Coming Soon: Catherine Condo Arkin
Key takeaways
Catherine Condo Arkin successfully transitioned from working in film production to owning Upper Village Blooms flower shop in Croton on Hudson
She comes from a multicultural background (Japanese father, Mexican mother) which influences her design aesthetic
The flower shop focuses on serving the local community while maintaining a global design perspective
Catherine emphasizes creating unique arrangements without using traditional fillers
The business prioritizes retail operations over large events to maintain community focus
Social media and word-of-mouth marketing have been key to business growth
Personal Background and Early Career
Grew up in Los Angeles in a multicultural family
Studied history and art history at UCLA
Worked in film production in LA before moving to New York
Transitioned to New York for a film production job in 1983
Transition to Entrepreneurship
Started jewelry design after divorce while raising children
Worked at local boutique in Croton selling her jewelry
Took over the lease when the boutique closed in 2018
Transformed the space into Upper Village Blooms despite limited floral experience
Floral Design Philosophy
Emphasizes mixed varieties over single-flower arrangement
Avoids traditional fillers like baby's breath and leather leaf ferns
Promotes appreciation for undervalued flowers like carnation
Offers different design styles including modern, tropical, and Japanese-inspired
Business Strategy
Focuses on retail operations over large events
Maintains independence from order gatherers like FTD
Collaborates with local photographer Jill Pace for social media
Aims to expand male customer base
Develop strategies to attract more male customers
Continue maintaining retail focus while selectively accepting events that fit schedule
Continue building community relationships
Maintain independence from traditional flower delivery networks
Advice to women seeking a change
Sometimes, you are forced to make a change. You need to own it to get over the fence and move forward. The power of speaking about what you want and manifesting it goes a long way.
Be grateful for the opportunity to change your life. It's a privilege.
