Welcome to our monthly series Meet the Team, where we spotlight the extraordinary people that make Bayley & Sage so special. This month we’ve featured Vanessa, one of our talented florists in Marylebone. Read the full interview with Vanessa below.
1. How long have you been working at Bayley & Sage and what different roles have you held within the company? What is your role now?
I started working as a florist at Bayley & Sage in the summer of 2021 and have worked in both the Parkgate and Marylebone branches.
2. What’s your favourite thing about working at Bayley & Sage?
Of course, all the people I have had the pleasure to get to know and work alongside, but also the opportunity to express my creativity everyday. The range of fun and unusual flowers I get to work makes the job so much more enjoyable.
3. Who has inspired you the most throughout your career?
I met my biggest inspiration at the start of my journey, during my floristry course at Jane Packer Flowers. My teacher Akira was so passionate and precise and somehow also made the job look so effortless.
That being said, I have learned more by working alongside other florists than I have in my time studying floristry. Every florist comes up with their own unique methods of getting the job done and it’s so fun to get to share that with each other.
4. Have you always worked in this industry? If not, what other types of roles have you held?
I actually have a degree in Graphic Design and worked in the industry for some time. At some point, I realised that I honestly just did not enjoy working at a desk, which led me to try to find a hands-on way to express my creativity. However, I think my background has helped me become a better florist in more ways than I thought it would.
5. What’s the best advice you could give someone who’s just starting out in their career?
Create as much as you can! And surround yourself with as much inspiration and likeminded people as you possibly can.
6. What are some of the accomplishments you’re most proud of?
Being a solo florist for my best friend’s wedding last summer was the biggest project I have ever taken on. It was a lot of work, but it also showed me how far I’ve come since becoming a florist in the first place and how much my skills improved.
7. What are you most looking forward to this year, both personally and professionally?
To be completely honest, right now I’m just excited for it to get warm and sunny again.
8. If you could only eat one thing from Bayley & Sage for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Since the first time I tried them, it had always been the gluten free brownies.
9. How do you spend your time when you’re not at Bayley & Sage?
I’m happiest when I’m either out in nature or around loud live music.
10. What’s one interesting fact that we might not know about you?
I have a hairless cat called Kevin!