Nima Dema, a 21-year-old college student in her fourth year, launched her home-based business, The Bouquet Studio Bhutan, on July 14, 2023. Despite juggling her studies, Nima has successfully ventured into the world of entrepreneurship, specializing in handcrafted ribbon rose bouquets that have quickly gained popularity in Bhutan.

A Unique Business Name and Concept

Nima carefully chose the name for her business, drawing inspiration from the idea of a studio as a space where artists create their work. “I didn’t have a store yet, so I made the bouquets in my room. She added “Bhutan to the name to highlight that the bouquets were made locally, she explains Nima and her friend, who runs Zangden’s Flower, were among the first in Bhutan to create bouquets using ribbon roses, which stand out for their longevity compared to fresh flowers.

Her interest in creating bouquets began when a close friend made her a bouquet out of ribbon, sparking her desire to turn this skill into a business. “I love crafting and trying new skills, and the fact that ribbon roses were trending among the youth motivated me to pursue this,” Nima shares.

Learning Through Passion

Without any formal training, Nima relied on guidance from her friend and online resources like YouTube and TikTok to perfect her craft. She humbly admits that while her bouquets may not be drastically different from others on the market, they offer a unique advantage – they don’t wilt or die. “Our handmade bouquets last forever. At a distance, they sometimes even look like real flowers,” she notes.

The wrapping style, she says, is a key element that sets her bouquets apart. Since the bouquets don’t need to be unwrapped like fresh flowers, she emphasizes the importance of creative and elaborate wrapping to enhance the overall aesthetic. “The whole point of our business is to make the bouquet look pretty since they are eternal roses,” Nima adds.

Themes, Customization, and Customer Satisfaction

Nima takes great pride in tailoring her bouquets to the customer’s preferences. From mixing colors to adding props like pictures and themed designs, she ensures that each bouquet as personalized. “If a customer wants a pink theme, I’ll use pink and white roses with Hello Kitty pictures and wrapping paper that matches the theme,” she explains.

Due to the time and care she puts into each bouquet, Nima requests that orders be placed at least a week in advance, especially during special occasions. This allows her enough time to prepare each bouquet, as she runs the business single-handedly.

One memorable experience Nima shared was a customer who ordered a bouquet for his grandmother before leaving for college. “He sent us more money than the bouquet cost, and when we asked for his account number to refund the excess, he told us to keep it as a tip for our hard work,” she recalls. Moments like these keep Nima motivated, and she expresses deep gratitude to all her customers for their support.

Overcoming Challenges

Like many entrepreneurs, Nima faces her own set of challenges, particularly in sourcing materials. Bhutan does not offer a wide variety of raw materials for crafting, and the ones available are often expensive. “If the price of bouquets becomes too high, we lose customers,” Nima admits. To address this, she orders materials from India and manages to keep her prices reasonable, even offering a 10% discount to students.

Another challenge is ensuring timely payment from customers. After some instances of non-payment, Nima now request pre-payment for all orders. Additionally, The Bouquet Studio Bhutan currently lacks a delivery service, which poses logistical hurdles. Without a dedicated delivery van, Nima has to rely on taxis to send bouquets to customers, which is both costly and unreliable. “Some taxis refuse to take the products, and others charge very high fees for delivery,” she explains.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Nima’s entrepreneurial journey, while full of challenges, has taught her valuable lessons that she hopes to pass on to others. “If you have a brilliant idea, just do it. Don’t wait for anything, even if it feels risky,” she advises. For Nima, putting herself in the customer’s shoes is key to her business success. “I always ask myself, how would I feel receiving this bouquet? If it’s not perfect, I redo it until I’m satisfied.”

Her message to aspiring entrepreneurs is clear: take the risk, think like your customers, and pursue your passion relentlessly.

Looking ahead

As The Bouquet Studio Bhutan continues to grow, Nima is optimistic about the future of her business. With a strong commitment to quality, personalization, and customer satisfaction, she is steadily carving out a niche for herself in Bhutan’s growing handmade flower industry. With the support of her loyal customers and her unwavering dedication, Nima’s journey as an entrepreneur is just beginning.