Steven L. Webb, born in 1957 in Beckley, West Virginia, attended local schools until graduation. Steve attended West Virginia University and finished his degree in History and English at the University of Charleston.
After graduation, Steve mainly worked in family businesses and operated several nightclubs in the Beckley area until 1987, when he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, to find work. Working at a large Mexican restaurant chain in multiple cities and at various capacities all over the Midwest, he later decided to relocate to Charleston, WV.
In 1994, Steve was approached by a local businessman who was looking for a partner in his floral business that he had just purchased and agreed to meet him and review the business plan.
Steve offered to buy him out after reviewing his holdings in September of 1994 and purchased Snow Thornton Florists. He obtained Dias Floral Company in 1997 and operates them both presently. Steve trained at the Cincinnati School of Floral Design and has had several ongoing classes in design education.
Previously, he was the Director of Southern WV School of Floral Design, taught basic floral design for 10 years at the Academy of Careers and Technology, and was a part of the design committee for Beckley Main Street. He currently serves as the treasurer for South Central Educational development and previously co-chaired the state of WV community planning group, District 1.
SHOW NOTES:
- 3:07 Steve, take a minute, fill in some gaps from that brief intro and give us a little behind the curtain look into your business.
- 3:46 How did you come about buying your second floral company?
- 4:44 Can you tell us what it was like to buy an existing business?
- 5:59 What is your 30 sec. pitch for both of your companies?
- 6:41 What are you most excited about for both of your companies right now?
- 7:54 Can you tell us more about your training at the Cincinnati School of Floral Design?
- 8:33 What are the current trends in floral design?
- 9:44 What is the geographic market that you serve?
- 10:45 How many employees do you have?
- 11:15 What has been your best business moment so far?
- 11:52 What has been your worst business moment so far?
- 12:23 What was your take away from that experience?
- 12:49 PWV Commercial Break
- 13:16 What is the long term vision you have for your company?
- 14:01 Do you have a successor in mind for your business?
- 15:04 Do you have any advice or thoughts on purchasing a business from someone who is either retiring or has passed away?
- 15:54 How do you attract new customers?
- 16:28 What is one of the biggest challenges you’re facing right now?
- 17:45 What is one piece of advice that you’d give to young people who are thinking about starting their own business?
- 18:32 What is one thing that you do every day that you think contributes to your success?
- 19:08 What is one book or podcast that you’d recommend for aspiring entrepreneurs?
- 19:48 Have you always lived in West Virginia?
- 21:49 Is there anything else you’d like our listeners to know about your company or your story?
- 22:18 How can our listeners learn more about your company and perhaps even get in contact with you?
- 23:37 Outro
Website