Made in Scotland: Taiwo Yusuf on Creativity, Faith and Building Trendy Florals
Written by Praise Afolabi on 20th October 2025
There’s a moment in many creative careers when something that began as necessity quietly becomes a calling. For Taiwo Yusuf, founder of Trendy Florals, that moment started with a WhatsApp status and a paper flower wall. Seven years on, Taiwo speaks on HeartSong Live Radio with calm honesty about how a DIY project for a daughter’s birthday grew into a business shaped by faith, improvisation and steady learning.
How it started; a small thing that grew
Taiwo’s first flower wall was born during a tight season. Unemployed and needing to celebrate her daughter’s fifth birthday, she watched a relative’s status and learned that elaborate floral backdrops could be made from paper. She practiced, imperfectly at first, and produced a display that made the day special. What began as a low-cost way to celebrate soon became a creative refuge; something she kept returning to because it helped her forget worry and gave her a sense of purpose.
Lockdown changed the equation. Projects that were once gifts for friends began to attract payment. People started insisting on paying for work she had done for free, and Trendy Florals began to move from hobby to income stream.
Faith as a creative engine
Faith is threaded through Taiwo’s story. When doubt creeps in; the “can I do it?” moments; she prays for peace and inspiration. She talks about reminding herself that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and says that steady spiritual practice helped her build confidence: to show her work, to take bookings, and to keep refining her craft. That trust sits at the centre of how she creates and how she keeps going when things get hard.
Running a small creative business in Scotland
Taiwo is clear about the practical challenges of event decor: it is capital intensive, trends shift quickly and clients often expect more than their budget allows. She explains the balancing act of pricing and expectations; wanting to deliver excellence but also needing to explain honestly what a given budget will achieve.
Other pressures include sourcing reliable labour, last-minute cancellations, and the logistics of delivery and teardown. Taiwo handles these realities by improvising where necessary, DIYing to reduce costs, and by continually learning how to smooth processes so projects run more predictably. After five years in the trade, she says the toughest parts are still among the most instructive: every problem teaches a new way to work smarter.
On pricing, value and client conversations
Taiwo doesn’t sugarcoat it. When clients compare prices or expect premium results on a shoestring, she explains the time, materials and manpower behind each job. Her approach is transparent: outline what will be done, why it costs what it does, and what reasonable alternatives look like. If that honesty doesn’t land, she stands by her value. More often than not, a clear explanation and an extra effort to add value win people over.
She also accepts that negative feedback will happen. In one case she was given only an hour to set up a major display; when the client later complained that they expected more, Taiwo chose to refund part of the fee rather than escalate. Her priority is peaceful resolution and maintaining relationships; practical humility that keeps doors open long term.
Five non-negotiables for clients
Taiwo sets clear boundaries, so events go smoothly:
- Book setup time allow at least 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Accept that there is a setup and teardown fee; it covers the team needed on site.
- Pay pickup and delivery fees, vans and transport cost money.
- Hold a consultation so expectations are aligned from the start.
- Clear the balance at least two weeks before the event so everyone can enjoy the day.
These rules are practical, not punitive. They protect quality, allow her team to deliver, and prevent stress on the day.
On inclusion, style and the future
Taiwo emphasises that her work isn’t niche to one community. She’s worked with Scottish clients and with those who simply want beautiful floral arrangements. Social media has been a vital bridge: showcasing work online leads to DMs, enquiries and bookings. Looking ahead, Taiwo dreams of an event centre where Trendy Florals can display work and host clients; slowly building a larger brand that reflects the care she pours into each commission.
A message for makers
When asked what to say to someone who thinks their idea is too small, Taiwo is emphatic: start. No idea is too small. Equip yourself, keep learning, believe in the vision and trust God where you need to. The fear often comes because the idea is big, so treat the fear as a sign you’re onto something worth doing.
If you enjoyed Taiwo’s story and would like to share your own creative journey or book Trendy Florals, get in touch with HeartSong Live Radio by email to be featured or to pass on enquiries.
Call to action: Email HeartSong Live Radio at info@heartsonglive.co.uk to connect, share feedback or suggest guests.
“Adapted by Praise Afolabi based on an interview by Eloho Efemuai, host of Arise with Eloho”
