Hopman Flower Farms celebrates five years in business today. In this article, Lawrence Hopman, the firm's founder describes the feeling of building a start-up from nothing.
Lawrence Hopman
"It was terrifying initially, and a difficult first year. I never wanted to go through life wondering if it could have worked, having never taken a risk".
"I had an excellent mentor, the late Kent Stevens who was a Canadian floral industry veteran and a dear friend. He was a real cheerleader who helped me to navigate some pitfalls and kept me on focus at the start".
"Most importantly having a wise and supportive life partner was half the battle. She never doubted me and gave me the push I needed. Warren Buffett was right when he famously said: "You want to associate with people who are the kind of person you'd like to be. You'll move in that direction. And the most important person by far in that respect is your life partner. Marry the right person".
What they do
Hopman's is a manufacturer's repping agency that gets excited about helping mass market retailers buy flowers direct from farms. "That's right - no middleman here! Retailers purchase and ship straight from the farms. "Consider us your floral matchmakers!"
Teamwork
"Five years in, we have a smart and dedicated staff who execute sales plans and provide the support that we need to make our customers look good! Really, our ongoing success is due entirely to their hard work". One of the best things you can do in life and in business is to surround yourself with high grade people."
Thanks
"We want to thank all our floral category managers in the chain store world for continuing to buy from our farmers and giving us respect and support by acknowledging our pitches."
The good stuff
According to Lawrence, they rep all the good stuff – all florist & garden center products. "Fresh cut flowers, potted plants, dried floral decor, seeds, herbs, packaged bulbs, hard goods - you name it."
Quality
When it comes to quality, they don't mess around. Their partner growers are cream-of-the-crop, with sky-high standards and a deep understanding of retailers' expectations. " We inspect our farm operations regularly to make sure everything's tip-top".
Joy!
Their main goal? Spreading floral joy! Lawrence says: "We want to promote flowers as an everyday indulgence, not just a holiday treat. That means focusing on longevity and affordability - the stuff that keeps people coming back for more. We dream of seeing European style "flower love" blossom in North America!"
For more information:
Hopman Flower Farms reps
www.hopmanfarms.com