Florist Forever

In this episode, Mike Mannino Sr. chats with JP Varvarigos, a third-generation florist and the owner of Wellington Florist in South Florida. JP shares his deep-rooted family history in the floral industry, starting from post-WWII New York to his own expansion in Palm Beach County today.

He opens up about his transition from the restaurant world to running a high-growth flower shop, the evolution of consumer flower buying habits, and how local florists can still thrive despite the rise of big box stores and drop shippers.

From learning business skills in culinary school to managing creative floral designs and employee dynamics, JP discusses how he's grown the shop over 1,000%—and the unique challenges that come with scaling a team. He also explains the power of networking, ongoing learning, and the vision behind his new boutique satellite shop model.

 

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