A former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) decided to stay in the Philippines for good and started a flower shop instead. With the money she saved from working overseas, she can enjoy a good life without having to work abroad and leave her family behind. She advises aspiring florists to take the next step forward and pursue what they love. “To those who plan on starting their own flower shop, I suggest they go for it. This is a growing business with a lot of potentials. Everyone can be a great entrepreneur if they put their mind to it. You’ll never fail if you always believe in your passion,” she said.
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When Lovie Pascual returned to the Philippines in 2012, she never thought that she would finally stay for good. “My original plan was to have a vacation. But then I had the idea of opening my own flower shop out of the blue while I was staying here with my family. Suddenly, I found myself surfing the Internet and looking for a commercial space that I can lease,” Pascual cheerfully recalled.
The former head florist for Hessa bint Ali Al Khalifa–the wife of the incumbent prime minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain–now runs her own flower shop located at the Manila Flower Center (also known as Dangwa) in Sampaloc, Manila.
To start her own business, she used her savings when she was still working overseas. She was able to use it as a capital to kickstart her business.
The peak season of flower shops usually lasts from October to June, according to Pascual.
Financial losses are some of the challenges a flower shop owner has to endure, especially when the non-peak season starts to arrive. But the 50-year old florist assured that since the peak season usually lasts longer, the losses are automatically gained back before April’s end. “We Filipinos are used to sacrificing things to earn. When it comes to working hard, nothing will beat us,” she stated.
There’s no doubt that a flower shop is a promising business opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs. “There is certainly a market for flowers here in the Philippines. It’s always in demand since they can be bought and be given at any time, and more often, flower arrangements are a must in several personal occasions like birthdays, weddings, and family gatherings,” Pascual shared.
For this florist, client satisfaction and consistency in delivering quality services have played a crucial role in attaining her flower shop’s success.
