Key takeaways

• Catherine Kondo Arkin successfully transitioned from working in film production to owning Upper Village Blooms flower shop in Croton on Hudson
• She comes from a multicultural background (Japanese father, Mexican mother) which influences her design aesthetic
• The flower shop focuses on serving the local community while maintaining a global design perspective
• Catherine emphasizes creating unique arrangements without using traditional fillers
• The business prioritizes retail operations over large events to maintain community focus
• Social media and word-of-mouth marketing have been key to business growth

Personal Background and Early Career

• Grew up in Los Angeles in a multicultural family
• Studied history and art history at UCLA
• Worked in film production in LA before moving to New York
• Transitioned to New York for a film production job in 1983

Transition to Entrepreneurship

• Started jewelry design after divorce while raising children
• Worked at local boutique in Croton selling her jewelry
• Took over the lease when the boutique closed in 2018
• Transformed the space into Upper Village Blooms despite limited floral experience

Floral Design Philosophy

• Emphasizes mixed varieties over single-flower arrangement
• Avoids traditional fillers like baby's breath and leather leaf ferns
• Promotes appreciation for undervalued flowers like carnation
• Offers different design styles including modern, tropical, and Japanese-inspired

Business Strategy

• Focuses on retail operations over large events
• Maintains independence from order gatherers like FTD
• Collaborates with local photographer Jill Pace for social media
• Aims to expand male customer base
• Develop strategies to attract more male customers
• Continue maintaining retail focus while selectively accepting events that fit schedule
• Continue building community relationships
• Maintain independence from traditional flower delivery networks

Advice to women seeking a change

• Sometimes, you are forced to make a change. You need to own it to get over the fence and move forward. The power of speaking about what you want and manifesting it goes a long way.
• Be grateful for the opportunity to change your life. It's a privilege.

To learn more about Jean and the Be Joyful podcast visit www.bejoyful.love.