Meet Mel Frontino: Owner and Head Flower Chick at The Flower Social

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mel Frontino and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mel, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
Owning my own business has taught me not to be afraid to step into something you are curious about! I simply loved flowers as a hobby and wasn’t super clear on what I wanted to create within the space of floral design, but as I stepped into doing what I loved the more the ideas came flowing and the business was born!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Don’t be afraid to start! I often see new business owners get caught up in the small details to launch their brands or businesses. Even things like branding and website (which feel like such a big deal I know) can really derail your forward momentum. People wait to be perfect. I am here to share, that business concepts and brands shift and change as they grow and that’s okay. My business concept wasn’t what it is today when it was in its infancy. I even had a different business name entirely! But had I not gone through with pushing the first business concept forward I might not have uncovered this (more profitable and more exciting) business venture!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Austin and even as a resident my favorite area of town to visit is South Congress Street. There are so many fun restaurants and shops, plus everything is walkable. If you are into cocktails, my favorite spot is called the Milonga Room. It is located underneath Buenos Aires Cafe on the East side of Austin and is a tiny but wonderful spot. The cocktails are unique and the decor is moody and romantic. There are even rumors of a ghost that hangs out on the property! Spooky! They do require a reservation and they even give you a code to enter to make it even more fun!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Encouragement is key when you are starting and running a business! Not everyone is going to understand what you are doing or why you are doing it. Find a few trusted people you can rely on to encourage you through the process. For me, it was a dear friend and my parents. They were always there to support me emotionally when I was doubting myself or the business.

Website: www.theflowersoicalaustin.com
Instagram: theflowersoicalatx
Facebook: theflowersoicalatx
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-flower-social-austin
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCopYwvFZdafryrooWAf9gfQ