Chrysanthemums, Peonies or Roses? Fresh or dried? In a world of blooms, the choices are endless and flowers have a way to speak for any and every occasion, be it weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, memorials or other events. If you find yourself anticipating any such events, you probably would want to engage the service of someone who understands your vision. Won’t you? Well, today, we bring to you a very promising florist, Miss Asenla Longchar, who solely owns the floral house blooms_on_10th.
Here’s all you need to know about this pretty florist in town who has a Bachelor’s degree in Travel and Tourism and Journalism from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, and is a full time florist now.
MTimes: Hello, Asen! Nice to have you with us. Can you give us a short description about yourself?
Asen: Hi, it’s a pleasure to be here.I was born and brought up in Mokokchung and currently I reside in Salangtem Ward. Being the middle child in the family of four siblings, I grew up to be very independent and always felt the need to shoulder responsibilities. I did my studies outside the state and was exposed to the art of entrepreneurship and the novel value of self-reliance. In retrospect, this particular exposure gave me the impetus to branch off and eventually let to the inception of blooms_on_10th.
MTimes: Walk us through how Blooms_on_10th started. What’s behind the name?
Asen: Well, to begin with, the passion was always there. However, I was always apprehensive of starting or venturing into the business as I had no prior experiences or ideas to go about. After much contemplation, I reached out to a dear friend who had prior experience and knowledge about the business. She provided a lot of insight and eventually, I took the step!
And about the name, well, since I started this business in October, which is the 10th month of the calendar year, hence Blooms_on_10th.
MTimes: Why did you choose to be a florist?
Asen: I am still starting and finding my way around but I think it’s more like the profession and business found me. I share the love for flowers with my parents and they were the ones that got me into the whole thing initially. I’ve been helping them with flower arrangements and decorations for a good junk of my life, so I thought, why not? The idea of working while also being able to do something I love drew me.
MTimes: How will you describe your floristry style?
Asen: If I have to define my floristry style, it would be probably somewhere along the lines of modern, romantic, cantor and taste for those that are a little wild at heart.
MTimes: Where do you source your flowers from?
Asen: In and around Nagaland and also from outside the state as well.
MTimes: Do you also provide other décor elements and services apart from flowers? If you do, can you mention them?
Asen: Currently,I am just focusing on flowers but soon I am also planning to venture out and bring in other services as well apart from flowers.
MTimes: How do you price your bouquets and other arrangements?
Asen: Since I generally source the flowers from different places, I have to take into consideration that there are a lot of logistics involved. So, while pricing, If actor in the cost of sourcing, logistics, packaging materials and miscellaneous expenses as well.
MTimes: How has the market responded to your business so far?
Asen: It’s been only a few months since the establishment of Blooms_on_10th but the responses have been delightful. My customers have been so kind and supportive.
MTimes: Do you deliver your products outside of Mokokchung and Nagaland as well?
Asen: Yes, I do deliver outside of Mokokchung. I have delivered bulk orders in and around the state and have also sent out dried flower collections outside Nagaland as well. I am hoping to add more variations in the days to come so that it reaches out to PAN India.
MTimes: What part of running your business do you struggle with the most? And what’s the most enjoyable thing about being a florist?
Asen: I am still trying to navigate my way around the whole business and the technicalities associated with it. One major problem will be the broken link in the supply chain that causes disturbances in the whole process, often leading to delay of supplies and sometimes having to compromise on the quality of flowers delivered. Nonetheless, I have been loving every aspect of this venture so far. At the end of the day, gratification from customers makes up for all the inconveniences.
MTimes: What methods do you apply to keep fresh-cut flowers last longer and to preserve flowers?
Asen: When I get the fresh flowers, I make sure to give the end of the stem a snip diagonally under running water, using clean sharp flower shears or scissors. This opens their drinking straw and allows them to take in fresh water. I change the water daily and re-snip the stems and keep the flowers in a cool place.
I stick with the classic technique to preserve the flowers. Simply hang the flowers upside down, as the air wicks moisture away from the blooms, they gradually dehydrate. It takes up to three weeks for perfect results.
MTimes: Recently, there is a floral trend you are likely to see everywhere: dried flowers and grasses. They’ve become a must-have for every kind of floral arrangements. What according to you could be the reason for the spike in popularity of the dried blooms?
Asen: There are many reasons to consider investing in a bunch of dried blooms. One reason is due to their longevity. If taken proper care of, dried flowers can last for many years. They are also relatively cheaper, accessible all throughout the year and of course very pleasing to the eye.
MTimes: From your experience, can you share what skills one need to be a successful florist?
Asen: According to my experience, one of the most important skills required for a florist, or someone like me who is still in the learning process, is the need to know the genesis of the flowers, their significances, how to arrange the flowers and to take care of them as well.
MTimes: Any message for those aspiring to be a florist?
Asen: To people aspiring to be a florist or venturing out into this business, one needs to sort out the supply chain first. Trust in your creativity and gut. Keep practicing and evolving. Sell your flowers in a way you’d love to be gifted. Also be mindful of pricing your products. Being a florist is a form of art, never devaluate your art.
The next time you want to celebrate someone or something, express your feelings or convey your sorrow at the loss of a loved one, you have blooms_on_10th to create and communicate your message with flowers. Offering both self-pickups and delivery services, this floral house is all you need to have your floral dreams come to life. Reach out through its Instagram page @blooms_on_10th.