Julia Vorbeck
The Southern Editor
The popular flower shop, Bloom Shakalaka (Bloom), previously located in The Joinery, has now moved to downtown Lakeland. With fout years of community support and growing popularity, the shop has expanded to a new storefront alongside the local custom apparel business East of These.
When Laura Shannon, the owner of Bloom first created the idea of this company, she wanted to be able to create joy through flowers or, “joy with every bloom.” She took inspiration for her shop from a trip to San Diego where she saw a combined flower shop and coffee shop. With the success of small businesses in Lakeland, she believed that this idea would thrive in this environment.
“I had done flower arranging for my event planning clients and I had a lot of them asking for daily bloom-type things, whether that be for a birthday party or a small get-together,” Shannon said.
The decision to expand to a bigger space was driven by practical needs. With the past location, they lacked storage and wall space to display their products. Many customers assumed they were closed because of how they were presented in The Joinery. With the new location, they hope to achieve their full potential with their own dedicated space for their work.
“We’re going to be a lot more flower-focused and kind of hospitality-focused, hostess-focused with the gifts that we’re bringing to the new shop,” said Shannon. and then we’re partnering in the store, kind of creating a hybrid experience for people with East of These is the other shop that’s opening in the same building that we are and they have retail and gifts as well,” said Shannon.
The new space will enhance their capabilities and allow them to focus on their floral arrangements and preparing for events. Workshops are also available at their new location to teach the community how to arrange flowers or how to make a flower crown.
“We hope to create a space where people want to spend time with us and leave feeling inspired,” said Shannon
The partnership with East of These, will create a new experience for shoppers and generate more customers than they would previously have just having their own store.
“With this partnership, it is an easier way for us to make sure we’re able to focus on the floral side and we still have cards and bases and books and like floral clippers,” said Shannon.
With this new expansion, Bloom hopes to create a new commitment to their customers by bringing beauty and joy to the Lakeland community. Whether one are looks for a fun outing, looks for floral arrangements, or plans an event, Bloom is ready to bring them joy.
