Today we’d like to introduce you to Wanda Evangelista.
Wanda, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
With over 30 years experience in construction, real estate and accounting, all the while taking floral, horticulture and design classes, I took a leap in 2014 and and quit my full time job and jumped both feet into my new career.
I had built up relationships with professionals in my past positions who had not been working for various reasons. I contacted a few who I had kept in touch with over the years. I bought lunch for us all and pitched my plan to build the organization and how it would work and asked them if they wanted to be a part of this new venture.
It is with the help of these key people I was able to leap into business, and why we continue to grow each year.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t know of any venture that is smooth. I had charts, schedules, documentation and was very organized and still ran into bumps along the way. Gardening is a humbling job. Plants are going to react to their environment without any warning and clearly they don’t read the same books we do. Not to mention vendors not delivering and customers changing their minds. None of these issues have stopped our team. We just work with what we have and make lemonade from lemons every chance we get.
Please tell us about Evangelista Floral and Landscape Studio.
We are a floral and landscape company. That makes us unusual, because you don’t find companies which do both. We design, install, and maintain floral, container and landscape materials for residential and commercial customers. We specialize in event floral occasions, like weddings and corporate parties. In landscapes we offer custom sculptures which make a huge impact in gardens. We have a unique approach in that we do not come into a garden and want to remove everything and start from scratch – as least not all the time. We work with existing landscapes to enhance what owners have started and make it healthier all while educating the customer along the way to insure the success of the garden over time.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have started this years ago! I feel like I came to this party late sometimes.
Pricing:
- Fresh Floral Events Our designers have over 35 years in special events. We will design, delivery and install fresh floral arrangements for your event. Initial consultation is $85.00 which is credited back with an executed design proposal.
- Landscape Design and Installations are estimated by project scope and size. Initial consultation is $85.00 which is credited back with an executed design proposal.
- We offer four seasons of container design and installations; Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter/Holiday. Container plantings and maintenance are $55.00 per man hour plus all materials.
- Holiday Decor Outdoor holiday décor such as wreaths, garlands and lighting are invoiced at $60.00 per hour for purchasing and $55.00 per hour per man hour for installation.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 7736772063
- Email: evangelistafloralandlandscapes@gmail.com
- Facebook: @evangelistastudio
- Yelp: Evangelista Floral and Landscape Studio
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