Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Price.
Hi Michelle, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey in the floral industry began in 1995 when I started working in customer service at a local flower shop. Within six months, I discovered my passion for floral design and became a designer, later advancing to manager within a year. I eagerly attended classes and shows offered by local wholesale houses and the Michigan Floral Association to expand my skills and stay current with industry trends.
After eight wonderful years at that shop, I transitioned to managing a greenhouse and flower shop with a large inventory of gift items, where I honed both my design and retail management expertise over three years. From there, I became the Floral Director at an event center—a role that truly ignited my love for large-scale ballroom and event design. For five years, I lived and breathed event florals, creating memorable experiences for clients.
As my family grew, I made the decision to return to traditional retail floristry and joined Austin’s Flowers & Gifts as a floral designer. Four years later, I purchased the business and have proudly owned and operated it for the past nine years. Under my leadership, the shop and team have grown significantly, and we continue to focus on creativity, quality, and education.
I am deeply passionate about the floral industry and a firm believer in lifelong learning. My team and I regularly attend conventions,
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Owning a flower shop has not always been easy. When the economy takes a hit, flowers are often considered a luxury, and our industry is among the first to feel the impact. Adapting to change has been essential to keeping our business strong. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of evolving with customer needs and trends.
For example, we’ve expanded our offerings to include meaningful keepsakes for sympathy arrangements. Many clients express concern that flowers don’t last and want to provide families with something lasting to remember their loved one. To meet that need, we now offer a variety of keepsakes such as lanterns, wind chimes, and birdbaths. Every gift item we carry is designed to complement our floral designs—either as an addition to flowers or as a piece that can have flowers added to it. This approach gives our customers two ways to share love and comfort, while also helping our shop remain resilient and relevant through changing times.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I own a full-service flower shop, Austin’s Flowers & Gifts, where we are known for our excellent customer service, creative designs, and long-lasting arrangements. I’m proud to lead an amazing team of highly talented and dedicated designers who bring passion and personality to everything they create. Our team is warm, outgoing, and makes every client feel like family.
What truly sets us apart is our strong connection to our community. We believe in giving back and supporting local causes in meaningful ways. Each year, we donate the Queen’s Court flowers for the special-needs prom, help offset costs for our local high school’s homecoming and prom flowers, and contribute raffle baskets to local charities and school events. We also serve as a drop-off location for the Foster Families Navigation and Resource Center during their clothing, shoe, and school supply drives.
Our team has donated centerpieces for Power of the Purse—an event benefiting a local women’s center—and participated in walks and fundraisers for suicide prevention. One of our proudest initiatives is “Grab and Go for a Cause,” a program we developed in our shop where each team member selects a charity close to their heart. A portion of the sales from our grab-and-go bouquets during the campaign goes directly to those charities.
I believe our deep community involvement, genuine customer care, and the heart we put into every design are what truly set us apart from other shops.
What matters most to you?
Running a family-owned business has always been deeply important to me. From the beginning, I’ve wanted my staff to feel like part of a team—not just employees. Family comes first, and I strive to make sure everyone who works with me knows that.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked for many different employers with various rules and expectations. Over the years, I missed out on important moments with my own children because of work. When I bought Austin’s Flowers & Gifts, I made a promise to myself that my team members would never have to make that same sacrifice.
Because of that vision, I’ve built an incredible team. They’re dedicated, supportive, and always there when they’re needed. We rarely have call-ins, and our work environment is positive, uplifting, and filled with mutual respect. I truly believe that when people feel valued and supported, they give their very best—and that philosophy has become the heart of our business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.austinsflorist.com
- Instagram: austinsflorist
- Facebook: Austin’s Florist & Gifts
