Meet Denie Jacobson | Entrepreneur

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

Hi Denie, what makes you happy? Why?
Making people happy, makes me happy.

That was the entire inspiration behind my business. I worked in a traditional flower shop for around 7 years and one of my favorite parts was the moment of the customer receiving flowers when I was delivering. That feeling of surprise & thoughtfulness behind the delivery brings the customers so much joy in that moment.

I wanted to create a business around that moment. So with the flower truck, we are able to pop up in different locations and bring that sense of surprise and joy of creating a bouquet for a loved one that sparks true happiness in each customer. And THAT makes me happy!

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?
I own a flower truck in Omaha, Nebraska, The Kindling Company Flower Truck. My background in floral design started when I was 14, it was my first “real” job and I loved it right away. I worked in my small-town shop through high school and would come back in the summers in college, then went into marketing post-grad. I always had the itch to go back to flowers but never believed it could be my full-time gig. In 2022, I finally made the leap to start the flower truck!

Omaha hadn’t really been tapped with the pop-up flower scene so I knew I had an advantage in some ways but also have had to learn a lot about what works logistically and business while. Of course, you go into it thinking you’re going to do one thing and do a complete 180 to another, and that’s exactly what I did. I started by pre-making bouquets and selling them at markets, small business pop-ups, etc. One day I put out 6 vases of flowers and called it a flower bar, and they sold before any of the pre-made bouquets did.

That’s when I realized, people liked the experience of the truck. From that point on I leaned into being an experience-style flower shop, but on the go! We now pop up with our Flower Truck, with ONLY flower bars for customers to build their own bouquets. We service private events for anything from corporate companies, universities, and hospitals to birthday parties, showers, book clubs, etc.!

I’ve learned a lot about being adaptable, setting boundaries, and being open-minded. I easily become a yes person, but I’ve realized it’s better for all parties when better boundaries are set! (Haha) No matter what industry you’re in, being adaptable I believe is one of the best things you can do for yourself to overcome challenges with a positive mindset.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Omaha is full of fun spots, I love our little city! There are a lot of great neighborhoods, so it’s hard to narrow down but I would start Downtown. Grab a coffee at Hardy or the Godega, and take a walk through the new Riverfront development! It’s a beautiful park with multiple spots to explore and enjoy. There are also some fun shops downtown, one of my favs is Great Plains VTG for the best street-style vintage finds. They also have great spots for happy hour and dinner, some of my favs are La Buvette & Nicolas! Downtown is a great mix of old Omaha and new businesses and concepts, lots to see and do!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I will always thank the community for supporting my business! Without all of my customers and even individuals who don’t necessarily buy anything but say “What a great idea!” or “How cute!”, or like, follow, share our business, I would not be able to do what I love. Those might seem like small moments to them but it’s a dream come true to me! Omaha and the surrounding area have shown so much love and support to my business and it’s not a concept that was done in the area before, so having that support and trust means so much to me.

I’m a big family gal, so obviously my family and friends who always have and will encourage me and show me grace when I’m busy, will always be fuel to keep me going during the highs and lows.

Website: https://kindlingcompany.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/flowertruckomaha

Facebook: https://facebook.com/thekindlingcotruck

Image Credits
First photo – Anna Mantini
All other photos – Addie Mortensen