Today we’d like to introduce you to Jade Rocca.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jade. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I found flowers in a very unconventional way. I had no idea I would become a florist! After a very traumatic break-up from an abusive relationship with my ex-fiance, I eventually enrolled myself into an Intensive Outpatient Program. I spent 11 months at the McAllister North Central Women’s Recovery Center, healing my wounds and getting clean off the drugs I had used to numb my pain. And while getting sober, I started buying myself a bouquet of flowers once a week. It didn’t matter if I was having a great week or a terrible one.
I would get these flowers, go back to my apartment, make an arrangement, and display them in the most visible part of my home. Flowers quickly became my light at the end of this very long tunnel of recovery. They began to be such a profound symbol of strength, beauty and growth. During this extremely lonely and difficult year, flowers made me realize that I too had a stem and a foundation to strengthen, that I too was growing out of the dirt, and that one day I would bloom and blossom as well.
Months went by and I threw my best friend a surprise Baby Shower. I made about ten floral arrangements for the event and I knew I had found my “thing”. I absolutely loved it. I got lost in the work for hours (which had never happened to me before). That was September 30, 2018. On October 1, Mindful Magnolia was born.
In the fall of last year, I was able to secure a few corporate accounts for Holiday Wreaths. This really helped me get my business off the ground and was actually my first paid job in the business. I created my Instagram account and started making as many Wreaths as I could. I was still in treatment at this time. When I graduated from my Recovery Program in early January, I wanted to get involved with the Wedding Industry asap. I was at every Bridal Show and Bazaar you could imagine. I went to every networking event I could find and really tried to get my name and face in front of people. I started doing Holiday pop-ups, styled shoots with other wedding industry vendors and started to build a portfolio.
I got my first wedding in late January, and the train hasn’t stopped since. I now have booked 17 weddings in this first year and I am so extremely grateful!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In the beginning, I struggled with confidence in going back into work. I had not been working for months before starting my business and I was nervous about how I would get back into the swing of things. Another struggle was obviously starting as a small fish in a highly-saturated pond of San Diego’s wedding Industry. But, I did my research on local industry leaders, made a list of who I wanted to introduce myself to and went after it.
Finances are always a struggle with a starting new business, let alone for a very broke, freshly sober woman coming off Welfare! Money was tight, but somehow I always made it work.
On one hand, it has been difficult, as any new endeavor will be. However, on the other hand, it has been the greatest gift of my life and so so so much fun!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Mindful Magnolia – what should we know?
Mindful Magnolia is now a full-service floral design Company. We specialize in Wedding Florals, Personal Deliveries and Corporate Wellness Workshops.
I am most proud of what Mindful Magnolia symbolizes. A flower can represent so much more than being a pretty plant. We all have struggles, trauma, pain and we all need growth. Through the symbolism of strength, beauty and growth, I want to show my community that they are not alone and that they too can bloom forward.
What sets me apart from others is not only my genuine caring nature for my clients, but it’s the profound respect I have for the flowers themselves.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think the most important characteristics to success are purpose and determination. If you find something you know you’re meant to do, and that can help others, there is nothing in the world that can stand in your way!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.themindfulmagnolia.com
- Phone: 6193855201
- Email: jade@themindfulmagnolia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themindfulmagnolia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themindfulmagnolia/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mindful-magnolia-san-diego
Image Credit:
Captured By Martina
Amira Gray Photography
Maddie Broderick
Gosshermeyer Photography
Kari Martinez Photography
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