings to date, I now have 2 full time employees (excluding myself) and a team of 5 additional free designers and assistants that work during event season on busy weekends.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road has been rough, but honestly, it could have been much more difficult.
When I started the business in 2011, I was unsuccessful at getting a personal or business loan, due to many reasons, nor did I have investors to back me.
I practically started StemLine Creative’s business banking account with a $100 check, given to me for a flower delivery order.
I’m beyond grateful for the friends and vendors in the event industry that have referred clients to us. I would not be where I am today with that!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the StemLine Creative story. Tell us more about the business.
StemLine Creative is a floral event company in Chicago that specializes in modern and original floral designs.
We offer a vast selection of innovative props, vessels, backdrops, numerous styles of chuppahs, and event lighting.
One thing that does set my company apart from other florists is that our clients personally meet with me and are guaranteed to see me on the day of their wedding.
Granted, I do have an exceptional team of designers and assistants, however thrive to provide a very detailed and “hands on” approach to each and every wedding or event that we commit to.
Some design companies, do not set limits to how many events they would commit to in one day, however we’ll only commit to no more than 2 events in one day.
Details and timing are everything to me and our online reviews speak for themselves.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Originally, I wanted to StemLine Creative to become one of the biggest event design companies in Chicago.
However over the past few years, have decided to keep StemLine Creative’s grasp about the same size, with executing anywhere between 60-90 events a year.
My husband and I plan are planning to eventually move to Hawaii, respectively not until at least 2023(fingers crossed)!
Contact Info:
- Address: StemLine Creative
2100 W. Grand Ave.
Suite 2
Chicago, IL 60612 - Website: www.stemlinecreative.com
- Phone: 312 243 9629
- Email: ryan@stemlinecreative.com
- Instagram: stemline_creative
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/stemlinecreative
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/stemlinecreative
Image Credit:
Cristina G. Photography
Dabble Me This Photography
Carasco Photography
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