Christina Stembel, CEO of Farmgirl Flowers, has faced many challenges during her 15 years running the flower company.
From the sudden closures during the COVID pandemic to supply chain problems and even her bank collapsing, she has learned to expect the unexpected in the floral world.
Recently, new tariffs on imported flowers have added another layer of difficulty. Many of Farmgirl’s bouquets include flowers from the U.S., South America, and Europe.
When tariffs raised costs by 10% to 25%, Christina and her team had to quickly rethink their flower sources and work closely with suppliers to keep bouquets affordable and beautiful.
Despite these hurdles, Christina remains calm and confident. She knows from experience that tough times can be overcome, even if it means making hard decisions like cutting costs or changing suppliers. Her optimism is rooted in resilience, built from years of adapting to surprises in the business.
Christina also shared a shift in her goals. While she once planned to sell Farmgirl Flowers after 10 or 15 years, she now sees herself leading the company for many more years. Instead of chasing big Silicon Valley-style growth, she’s focused on steady, sustainable success-like most small businesses.
Her story reminds gardeners and entrepreneurs alike that patience, flexibility, and a love for what you do can help your “garden” flourish, even when storms come. Just like tending flowers, running a business takes care, attention, and the ability to grow through challenges.
