Women’s Small Business Month Spotlight
Sometimes the most successful businesses begin with a simple act of healing.
For Lauren Youmans, founder of Gather & Bloom and Blooming with Lauren Floral Design, flowers became far more than beautiful arrangements. They became a path forward during one of the most challenging seasons of her life, eventually growing into a thriving business that now supports dozens of women-owned brands, employs a team of 20 people, and serves communities across Cherokee and Cobb counties.
As we celebrate Women’s Small Business Month this October, Lauren’s story is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship is often born from passion, perseverance, and the courage to pursue a dream.
Turning Adversity Into Opportunity
“I always dreamt of having a flower shop since I was a little girl,” Lauren shares.
In 2020, while working as a nurse practitioner, she found herself navigating significant personal challenges. During that season, she turned to floral design as a creative outlet and source of healing.
What began as arrangements sold through Facebook Marketplace and neighborhood groups quickly gained momentum. Encouraged by friends and family who recognized her talent, Lauren began taking on more floral projects, including her first wedding, her brother’s.
From there, the business blossomed naturally.
What started as a side passion eventually became a full-time entrepreneurial venture, proving that some of the most meaningful businesses emerge when purpose meets opportunity.
Building More Than a Flower Shop
When Lauren first envisioned her business, floral design was the primary focus.
Today, Gather & Bloom has evolved into something much bigger.
“Our mainstay is flowers, but now, between the two shops, have thirty local women-owned businesses that we feature,” said Lauren. “We feature their products and they are also able to put on workshops and classes. It’s really become more of a community center.”
Lauren describes the heart of Gather & Bloom through what she calls the “Three Cs”:
- Creativity
- Connection
- Community
Those principles have transformed the business from a traditional flower shop into a vibrant hub where people come together to learn, create, and support one another.
“I think it’s become so much bigger than I ever dreamed of,” she says.
The Reality Behind Rapid Growth
While many people see the beautiful storefronts and flourishing business, Lauren is candid about the realities of entrepreneurship.
After opening the Woodstock location and receiving an overwhelming response from the community, she made the bold decision to open a second location in Acworth within the first year.
What followed was exciting, but also challenging.
Managing two storefronts, a wedding and event floral business, a team of 20 employees, and raising two young children required constant adaptation.
“It’s been a roller coaster,” Lauren admits. “A lot of twists and turns and ups and downs.”
Like many women entrepreneurs, she’s learned that business ownership isn’t about perfection. It’s about continuing to learn, grow, and lead through uncertainty.
Women Entrepreneurs Lead With Purpose
After working closely with dozens of female business owners, Lauren sees a common thread among successful women entrepreneurs.
“I think being driven by purpose and being driven by passion just keeps us as women going.”
Many of the makers featured in Gather & Bloom are mothers themselves. Lauren believes that balancing entrepreneurship and family creates a unique motivation to build something meaningful.
“As a mompreneur, I think knowing that you have little ones watching you really helps spur us on to set an example and just be a hard worker and be passionate,” said Lauren.
For many women-owned businesses, success isn’t measured solely by profit. It’s measured by impact, example, and legacy.
Achieving What Only Five Percent Do
One of Lauren’s proudest achievements came during her first full year operating Gather & Bloom.
The business surpassed $1 million in sales, a milestone that very few floral businesses ever achieve.
“I honestly didn’t even realize the gravity of that until I was at a Society of American Florists conference last week and was just sharing about my business and honestly was feeling imposter syndrome because I was in this space with all these people who’ve been in the industry for so long,” said Lauren.
But for Lauren, the milestone represented something much larger than revenue.
She views it as a reflection of the flower farmers, designers, retail partners, makers, and employees who contribute to the business every day.
“It’s a huge testament to our staff. It’s a huge testament to our makers, to our designers. It takes a village to run this kind of a business,” said Lauren. “I’m really proud of that – not just because of the financial aspect, but because of what it means for so many families. Our flower farmers, our people that I get to employ that love what they do, for our designers, for all the makers that we have in our stores. It’s a big win for everybody.”
That ripple effect is one of the reasons local entrepreneurship remains vital to thriving communities.
Giving Back Through Flowers
Perhaps the accomplishment Lauren is most passionate about isn’t financial at all.
For more than two years, Gather & Bloom has partnered with Bloom Work & Play to provide complimentary monthly floral workshops for young adults with special needs.
Each month, participants create floral arrangements at no cost, supported by proceeds from the business.
“It’s my favorite part of every month,” Lauren says.
The program embodies the spirit behind Women’s Small Business Month: using business as a force for positive impact and community connection.
The Power of Entrepreneurial Networks and Support
Like many successful entrepreneurs, Lauren didn’t build her business alone.
As Gather & Bloom evolved from a home-based floral business into a growing retail operation, Lauren sought opportunities to learn from other business owners and strengthen her entrepreneurial skills. That’s what led her to Startup Cherokee’s LaunchPad program and Fresh Start Mornings.
Ironically, the timing couldn’t have been better.
“The week LaunchPad started was the week Brian Stockton [Woodstock Office of Economic Development] reached out to me about this space [in Woodstock] and said, ‘Hey, this space became available. I think you’re ready to have your own storefront,'” Lauren recalls. “I was like a deer in headlights.”
The program arrived at a pivotal moment, helping her think more strategically about growth, customer experience, and differentiation.
At the time, there were already established flower shops in downtown Woodstock. Rather than competing directly, Lauren used lessons from LaunchPad to identify unmet needs in the market.
“It helped me think bigger,” she says. “I asked myself, ‘How can I be different? How can I meet a different audience that’s not being met right now?'”
That strategic thinking ultimately helped shape Gather & Bloom into far more than a floral shop. Today, customers visit for workshops, classes, community events, locally made products, and interactive floral experiences that set the business apart.
Lauren also presented her founder story and hosted a challenge discussion at Fresh Start Mornings.
“What I learned most from that experience was just being able to think outside of the box and pulling other people in to think outside of the box with you,” said Lauren. “It’s such a collaborative time of being able to ask questions.”
Lauren says one of the greatest lessons she gained wasn’t just about business planning. It was about the value of relationships.
“From LaunchPad and Fresh Start Mornings I learned the importance of putting yourself in front of other small business owners and developing relationships and partnerships,” she says. “How can we build together? How can we support each other?”
Those connections continue to fuel her business today. From fellow entrepreneurs and local makers to community leaders and economic development organizations, Lauren credits Cherokee County’s entrepreneurial ecosystem with helping Gather & Bloom thrive.
“We would not be where we are today without being poured into by our community, by our leaders, by LaunchPad, Fresh Start Mornings, HatchBridge Incubator, the Cherokee Chamber, and so many people who believed in us along the way.”
For Lauren, that’s what makes entrepreneurship in Cherokee County unique. Success is never just about one business. It’s about building a stronger network where entrepreneurs grow together.
What’s Next for Gather & Bloom?
While many entrepreneurs focus on expansion, Lauren is entering a different season.
Rather than rushing toward additional locations, she is focused on strengthening what already exists.
Future plans include:
- Growing wedding and event services
- Expanding luxury wedding offerings
- Hosting more community market events
- Supporting local makers and artists
- Deepening connections within Woodstock and Acworth
“I think especially being a mom, sometimes slowing down and really honing in on what you do well and growing that.”
It’s a lesson many entrepreneurs learn over time: sustainable growth often comes from refinement, not just expansion.
Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs Who Create Lasting Impact
Lauren Youmans’ entrepreneurial journey is a reflection of what Women’s Small Business Month is all about.
She identified an opportunity, embraced innovation, invested in her community, and leveraged entrepreneurial resources to build a business that creates opportunity for others. Today, Gather & Bloom supports local makers, employs a team of 20, partners with nonprofit organizations, and helps strengthen the small business ecosystem across Cherokee and Cobb Counties.
Her story is also a reminder that entrepreneurship doesn’t happen in isolation. Behind every growing business are mentors, community partners, support organizations, and fellow business owners willing to share ideas, encouragement, and experience.
As Lauren puts it, “When you’re supporting Gather & Bloom, you’re supporting so many people.”
That’s the power of small business.
And that’s why investing in entrepreneurs matters.
