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Hey There, CEO!

You know those stories that stop you in your tracks? The ones that make you think, “How did no one come up with this sooner?” Well, let me introduce you to one of those stories.

As a wedding florist, you’ve probably experienced the headaches of managing floral orders, turning away leads that don’t meet your minimum, or struggling during the off-season. Enter Cameron Hardesty, the founder of Poppy – a business that’s completely flipping the wedding floral industry.

In this episode of the Wedding Pro CEO Podcast, I sat down with Cameron to get all the juicy details on how she’s managed to scale Poppy into a multi-million-dollar business while empowering florists and providing couples with affordable, gorgeous wedding flowers.

Buckle up because this is about to change the way you look at wedding florals.

1. Poppy is NOT Your Typical Online Floral Service

Cameron didn’t just dream up Poppy overnight. Her journey began when she saw florals at the White House during her time in communications. She recalls:

“I Googled the White House floral designer, emailed her, and the next thing I knew, I was in the White House flower shop doing arrangements!”

From there, she worked at Urban Stems and recognized the gap in wedding flowers – couples wanted convenience, and florists needed support.

2. Poppy is an Operating System for Florists

Cameron describes Poppy as:

“A tech and operating system for florists.”

Florists can freelance with Poppy to earn extra income without handling the administrative headaches. Poppy sends them all the materials – flowers, hard goods, and design instructions – and they simply deliver and install.

3. A Platform Built from Experience

When Cameron got married, she handled her own florals. Well, almost.

“I ordered two truck pallets worth of flowers and thought I could do it with one friend – spoiler, I needed five freelancers to help!”

That hands-on experience solidified her belief that florists needed a streamlined, scalable system – and thus, Poppy was born.

4. Poppy’s Sweet Spot – The Middle Market

Poppy isn’t targeting luxury brides who spend $25K+ on florals. Their sweet spot?

“Our couples are spending about $3,200 – they fall below most florist minimums but still want full-service flowers.”

It’s above DIY but below luxury pricing, which creates an untapped market florists typically ignore.

5. It’s Not About Stealing Leads – It’s About Sharing Them

One of my biggest questions to Cameron was, “Won’t this undercut local florists?” Her response?

“You don’t want these leads anyway! If your minimum is $10K and a couple can only spend $3K, why not pass them to us and still make 10%?”

Poppy’s Partner Network allows florists to earn commission by referring smaller leads they would’ve turned away.

6. Wedding Florists Love Poppy for Three Key Reasons

1. Established Shops with Staff and Overhead

“They want to keep their team busy and maximize leads. Poppy fills the gaps without extra admin work.”

2. New Florists Looking to Build Their Portfolio

“It’s a great way for newer florists to get experience, build venue relationships, and grow.”

3. Burnt-Out Florists Scaling Back

“Florists who’ve hit their stride but want less pressure love freelancing with us – they stay connected to the industry without the stress.”

7. Poppy Partners with Planners Too

Planners – this isn’t just for florists.

Poppy’s Partner Network allows planners to refer couples and earn 10% when they book with Poppy.

8. Poppy is in 82 Cities – And Growing

From Washington D.C. and New York to L.A. and Austin, Poppy is expanding rapidly.

“Our top markets include Dallas, Houston, Chicago, and San Francisco. But honestly, we’re popping up everywhere couples need affordable flowers.”

FAQs About Poppy

1. Can florists use photos of Poppy weddings for their portfolios?

Yes! Florists can showcase their designs but must tag Poppy as the source, keeping it a collaborative effort.

2. How do florists join Poppy?

Florists apply online, submit their portfolio, and go through a hands-on design test.

3. Can planners join the Poppy Partner Network?

Absolutely! Planners can refer clients and earn a commission on booked weddings.

4. Does Poppy focus on luxury weddings?

No. Poppy’s target couples typically spend between $2K-$6K, below traditional florist minimums.

5. Is Poppy available everywhere?

Poppy currently operates in 82 cities across the U.S. and continues to expand.

Follow Poppy on Instagram

Visit Poppy’s Website

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💌For business inquiries: sayhello@weddingproceo.com