FLOWERS, ESPECIALLY ORCHIDS which bloom in so many colours and shapes, are her favourites.
Inspired to take up floral arranging after seeing the designs and arrangements that Barbados entered in the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in London, businesswoman Rowana Sandiford knew she had to get involved.
So, in 2009 she took the plunge and started a floral and gift basket business.
“I gradually started feeling the vibe where I could include flowers and events. So, I went to do the event planning course at the University of the West Indies in 2013.
“I love planning events, making somebody happy, I love having a plain room and changing it around, having a different atmosphere,” she told BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY.
“As for flowers, I always loved them. I was wowed by the different designs at the Chelsea Flower Show so I decided to do the course, both the beginners and intermediate.
“I got more into it through a friend, Pat Estwick, who was involved the flower show.
“She gave me pointers as to what to do and I moved from there.
“If I had a question about bouquets that I hadn’t done yet, she would tell me how to do it. She gave me more insight,” Sandiford said.
In 2014, after her youngest son Rineco was born, she established the business name J.B.I.R. Floral & Gift Shoppe as it is reflects her sons Jeron, Brian, and Isaiah’s names as well.
Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day are her busiest periods and she finds it “sad” that more orders are not made for Father’s Day because she thinks there are lots of deserving dads.
Having done event planning, Sandiford has been able to marry the different aspects of her business successfully with brides ordering their bouquets and other floral pieces.
Although she planned and executed her first wedding for a Swedish couple last year, she is up to the task of doing more.
“It was a lot of hard work. I did everything from putting the flowers together, decorating the hall and the beach but I got a few friends to come on board. I also managed the wedding to make sure everything ran smoothly and on point.
“They had a lot of guests from overseas and I was overwhelmed by the responses.
“I never doubted that I could do it because I love it. I planned everything, noted what I had to do and executed.
“There were no hiccups,” said the St George Secondary School alumna.
She uses the services of other small businesswomen Lydia and Latoya, with the decorating as well as her best friend Nicole Brewster.
They also call her when they have jobs as she does not view them as her competitors. If they order bouquets or arrangements for their clients and they need a hand when she delivers, she jumps right in.
“We follow each other on Instagram. Lydia will call on Latoya for rentals and vice versa. I soon will be going into rentals and therefore when clients call me, they’ll be getting more in a package instead of going to other service providers to get different things.
“Flowers, decorations, event planning and management to make sure everything runs smoothly. I will be a one-stop shop,” she said.
“I want to cover all occasions. From tea parties to birthday parties, corporate functions, baby showers. I also plan and host my own events – I’ve had three so far. I like to come up with ideas, things that are different for Barbados.”
Some of the ideas just pop into her head, she said, and others she gets from sites such as Pinterest. She shops locally for her décor and other accessories to make the events memorable.
In five years, Sandiford wants to be “more recognised”.
“I want to also bring more into it; incorporate more businesses, rentals and the others things I want to have them under my business name and offer clients a full package.
“As I said before, I plan my own events and I bring different ideas to Barbados so I’m going to do it. It is hard because as a first-timer you don’t get too many people interested in what you’re doing but I believe that as time goes on and more people attend my events, more people, both sponsors and patrons, will,” she said confidently.
A member of the Women’s Entrepreneurs of Barbados, she also participates in events such as Agrofest and the annual festivals. (GBM)
