Find out more about Magdalena’s pathway to working for herself with Blumen-Manufaktur
Every journey towards working for yourself is as different as the ideas that drive it and the people who make it happen. Magdalena talked to us about the challenges she faced and her achievements.
Can you give us a brief introduction to yourself and Blumen-Manufaktur?
Sure! I already started working for myself part-time in 2019, but at that time I hadn’t yet registered my sole proprietorship. I started Blumen-Manufaktur to develop concepts on a made-to-order basis for decorating, weddings, corporate events, hotels, restaurants and so on. I then bring them to life in my workshop.
What prompted you to start your own business?
I did an apprenticeship to train as a florist and also worked in the profession as an employee for a while – during that time, I mainly dealt with small orders from individuals. I stopped doing that after a while and worked in horticulture and vegetable growing, among other things.
But I quickly started missing working creatively with flowers and colours – at the same time, though, I didn’t want to go back to a job where I couldn’t choose orders myself.
I realised that I could fill a niche in floral design for events thanks to my gift for choosing harmonious colours. Talking to my clients helps me get to know them, to sense what exactly they’re looking for and, at the same time, to contribute my own ideas and experience. Ultimately, I’m responsible for everything I do, and that’s something I really like!
You’re still working a part-time job 60% of the time. How do you combine that with your self-employed business?
I already had this permanent job before I became self-employed, which gave me the opportunity to gauge whether working for myself on the side was going to work. I can plan my projects pretty freely, and the permanent job gives me a degree of security, of course.
What do you like most about being self-employed and what are the challenges you are faced with?
I love that I can explore my creativity and plan my work independently. I learn a lot and have become much more self-confident! When I think about it, I’ve been able to turn my hobby into a job.
Achieving a healthy work-life balance is much more difficult. It’s vital to establish clear structures there and to be efficient – otherwise you risk losing yourself in your work.
What advice do you have for other founders of new businesses?
Seek support right from the start. It doesn’t matter if it’s your family or Foundera (laughs). You’re never going to be able to think of everything yourself. Find a way to give self-employment a try, otherwise you might regret it later. Eventually, you just have to take the plunge and see what happens.
Many thanks for sharing your experiences and tips. We wish you every success in the future. And you know where we are if you have any questions!
Thank you, too!
https://www.blumen-manufaktur.ch/
