Meet Shelby Horton | Owner of Roanoke Florist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shelby Horton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shelby, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Balancing has been the hardest skill I’ve had to learn. It’s hard to not open my laptop and respond to an email while I’m with my family. I’m learning that even though my personal life and business life can coexist they also have to be separate to some degree. That’s just hard to master when you work is your passion.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Roanoke Florist itself has been a business for over thirty years. It was originally owned from a family I grew up with and when the time came for them to retire I took it over at 23. When you take on a reputable business that already has so much history it’s intimidating because you want to keep that alive. I’ve been trying to rebrand it while also keeping its originality which has been a challenge. To own a business is one thing but to own it as such a young woman is another. It’s brought forth it’s own challenges. I’m still a newbie when it comes to being a business owner so I still have lots to learn. But what I’ve learned in the time I’ve been in this role is that you definitely can’t do everything by yourself. Who you have helping you is essential.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Downtown Roanoke, which is where we’re located, is always the spot I recommend. It’s buzzing with other small business and also larger well-known chains. The sense of community is unmatched. We always do our best to support each other. There’s always events happening here and plenty of restaurants to eat at.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My village deserves as much recognition as I do. From the employees on the front lines with me to my family behind the scenes helping me, I could not be doing this without them. One of the perks of being a small business is you know your employees on such a personal level. They’re more than just employees they are definitely my right hand. My family has to play both roles sometimes. Whether I need a delivery driver or an extra hand they’re always there to help.

Website: Www.roanokefloristevents.com

Instagram: Roanokeflorist

Facebook: Roanoke Florist

Image Credits
Camie Bolin @ xoyourstrulyphotography