Natalie & Meg of Native Poppy on Business Partnership, Growth & Surviving It All

For the very first episode of Thorns & All, Abby Chick sits down with two people who changed the trajectory of her own business: Natalie Gill and Meg Blancato, co-owners of Native Poppy in San Diego. What started as one storefront (and a cold-call email that read "I don't have a lot of experience, but I'm a joy to be around") has grown into a floral powerhouse — retail shops, large-scale weddings, e-courses, a micro flower farm, a book on the way, and four locations by spring 2027.

Abby, Natalie, and Meg dig into the real mechanics of a business partnership: how Meg went from brand-new employee to co-owner, why making it legal matters, how they divide and conquer a 20+ person team, and what it took to survive two floods, a car through the storefront, and a pandemic — together. Plus, their honest advice for any florist considering bringing on a partner.

New episodes of Thorns & All, a Florist's Table series hosted by Abby Chick, are available wherever you get your podcasts.