As a child, Paulina Dillon spent her free time wandering through forests and fields for hours on end.
“…And came back with dandelion stains all over my clothes, and my mom would always yell, but I would always pick them up because I thought they were beautiful,” said Dillon with a laugh.
“As a child I always had a true love for nature and flowers in general.”
Dillon, who owns Paulina’s Flower Shoppe in Sarnia, believes it was this early love for nature that steered her towards a career as a florist.
She opened her Murphy Road storefront just over a year ago. They offer custom floral arrangements, potted plants, seasonal blooming plants and bulbs, as well as greeting cards and hand-crafted gifts.
Prior to opening Paulina’s, Dillon spent a decade working for other flower shops, growing her skills and learning the business. But after the last florist she was employed by closed, she decided to venture out on her own.
Dillon came across a space that had recently been home to another city flower shop, and Paulina’s Flower Shoppe was born.
“It was always kind of a dream of mine to have my own shop,” said Dillon. “It kind of almost was perfect timing… one door closes and another opens.”
Dillon does all of the design and arrangements herself, noting that her main inspiration is nature. She added that like anything, it’s important to stay informed on what’s popular in the industry.
“There’s a certain style and kind of vibe here… it keeps me on my feet. I’m constantly doing research, what’s trending, what are people wanting,” she said. “It truly is an art form.”
Part of Dillon’s process is to get to know the people she creates arrangements for, which she believes provides a truly customized experience for her clients.
“I like to get a feel for my customers… when I’m doing a sympathy piece, I like then the family members tell me about the person who has passed,” she said. “And I like to construct my pieces to be customized to really truly honour that person and their life.”
So what does the future hold for Paulina’s Shoppe? She hopes her business grows, but admits there are benefits to a smaller sized operation.
“Growing is ultimately what you want to do, but in the same token, I kind of like the quaintness,” she said. “A more personal experience for the customer.”
We collaborated with Paulina on several projects to help her business get off the ground, including her website: www.paulinasflowershoppe.com
To see more work and client profiles, click here.
