At 20, she’s running a growing floral design business

July 31, 2018

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Katie Scholten, owner of Indigo Row Floral Design.

Name: Katie Scholten

Age: 20

Hometown: Inwood, Iowa

What brought you to Sioux Falls?

I moved to Sioux Falls because I was studying horticulture at Southeast Technical Institute. Some of the things that I love about Sioux Falls are that there are so many young professionals moving to the area, the great wedding venue locations and access to a wholesaler.

What keeps you in Sioux Falls?

Ironically, I just purchased a storefront in my hometown of Inwood. Since it is only 20 minutes away, it allows me to be closer to family and the people who helped get me started while still keeping my Sioux Falls clients. With today’s day and age, I can do a lot of my business through phone and social media, but I still like being near Sioux Falls for face-to-face consultations to really get to know my brides.

How did you get connected to your industry?

I have always had a passion for growing plants and working in the garden with my mom. This is something that has been a part of my life from a very young age. While in high school, I worked at Calico Skies Vineyard and Winery in Inwood, and this made me realize that I wanted to study horticulture in college. While attending Southeast Tech, I worked at a local flower shop in Sioux Falls, and this made me realize that my passion is in floral industry.

What made you decide to start your own business?

When my sister was looking for a wedding florist last fall, I jumped at the opportunity to design her wedding flowers. I fell in love with designing and being able to choose different flower types to fit with the theme of the wedding. My parents run a farming business, and I saw how much independence and flexibility they had, and I wanted to do the same in the floral industry.

What’s been your biggest surprise as a business owner so far?

My biggest surprise is how rewarding owning my own business actually is. I love being able to see a bride’s ideas and pictures of what she wants out of her wedding flowers and being able to re-create them and exceed the bride’s expectations. There is nothing more rewarding than having our brides happy on their wedding day.

Describe Indigo Row Floral Design in three words.

Passionate, personal and trendy.

What’s one business you’d like to see in Sioux Falls that isn’t here now?

I would love to see Cheesecake Factory come to Sioux Falls. May not be good for my diet but definitely good for the soul.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In five years, I see Indigo Row being a floral shop that is open every day, along with doing the events and classes that we do now. I see us increasing the number of weddings and make-and-take classes per year. One thing we really look forward to in the near future is starting to grow our own flowers and being able to use them for our summer weddings.

Want to stay in the know?

Get our free business news delivered to your inbox.



At 20, she’s running a growing floral design business

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Katie Scholten, owner of Indigo Row Floral Design.

News Tip

Have a business news item to share with us?

Scroll to top