Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Marie Thompson.
Kelly Marie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 2002 I had a dream to open a little bucket shop filled with flowers, where guests would come and purchase bundles of blooms. Quickly it came to light that flower shops need a little more than just bunches of peonies to pay the bills, so I ventured into weddings. I’m completely self-taught, reading and practicing in the beginning as much as possible. With a degree in painting and art history I had an idea for texture, color and shape, and the rest came very naturally. We’ve moved the shop three times, each location expanding and offering more gift items and larger scale wedding design. The current location is 1800 square feet that up until a week ago was half brick and mortar gifts/flowers and plants, and half wedding studio. We just rented out a separate studio around the corner that will be focused on wedding production and a space for classes, which means we can expand our retail selections. Guests are always amazed that we have such a large selection of gifts ranging from candles, soap to rugs and furniture. It’s definitely more of a lifestyle boutique than just a flower shop. I’ve felt as though I’ve been running two separate businesses from the beginning and I wouldn’t have it any other way. This past April we celebrated our 15th anniversary and it was an emotion and wonderful day. I’m excited to continue to offer more to the neighborhood, it’s incredibly exciting!
Has it been a smooth road?
I think just the timeline of 15 years alone denotes a few rough patches! Opening a business at 22 with an art degree is not something I would recommend, even though I am happy I did it. In the beginning I definitely think people wondered if Fleur would make it because I was so young. And I wish I had taken a few more business classes, there was a lot of trial and error mistakes make in the beginning.
Also, the first location was on a small street in a great neighborhood, but not a lot of foot traffic. Our second location opened a lot of doors because it was on a main street with a little more visibility, and our current location is really the perfect spot with lots of people walking by and more retail. Logan Square is becoming a large designation for travelers, and we hope Chicagoans who live in other neighborhoods too.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Fleur – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I’m incredibly proud of Fleur. Its two businesses wrapped up in one. Our brick and mortar overflows with gift lines, guests are always surprised when they walk in & see such a large selection. I try to source as many American made products as possible and promote handmade items. And our plants and floral liven the space up. The new expansion that will soon be happening is incredibly exciting. Our price points range from low to high, so there is something for all budgets, and everyone is welcome.
Our wedding side is constant creativity, every year we face new challenges climbing ladders to hang floating centerpieces or building floral backdrops. Our style is romantic and garden-like, yet edited. We work with a wonderful group of local growers, and that is amazing. Everything is custom designed and we offer a beautiful selection of rentals, including our vintage collection which we’ve sourced throughout antique fairs in the Midwest. I and our design team truly love flowers and every day we feel fortunate to be a part of this beautiful world.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
As a Chicago native, I’m extremely biased – I love this city! I can’t imagine not having four seasons, there is something special about each one. The diversity is so fantastic, and there are so many neighborhoods to explore. Each one offers something so unique, and I love the amount of independently owned companies. Everyone supports another and that is one of my favorite things about the Midwest in general. The one thing I dislike is the traffic, but after all, it’s a big city & that’s to be expected!
Contact Info:
- Address: 2651 N Milwaukee
Chicago IL 60647 - Website: www.fleurchicago.com
- Phone: 7733952770
- Email: info@fleurchicago.com
- Instagram: Fleurinc
Image Credit:
Clary Pfeiffer Photography, Jaclyn Simpson Photography, Becca Heuer Photography, T & S Photography
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