Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Van Guilder.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Alyssa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I spent my first decade of life in rural Alaska playing with rocks, mosses, lichen, and bark. I crafted what I thought to be little bits of magic out of found objects and as a result, learned early on that creating was my favorite thing to do!
The integral and essential notion of the importance of one’s community developed while watching my parents run a local cafe off the Denali Highway. Many of the people that worked there and the customers that came in and out were like family. There were potlucks, church gatherings, hunting trips, bonfires, and town parties that gave me the sense of belonging to something larger than what a single roofline could shelter. We are all so connected.
Fast-forward… In 2005 with two young children, I found myself at a crossroads and decided to take a leap into the dream and open a storefront that would bring together the things I believed in most.
Apotheca, which is Latin for storehouse or variety, would be filled with Inspired Objects- because we are never closer to our purpose than when acting with inspiration; fresh flowers and plants to remind us that life is fleeting and beautiful and must be nurtured; coffee and tea because for thousands of years, a cup of something delicious has been an invitation to sit down and BE–whether it is with yourself and your own thoughts, or together at a shared table… communities, fellowship, and growth are built around filled cups.
With the support of my amazing family, those early years were survived! Mom did the books and does to this day; my father and brothers were always helping with various crazy ideas, and most importantly our little New England town showed acceptance. In 2008 Apotheca moved into the Goffstown Train Station where my father, mother, and brothers helped transform it into a full-service coffee shop and a space to host events such as open mic nights and artist receptions.
I met the love of my life at the espresso bar, who then disappeared for a year before we were reunited again, but that’s another story… Today, Apotheca has an incredible team of creatives, we have served over 100,000 cups of coffee, 50,000 cups of Tea, 70,000 wraps of flowers, designed for over 500 weddings, and have been blessed with countless conversations with some of the most interesting people! We are continuously grateful to our customers and friends that support and encourage us every day.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Learning what to say yes to and what to say no to has been a struggle. I am a YES person and firmly believe that when you show up good things happen. I learned over time, however, that balance is important —you have to say yes to the right things and not yes to everything.
Please tell us about Apotheca Flowers.
Our business is eclectic. We are very much a community hub where we celebrate creativity and collaboration. Upon visiting you’ll find a unique space that invites you in to share a cup of coffee while browsing our curated collection of gifts, art, plants and flowers. One surprising thing that developed about 5 years ago that now largely defines who we are is our Wedding Flower Designs.
Though weddings were not something I had originally thought of doing, our customers kept asking us to. Finally, we had to look at fully incorporating Wedding Floral Designs into our business plan. Weddings are something you cannot just sort-of do—you have to be all in because being part of one of the most important days of a person’s life can not be taken lightly.
I feel we have grown significantly and built a positive reputation in the industry because our approach so very personal. It is built around truly getting to know our clients and seeking ways to celebrate who they are as a couple. We view it as telling their love story through color, texture, and design.
I don’t really view luck as having played a role— at least not yet! From the beginning, I have been all in. I didn’t have a backup plan. I had to be willing to work hard and do what was necessary to make the business succeed. That being said, I led with my heart and believe that if my pursuits and desires were coming from a pure place, then the natural consequence would result in customers wanting to support the venture.
I have been accused of being idyllic and perhaps I am, but my true desire was and is to have a business and a life that positively impacts my community and the people I come in contact with.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.apothecaflowers.com
- Phone: 603.497.4940
- Email: hello@apothecaflowers.com
- Instagram: @apothecaflowers
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