Gemma at The White Emporium is the ultimate girl boss! Not only does she style the most beautiful weddings and events she has just started creating gorgeous dried floral bouquets to keep those creative juices flowing during lockdown!
Shop more of Gemma's beautiful florals via the links at the bottom of the page and don't forget to join our Girl Boss Directory Online Market on 21st - 22nd November for more beautiful handmade, girl boss goodness. Follow the links below to join:
Tell us about yourself, what do you do and how do you do it? Hi my name is Gemma and I am the Girl Boss behind The White Emporium. I am predominantly a venue stylist and visual story teller. Covid hasn't been kind to my business so I have returned to my creative passions and love. Dried flower have always filled my house, I love how even though technically dead they continue to have so much character, so now I create unique bouquets and hoops, with no two alike, a lot of the flowers are dried by myself or sourced from UK growers. Over the years I have grown my calligraphy skills and I have so much love for the personalised Christmas baubles that have kept me busy writing in the evenings. My passion projects have become my new revenue stream, when your back is against the wall you have no choice but to get creative with your thinking.
Image: Nikki's Moments Photography.
What inspired you to start your own business? I wanted to be my own boss, I was fed up of answering to people I didn't agree with. I have always been creative and bringing designs to life has always been a passion of mine. We were also faced with some tough choices to make as a family, I was working a job that was exhausting me, mentally and physically. One day I had enough and the vision of growing my own business began. What is the best bit about being your own boss? If I don't want to work today I don't have to. It is the freedom and flexibility that has always appealed to me. I don't have to answer to anyone apart from myself, the business is based on my morals and ethos, I support charities of my choosing and work with businesses that follow the same ideals.
Image: Love and Life Studio
What challenges do you face with having your own business? Never being able to switch off. It is a side to running a business I had never considered when I embarked on this journey. Most business owners will tell you the same, because your business is part of you it consumes you, it can be the last thing you think about at night and the first thin in the morning, that 1 email you want to send on your day off can turn into 2 hours work! Best piece of advice anyone ever gave you? Be yourself, your business is you and you are your business. You need to follow a path that is right for you. If it makes you happy do it, if it doesn't walk away.
Image: Love and Life Studio
Your favourite product from your collection? Definitely the dried flower hoops, no two can ever be the same, as you make them they constantly grow and evolve. Each one has it's own character and personality, my hands and eyes work in unison to bring the designs to life and I never really know what it is going to look like until it is finished. Your favourite small business? My fellow Girl Boss Nikkita Palmer Designs, her love for all things creative and her ability to source products is amazing. I also love Taliah Giles, her raw talent is phenomenal, there is something about her prints that I am addicted to, slowly building up the whole collection! Advice for other women looking to be their own girl boss? If you dream it do it, but be prepared for hard work. Being a Girl Boss is a life choice, you have to live and breath it.
Image: Love and Life Studio
Don't forget to join our Girl Boss Directory Online Market on both Instagram & Facebook on 21st & 22nd November: https://fb.me/e/4zojZsTlM https://www.instagram.com/thegirlbossdirectory/
Follow and shop more of The White Emporiums creations:
Website: https://www.thewhiteemporium.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhiteemporium/