Life and Work with Sabia Magurn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sabia Magurn.

Sabia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
2016 was a big, busy year for me. I graduated from Montana State University in May with a degree in Fine Art and then my husband and I got married in July. My husband decided to switch careers which threw a huge wrench in our plans, and we picked up and moved to Denver. We moved December 6th and I finalized the purchase of the Painted Primrose on December 12th. I was 22 years old; knew I was taking on a lot and really had no clue what I was doing. I was and still am surprised at what the past three years and beyond have had in store for me.

There had already been so much change for me in 2016, then I bought a flower shop. And at the time, I knew nothing about flowers! But I could tell that the business was primed to explode and I believed that I had the creative ability and the selling personality needed to take the business to the next level.

The Painted Primrose was started in 2001 by Sarah Cioni, a well known and talented woman in Niwot, Colorado. When I purchased the business from her, she had created this amazing retail shop and secured a great contract with a local venue designing wedding flowers for couples getting married. The wedding flowers had started out as a side gig but was quickly becoming the bread and butter of the business.

I quickly learned that I was really, REALLY bad at retail, but I loved talking with couples and using my design background to bring their wedding flowers to life. I turned the Painted Primrose into a wedding floral studio and haven’t looked back since!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
If anyone ever tells you that being a small business owner is easy, or that every day is the best day ever because they love their work – they’re lying.

I do love my work and my heart is so full knowing I’ve helped make hundreds of couples’ wedding flower dreams come true. I am incredibly proud of how far my business has come and I’m excited about where it’s headed, but it has been a ton of hard work and there have been downright defeating days.

One of the two key things I’ve learned is that owning a business is time-consuming and emotionally, mentally, and in my particular case, physically hard work. Creating a successful business doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen after putting in 10+ hour days day after day, week after week, month after month.

The second key to my success has been unending optimism. Bad days are part of life, and you never know when that unhappy or difficult client, unexpected bill, or failure is coming – but it is coming one day! It has been so important for me to be able to pick myself up, dust off the horridness of the day, and jump right in the next thing that is going to keep the Painted Primrose in business.

My advice to young women, in particular, is that sometimes being young and female in business can be hard – people think you’re too young and too female to know what you’re doing! Put in the work, form solid business relationships with people who believe in you and you will soar beyond your wildest dreams. Starting young means you are going to be so much further down the road than if you start once someone else decides you’re ready. Sometimes you’ll walk into a meeting and be the only woman there and that’s ok. It is your smarts, strength, hard work, perseverance, and personal perspective that will make you successful and be an example that encourages more women to own and operate small businesses.

Please tell us about The Painted Primrose Co.
The Painted Primrose Co. is a floral studio specializing in wedding flowers. We design anything from bridal bouquets and boutonnieres to installation pieces such as large arches, ceiling flowers, and champagne walls.

As a business owner, I am incredibly proud of how much we’ve grown in the last three years and the amazingly talented team members we’ve added to the business.

As a designer, I love the fun and exciting work my couples dream up for me. I get all mushy and feel the most successful when a bride gets teary-eyed when she sees her bouquet or arch because she loves it so much.

We set ourselves apart by combining our expertise in design and flowers with our heartfelt desire to create the wedding flowers of YOUR dreams. Not what Pinterest tells you you should want or what your mom thinks you should have, but what you want. We strive to make sure every client Painted Primrose has a fun, enjoyable experience working with us and are wowed by their flowers on the big day!

Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
I love to read, so I gobble up any and all books on business and floral design. I also really enjoy Barbara Corcoran’s podcast Business Unusual. I think it is critical to keep in touch with a what’s the cutting edge of your particular industry, so I am also constantly taking online classes from floral design leaders to make sure we are doing the best work in the best way possible.

I also have found great camaraderie and friendship in the business and wedding industry business groups I have joined. It’s a great way to meet new people that have similar struggles, get fresh insights, and get your business name out there!

Contact Info:

• Address: 1326 Sherman Drive
  Longmont, CO 80501
• Website: https://paintedprimrose.co/
• Phone: 720-280-8409
• Email: sabia@paintedprimrose.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paintedprimrose/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paintedprimrose/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/paintedprimrose/

Image Credit:
Christina Kiffney Photography, Cassie Rosch Photography, Lovesome Photography, Lauren Neely Photography, Brian Kwan Photography

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