We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jenny Preston. Check out our conversation below.
Jenny, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Reading a book. Not to be dramatic, but if I don’t read in the morning I feel slightly off balance the rest of the day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Simply put, Port & Palm Co. is a custom floral design and event planning studio. But I always strive to offer more than just floral arrangements or planning.
I’m hands on from the first email, creating customized proposals, finding ways to add in personal touches, clipping every stem, and providing a transparent place to go when advice is needed. I have worked on over 100 events and to many of my clients, this is their first time planning an event larger than a 30 person house party- which is totally normal!
I always want to be a place where people will come to feel seen, heard, and walk away feeling like they were able to see a design come to life that feels unique to them, rather than just a copy and paste from a Pinterest board.
I love working with the natural movement of flowers and finding ways to bring a variety of visions to life with the right stem and decor selections. Whether you’re inspired by music festivals, the ocean waves, or chic classic whites, I love pulling together the linens, flowers, print materials, candles, and more to solidify that vision.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
Well I’m an eldest daughter and a millennial, which I feel that alone explains a lot!
I grew up watching my mom do what she needed to take care of us. She left a high paying job to get us in a better situation as a family, started working at a spa as a receptionist with a master’s degree while she figured out what was next and was soon working at FAU as a professor.
My grandparents played a huge role as well. They were both high school teachers, my grandma was a math teacher in the 60’s in Boynton Beach, FL. She faced a lot of adversity in her career and was endlessly curious (still is). I think growing up with two really strong willed women in my life, who worked in fields they loved created a certain energy around me as I grew up.
Seeing people you love and respect fight for a better life, pursue jobs that bring them joy, and pour a massive amount of energy into the people they love makes you want to do the same.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Oh yeah. I went through a divorce, packed up and moved out west. I essentially shut down my business and pursued working in the wine industry out in Oregon. I called it my study abroad program….that lasted 6 years. I kept my website and socials active, but never marketed myself during that time. Somehow, I still booked jobs back in Florida which helped me realize I still loved it and wanted to dive back into it all full time again. So I packed up and moved back east.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Hospitality has been a driving force in my life and I think as long as I’m in a space where I’m able to provide that, I’m happy.
I think a lot of anxiety and rabbit hole spirals come from being isolated. I worked as an event manager in a wine bar in downtown Portland, and there were so many patrons who would come in who were generally pretty isolated in their jobs, but found community just by coming into the bar for a glass of wine. Friendships, bowling leagues, romantic relationships, were all formed because of the hospitality that was provided in that space. People generally just want to laugh, feel seen, and create bonds with one another. Hospitable places and people allow for that to happen. I always approach any job I have from a place of hospitality and I hope my clients and their guests feel that.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Oh yeah. I think that is how most people operate who choose to stay in a service role. There have been floral deliveries where I never see the client and never hear from them again. I don’t take it personally, and I don’t need a moment of praise from them to feel proud of the work I did. I actually tend to cringe when people thank me.
Oftentimes I feel that if I’m hearing nothing it is because I did my job. My job is to do heavy lifting, to make a client stop worrying about a certain piece of their event and be fully present for the pieces that really matter – the people and the memories.
Working with hospitality teams, I’ve realized the people who are in the right profession are those who aren’t doing it for the praise, they are doing it to almost be invisible. We’re thinking of what you need before you realize you need it. I’ve always likened working in service/hospitality to being in a stage production. You’re performing for a bit of it, you’re gabbing backstage with the ones you’re surviving it with, you’re working together and creating a flow that you feel and ultimately your audience feels. Is there a clear rulebook on how to achieve that? Nope. It is slightly different every time and that is the beauty of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://portandpalmco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portandpalmco
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyl-preston/
Image Credits
Forrester Studios
Cocomo Collective
Kallima Photography
Ace Photography
