For 11-year-old Hattie Bennett, her business is blooming. She started Hattie Lou Blooms last year. She uses flowers from her Franklin backyard to create fresh, hand-picked flower arrangements.
“We were looking for something we already had, and my mom plants a ton of flowers,” Hattie said. “We had so many, so we thought we could sell flowers.”
“After Mother’s Day last year when we sold out, we went and bought all of the annual seeds we could find,” said Hattie’s mom Kailee. “It’s been a wild adventure and it just sort of rolled from there. We grew zinnias and cosmos and sunflowers.”
Each arrangement comes in a jar or vase, ready to be gifted or enjoyed in your home.
This spring, Hattie and Kailee planted a wide variety of seeds. Through their Facebook page, Hattie Lou Blooms, the mother-daughter duo shares updates on what they’re growing, their progress, and where you can purchase their blooming beauties.
“I really like meeting new people, doing farmers markets and getting to see new places,” Hattie said. “I like seeing all the things that wouldn’t have happened if we didn’t start the business. We’ve had weddings and wedding showers ask for our flowers.”
Hattie Lou Blooms has allowed Hattie to partner with local businesses like Millie’s Ice Cream Co., The Grove – Botany Boutique, and Farm Girl Mercantile in Franklin. Hattie has a pop-up scheduled for July at Grafton Peek Mercantile in Greenwood. This year you can find Hattie Lou Blooms at farmers markets and the Bargersville Kids Market.
When’s she not in school or running her business, Hattie plays volleyball and enjoys being an older sister. Through her business, she’s been able to spend more time with her mom.
“If we do anything, most of the time it’s the whole family,” Hattie said. “I feel like [Hattie Lou Blooms] has given us more time to be with each other one on one.”
Twenty percent of Hattie Lou Blooms proceeds goes to local charities. Hattie and Kailee save those funds until the total reaches $100 and then make a donation. So far, organizations like Franklin Community Schools, the Imagination Library of Johnson County and Riley Hospital for Children have received their thoughtful donations.
“I think it’s important to give back because if you’re just keeping all the money for your business, I feel like people aren’t going to want to buy from you because you’re not doing anything for others,” Hattie said. “It really makes me happy to see people happy to see us giving back and selling flowers.”
“It was her idea to start with Riley and change it up to give $100 to different organizations,” Kailee said. “She’s heard of things at school; we bought hats, scarves and gloves for the corporation when they were building up their closet for the winter. We talk about how it’s not hard to find ways to spread kindness. Things pop up and we’re like, ‘OK, that will be our next organization.’”
New this year is Build-Your-Own-Bouquet parties. There’s also a summer subscription which enables Franklin-area customers to have weekly or biweekly flower arrangements delivered.
