Fate may well have played a hand in the forming of Foliage by
Flora Inc. "With the name Flora Green, I was destined to love
plants," acknowledges the 50-year-old founder of the
Miami-based interior/exterior landscape design and holiday
decorations firm.
"Flora is our charmer," chimes in partner Jo Gillman,
52, describing the woman whose company she joined one year into
operations. "She is the best public relations person anybody
could want."
Actually, both Green and Gillman know a thing or two about
charm--and, not incidentally, about growing a business. Together,
the two have been selected as our grand prize winners for
Entrepreneurial Woman Small-Business Owners of the Year.
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"Jo and I just screamed and jumped up and down [when we
found out we'd won]," laughs Green. "We were like two
little kids."
Flash back to 1975, when a recently divorced Green decided to
turn her passion for plants into a means of supporting herself and
her 4-year-old son. "I only knew how to be a mother and a
wife," she reflects. "That was about it."
That was the foundation for Foliage by Flora, nonetheless. With
a mere $200, a green thumb and the encouragement of friends, Green
pursued her entrepreneurial dreams. "When I first started, it
was a one-lady operation," she explains. "I wore numerous
hats, but I have to say I was never afraid. I enjoyed it."
When it was no longer practical to store plants in her
apartment, Green moved her business inventory into pal
Gillman's home. Gillman began to keep Foliage by Flora's
books and, gradually, the two friends evolved into business
partners. They've been going strong ever since, carefully
nurturing a business that is healthy enough to have necessitated
bigger and bigger warehouse facilities--and strong enough to have
survived the damage to its offices by Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
"This business has given me an opportunity to grow as a
person," says Gillman, who projects Foliage by Flora will
exceed $3 million in sales this year. "I had good people
skills before, but I've got excellent ones now."
Green and Gillman give as good as they get: Their "Recycled
Plants for Charity" program distributes thousands of dollars
worth of "used" plants to local nonprofit groups every
year. "It's basically a payback to our community,"
says Green. "They have helped us get where we are today . . .
and we know the monies are going to a very good cause."
With some 500 clients--mostly commercial--Foliage by Flora has
blossomed into a company in which both Green and Gillman can take
great pride. Destiny, indeed.
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