Welcome to the story behind Bloom Shakalaka!
The Spark of Creativity
The adventure of Bloom Shakalaka began back in 2010 when Laura started Ashton Events, an event planning company. She loved solving problems and working closely with clients, but she soon found herself craving more creativity. While planning events, flowers quickly became a favorite part of the design process.
The Struggle with Floral Arrangements
Despite her passion for flowers she often noticed that the floral arrangements she saw at events often fell short of elevating the overall experience. She had a vision for bringing innovation and intention to the floral world, but she struggled to achieve it with the blooms available. Her curiosity grew.
Learning the Craft
Determined to turn her vision into reality, she reached out to a few renowned florists and started honing her skills. The more she practiced, the more she fell in love with floral design. Her confidence grew, and she began offering floral services for Ashton event clients. To her delight, the Lakeland community took notice. The funky and fresh flowers she created became a hit, and soon past clients and guests were asking specifically for her blooms.
A Tough Decision
It was an exciting time, but also a challenging one. She faced a big decision: should she continue focusing on event planning or dive fully into the floral side of the business? The idea of spreading joy through flowers felt more and more compelling. She kept waiting for a sign that Lakeland, Florida was ready for a new floral approach.
The Perfect Opportunity
Then, the opportunity she had been waiting for arrived. A local florist closed its doors, and a new food hall opened up, with a retail spot available. The timing felt perfect, and she decided to take the leap.
Naming the New Venture
Naming the new business was a fun adventure in itself. She wanted a name that captured the fun and creativity of our floral offerings. After brainstorming with friends over drinks, someone exclaimed, “Bloom Shakalaka!” and the name stuck.
Bloom Shakalaka Takes Root
Turns out, Lakeland, FL was ready for a fresh, funky florist. Our brand quickly grew, and in 2020, we opened Bloom Shakalaka as a brick-and-mortar shop in The Joinery. Laura is incredibly proud of the team we’ve built and the joy we spread with every bloom.
As our story continues to grow, we remain committed to our promise: to spread joy with every bloom. Thank you for joining us on this journey. We can’t wait to see what the future holds!
- Laura Ashton Shannon