Today we’d like to introduce you to Sally Papedis.
Sally, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
At a turning point in my life, for reasons out of my control I quickly needed to reinvent myself and create a new career path. I was working for a fabulous interior design firm that had a beautiful work environment that was providing a service people needed. I took so much pride in the store (even enjoyed mopping the floors) that a few customers thought I was the owner. I think that might have first put the thought in my head of owning my own store one day.
Previously, I had a little success with a vegan leather bag line, Stella Grey Bags. I was debating about renewing my Stella Grey Trademark when a close friend insisted that “Stella is not dead yet! I don’t know where she is going to show up but she will.” (I was Stella during Design School). So it made me dig deeper in how to find a business that I could maximize my creative outlet in design. So you ask yourself “What would you do if you could do anything?” I thought a flower shop, so I could be surrounded by nature and make beautiful things everyday. Then my sister reminded me that I once sent back a floral arrangement and demanded my boyfriends money back because it was hideous. So maybe this was my path… And people die and get married and remarried and that will never change so I’m counting on the never ending need for florists.
I took a Master Class in Floral Design and ended up getting “best in show” the last day of the class. That gave me hope that this might work. I visited local florist in the area to sum up my competition. There were several florist in my immediate area but most were partnered with 1800 Flowers or FTD so they were subjected to crank out the same floral designs over and over. I want to offer something different and unique than your average florist.
The best advise I got from another business owner was to find the store location in your backyard. I was lucky to find a vacant store front just blocks away from my home. But it was small and run down and the ceiling had caved in and as I was ready to walk away a friend reminded me “you love a good project”. So I accepted the challenge, worked out a great deal with the landlord and began gutting the place the next week.
I researched online everything I could find on owning a flower shop, the pros and the cons and the essentials… large work space, large sink and a huge floral cooler. When I found a 10ft professional floral cooler on Craigslist and it fit perfectly in a tight space in the back of the store… I literally looked up and said, “ok universe, I hear you and thank you!” Because there is a lot of self doubt and still is, but I try to look for daily signs to remind myself I am making this happen and keep following this path to success and independence. And as a single mom of two I want to show my kids “When life give you Sh*t… make fertilizer and see what BLOOMS!”
Lastly, a week after I opened the store an acquaintance walked in and said she had 20 years experience in the floral business and she would love to help me with my vision. So I am very grateful for good friends and the universe for showing me a path. My store is my happy place and I can finally say that I love what I do.
Has it been a smooth road?
So far, so good. Opportunities keep presenting themselves but I know I still have a lot more work to do to make this business successful. If I could clone myself that would help as being a store owner, there always a list of things to do and things sometimes don’t get done. I do like being “pleasantly overwhelmed” but I need to get to a point where I can hire some help to take over some of the daily demands.
But as I look at it, I am being realistic and projecting/hoping for the same results as my bag biz. Year 1 hope for slow growth to work out the kinks and learn from the small mistakes and hope to break even or get close, year 2 hone in on what is working and what is making money and stay on that track and shoot on double sales from previous year, Year 3 is make or break year and have realistic sales goals.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Stella Grey Blooms is a floral, gift and home store. We specialize in floral designs that are creative, unique and even edgy at times. We are a full service florist for weddings, events, bar mitzvahs and funeral homes. Some of our clients are local restaurants, coffee shops, the Chamber of Commerce and the Art Institute of Chicago.
The front half of the store is a stylish boutique that offers gifts and home goods from around the world and we also support local vendors carrying their art, candles, greeting cards and more. We carry a great selection of greenery and succulents that can be mixed and matched with a variety of different pots and vases to adapt to your personal style.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes! I feel Chicago is a land of opportunity and the community is very supportive of small businesses and loyal to shop local. On either side of me are new small businesses with owners like me that this our first brick and mortar store and we are all determined to help each other. So grab a cup of coffee next door at the Coffee Joint, then swing into Stella Grey to view our wares and then visit my neighbor The Bevy Salon to book your next hair appointment. #shopsmall
Pricing:
- Gifts under $50
- Flowers for Weddings a small minimum of $1,000
- Local Delivery of Flowers, Plants and Gift Sets start at $45
- Sally Papedis is available for public speaking engagements
Contact Info:
- Address: 2057 W Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60618
- Website: stellagreyblooms.com
- Phone: 312.607.3231
- Email: sallypapedis@hotmail.com
- Instagram: stellagreyblooms
- Facebook: stellagreyblooms
- Yelp: stella-grey-blooms-chicago
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
