Life is an unpredictable journey. We never know where it will take us; who we will meet along the way, what obstacles we will have to face, or what will inspire us to change course. Anything is possible, even if we ourselves do not see it yet.
For Dr. Paulette Hossmann, a career in the wedding and events industry was a path she never imagined her life would take.
My journey is one of taking chances, fate, and destiny.
– Dr. Paulette Hossmann
Born and raised from humble beginnings in a traditional Jamaican rural district called Balaclava in the Parish of St. Elizabeth, Dr. Hossmann grew up dreaming of becoming a veterinarian. She even drew up her own business plans for a veterinary hospital at only nine years old!
Her passion for animals evolved into a love for science, and with hard work, determination, and faith, she received a full scholarship to pursue her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in the United States.
Upon her return home to Jamaica, Dr. Hossmann happened to see an Ad in her local newspaper that would change everything.
She recalls: “By chance, I saw an advertisement in the newspaper for a job on a farm producing roses for export and I thought that perhaps I would be a good fit. I was successful in landing the job, and this became a turning point in my life.”
From then on, Dr. Hossmann was fully involved in the production of roses for export.
From prepping flowers, to working with local markets, and connecting with florists across the island for deliveries, this was the beginning sparks of her new love: Botany.
Her blooming love affair with local flora and a newfound desire to improve the production methods for tropical flowers in Jamaica led her to pursue further education with a Master of Science Degree in Botany and eventually, a Doctorate of Philosophy in Botany.
Following this string of fortuitous events, Dr. Hossmann admits, “I was fully intent on a career in research.”
However, after a stint at the Jamaica Agricultural Development Foundation and working closely with farmers growing cut orchids for export, she was met with more unexpected twists: the opportunity to become a part owner of an orchid farm, and… she found love!
After meeting her husband, Sascha, little did she know he would also inspire their future business!
Dr. Hossmann recalls, “One day [Sascha] expressed an interest in accompanying me to see what we did on the orchid farm. I distinctly remember when we arrived there was a pile of orchids to be dumped, as we didn’t have a market for them. Sascha was in the hotel industry as a Food and Beverage Manager and had seen the need for floral products in the rapidly expanding Tourism Industry. He suggested we sell them to the hotels. This was a pivotal moment that changed both of our lives.”
Their fledgling floral company started out as a small operation on the front porch of their home.
Today, twenty-three years later, Dr. Hossmann and her husband, Sascha, Co-Own and operate Tai Flora Luxe, a world-renowned, full-service event management company based in Jamaica producing luxurious events for clients from around the world!
In addition to creating gorgeous events, their company provides clients with everything from décor to design, lighting and linens, and flowers of course! Partnering with local vendors and maintaining their own farms to provide the most beautiful, fresh-cut tropical florals and orchids, they couldn’t imagine a more fulfilling business. It is more than they ever dreamed of.
Dr. Hossmann shares, “Never in my wildest dreams did I expect that a career in the wedding and events industry would be the path my life would have taken.”
However, looking back, she admits: “I have come to realize that this is what I was meant to do… that my journey was not by chance but completely by design. Creating amazing, beautiful events is exactly what I was meant to do with my life.”
Continue reading for MunaLuchi’s exclusive Q&A with Dr. Paulette Hossmann on everything from her life’s guiding principles to how her team overcomes challenges working on an island, her keys to success, and more. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Tai Flora Luxe!
*This interview was first featured in our latest print magazine, Issue 29! Check out the original feature on Issuu here.
You live by the guiding principle: “I cannot say no.” How has this principle served you personally and influenced the growth of Tai Flora Luxe?
An important trait about me is that I was brought up on the virtue of hard work and this now comes naturally to me.
I’m also very competitive, as I do not like to fail in anything and these traits are guides in my life. As a result, I’m not going to disappoint a client by not delivering their desired look.
My team is also very important to me. Once you’re a part of our team, we’re going to teach you to win and be proud of your accomplishments. We’re going to drag each other across that finish line to achieve that goal. That is now a part of the ethos of our company.
Based in Jamaica, what challenges do you face working on an island? How do you overcome those obstacles?
We have numerous challenges operating on an island but after 23 years we have been able to adapt and navigate our way through these obstacles. We have challenges with transportation, product availability, logistics, and sourcing items or services to fulfill clients’ wishes.
It’s never easy, but we come in each day, have that cup of coffee, and start making it happen for our clients. Consistently delivering has built up a reputation affording us the trust of our many clients, and the stories of pulling out all the stops to deliver just keep getting written.
How has your company bridged the gap between luxury and sustainability?
We have built a team that has stuck with us. Several of our staff have been with the company for 15 to 23 years!
Being on an island, we felt that it was absolutely essential to have a very diversified portfolio. We do very large weddings and events, but we also do small weddings every day, concierge services, and retail. Fortunately, we are able to repurpose and manufacture a lot of what we do in-house.
We have also stuck to our roots, as we still maintain our farms which supply us with tropical flowers and orchids. We also work closely with farms across the island to preserve the quality of our supplies for our clients.
As an attendee and partner of MunaLuchi’s 2022 Coterie Retreat, how was the experience? Who or what inspired you there, and why would you recommend other business owners to attend?
It was a moment where we really felt recognized for the work that we have done over the years and the team that we have assembled.
To have the principals of MunaLuchi sit with us in our operations and discuss design ideas, I cannot begin to describe what that felt like. It was an incredible and momentous occasion for us. Additionally, we were able to connect with other industry players and designers, exchange ideas, and share experiences.
Overall, it was an amazing growth experience for our business. Jacqueline and Chike Nwobu are truly inspirational and exhibited deliberate care in the content that was discussed at the conference.
I would unreservedly recommend it to other business owners as we get an opportunity to network with our peers and openly share our journeys. This business is demanding and these experiences are also nurturing for your soul.
What are your future goals for Tai Flora Luxe?
Our work is constantly evolving. We are planning much larger projects, executing more complicated and beautiful design concepts, and we are absolutely loving every minute of it.
Do you have any advice for other entrepreneurs? And what are your keys to success?
It is important to recognize very early that failure is part of the growth process and that you will have to keep going, never giving up.
We learn from our challenges and difficult experiences as well. If you have moments where you weren’t as great as you should have been, take the lesson from it and keep moving forward.
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Vendors:
- Photographer: Tiffany Lueyen
- Florals, Design, Decor, Lighting, & Linens: Tai Flora Luxe
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