Good Neighbor Podcast South Charlotte
Bringing Together Local Businesses and Neighbors of South Charlotte.
Good Neighbor Podcast South Charlotte
Little Pumpkin Decorators-The Pumpkin Dream Team: Building a Business that Supports Local Mothers
Meet Christine Davies and Ashley Bunn, the creative minds behind Little Pumpkin Decorators, a South Charlotte business transforming residential porches with stunning autumn displays. What started as a three-week venture has blossomed into a full seasonal operation with a heartfelt mission at its core: supporting local mothers through flexible employment opportunities.
The pair shares their vision of building a team of creative, detail-oriented moms who can earn extra income during the fall season. "It means the most to me," Christine explains, describing how contractors can complete porches while their children are in school, earning money for special holiday experiences or gifts. This thoughtful business model reflects their commitment to community and understanding the unique challenges working mothers face.
From sourcing exclusively from North Carolina farms to creating truly customized designs, these entrepreneurs take pride in their craft. They recount their most memorable projects, including a European-inspired display with unusual textured pumpkins and vines for a client hosting international guests, and incorporating meaningful elements like star-shaped pumpkins for a young dancer's family. Each installation culminates in a "reveal" moment that consistently delights homeowners—with even husbands requesting family photos by their decorated porches.
Ready to join their "pumpkin dream team" or transform your own porch this season? Visit littlepumpkindecorators.com, follow them on Instagram @littlepumpkindecorators, or call 704-840-3017. With deliveries running from September 22nd through Halloween and hints at expanding into other seasonal decorating opportunities, these innovative friends are just getting started on their journey of bringing joy to Charlotte homes while supporting local moms.
Little Pumpkin Decorators
Christine Davies & Ashley Bunn
Charlotte, NC
(704) 840-3017
decorators@littlepumpkindecorators.com
littlepumpkindecorators.com
Hi everyone. I'm Regina League and I'm the host of the Little Pumpkin Decorators podcast, based here in South Charlotte, and I'm with the co-owners, Christine Davies and Ashley Bunn. Welcome, ladies.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
Speaker 1:This is so fun. I feel like you know we're really getting an idea of who you are, what you're passionate about, you know in the last one. But let's today talk about building your team, because I know in the first episode we touched on the moms. It's what inspired you to start this and it's you know, your way of. I don't know. It almost feels like giving back. You know, having these moms involved very community-like. So which one of you wants to talk about building this team, who they are and who's a good fit?
Speaker 3:Well, I'll take building this team right. So for us, when we've started, you know, figuring out the business and you know what we wanted to get out of this year and um and growing our you know, last year we were in business for about three weeks. Um, this time around we've had the whole year to really think it through and and what's really important for us and what it means to grow in the community. And for me and I think for Ashley as well it was all about how we can create sustainable opportunities for other moms like us. Have a creative outlet, have an opportunity to make some money for their family.
Speaker 3:If it's, you know, it's right before Christmas.
Speaker 3:So if it's, you know, they can get out and do 10 porches while their kids are in preschool.
Speaker 3:So if it's, you know, they can get out and do 10 porches while their kids are in preschool and then they're able to go on a special trip like take the kids skiing or, you know, buy a special bicycle that one of their kids has been wanting, or just have that extra to do some really fun stuff during the holidays. That just really made meant a lot to me to be able to to share the pumpkin pie, um, with other moms like us. So we've been really thinking through, like, how we would structure that in terms of scheduling, um, you know our our eight weeks of deliveries and you know when we'll reach out to our contractors, the other moms that we want to bring on our team, and allowing them to kind of pick and choose what works in their schedule based on the delivery, the delivery schedule that we kind of put together. So it was really important for us to to have that as part of our, our team model to be able to support other moms like us.
Speaker 1:I love that. So the work schedule, the timeframe is what? September until when?
Speaker 3:We will be delivering pumpkins starting September 22nd and we'll go through October, so, leading right up until Halloween, you can have your porch ready to go for the trick-or-treaters.
Speaker 1:Fun, fun. And the party you're going to have to have now? Yes, exactly.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So who is a good fit for the trick-or-treaters?
Speaker 1:fun, fun and the party you're gonna have to have now? Yes, exactly yeah. So who is a good fit? Obviously, you know it sounds like moms who want the extra money, but tell us a little bit more about them, what you're looking for so we're looking for moms who are creative.
Speaker 2:Uh, you know, if you're the mom who decorates for all the holidays, you're always shopping at home decor stores. You're maybe you have a background in design. You really want to make a house comfortable and joyful and happy. You're extremely detail oriented. Um, you know that's a big piece Because even though they're pumpkins, I mean, you really can create like beautiful works of art with them. So very detail-oriented. And then the ability to carry and lift heavy pumpkins. You know I had to use Christine a few times. You know I had to use Christine a few times. And then you know someone who is hardworking, someone who understands. You know what this means, not just to little pumpkin decorators but to the clients, the families that were decorating their homes. So just understanding that commitment.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there's somewhat a physical aspect to this job, so being able to do those things, yes, yes, I've got to start my workouts here.
Speaker 2:I used to own a garden center and I mean I was lifting 50 pounds all day long, and what are you doing?
Speaker 1:in um september, october well, maybe more podcasts, yeah. So tell us your your most creative porch you guys or unique porch you've ever done.
Speaker 3:I think it would have to be the Eastover house, right Ashley? Yes the one that we do at Lincoln.
Speaker 2:Ferguson.
Speaker 3:Yes, that was a special request. I'll let you talk about that.
Speaker 2:She wanted very dark-hued, very unique textured pumpkins and gourds, and gourds, and gourds.
Speaker 1:It's kind of like an Eastern kind of like an Eastern European. What the pumpkins that have the bumps on them?
Speaker 2:all that? Yes, like the bumpy ones.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 2:And the ones that have like a lot of different colors on one pumpkin, so kind of like the Eastern European or like a European look, but more dark. And she wanted vines. So we were able to get the craziest looking pumpkins and gourds and we were working with an event planner, lindsay Ferguson Events, so she got the vines and we weave them in throughout the pumpkin display and the client came out and she was like oh, where did you find these pumpkins? Like she didn't think that we were gonna be able.
Speaker 2:I don't know. She just was very happy with the look. She was having Thanksgiving, some family from overseas, and so she just wanted a very non-traditional look, uh, compared to like Thanksgiving in the U S. So so that one was so fun. We and then our girls helped us remove the pumpkins and it was so cute to see like our two youngest that are the same age and they go to the same school, um, running around the yard, you know, helping us pick up the pumpkins and and I love that.
Speaker 1:You must have good sources to be able to do that. So you're not going to the local grocery store and buying pumpkins, obviously no no, I get it we. We try to stay.
Speaker 3:Oh, go ahead Sorry.
Speaker 1:No.
Speaker 3:I was going to say we try to. We're sourcing everything locally and within North Carolina. So we're working with North Carolina farmers and North Carolina local, local pumpkin, local pumpkin. Well, union County Market was one that we worked with last year and so they were able to kind of help us with sourcing for that particular one. But yeah, this year we're sourcing from all local North Carolina farms and we've spent a lot of time working out the logistics, because this time we're going to be bringing in our own pumpkins that we're going to be selecting, which is a big you know, big step for this year's season. So I'm very excited about that.
Speaker 1:That was the most unique. Was it also the most popular porch?
Speaker 2:design, so that one was also unique and she was a little skeptical. She wanted, like, our tiny package and she had a grand porch. So, um, she did trust us and let us do what we thought was best, and she was so happy with the, the look, and we did add hay. She wasn't on board with hay at first, um, but she did trust us and she was very happy. Um, actually, you know, on our instagram page, the most popular, or the one, the, the post that's gotten like the most likes is, um, it's a home that we did a pumpkin mini, but the stairs were skinny, so they weren't. They were like a couple feet long. Um, and they had topiaries and so, and, and she wanted a vibrant look and I guess just the way the colors came together on this like small little porch just caught a lot of attention and you know, one of the pumpkins is looked like a star. Her daughter is huge in dance, like she's just, she's a star.
Speaker 3:So when I saw that pumpkin.
Speaker 2:I was like oh, that's, that's kind of that's right there for Madison.
Speaker 1:So wow, that is a truly customized design, then.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that was a fun one.
Speaker 1:What does it mean to you guys to support and hire local moms, Whichever one of you, maybe both of you? You start with Christine.
Speaker 3:Well, it means the most to to me, I think, of the whole business. I think that's um the thing that really, other than like the problem solving and putting together the business and like all the time that I get to spend with one of my best friends growing the business and um the ability to hire moms and give this creative outlet for other moms in the area, just it means the most. I'm super excited and I can't wait to do the training with them and get them LPD t-shirts to wear when they're delivering and see pictures of them with their kids bringing joy, like what we got to experience last year. I just feel like it's it just that, yeah, that really just is the best part of it.
Speaker 1:Ashley, how about you?
Speaker 2:um, yes, you know, ditto to what Christine said I you know, when I quit working, I I kind of struggle was like oh, like what am I gonna do now?
Speaker 1:changes too yeah.
Speaker 2:And then it's like oh, I've always contributed, like financially, but like I don't, I just want to just do mom. So I think, just finding like this perfect little balance to know if you're kind of in that situation and you want to do something and you want to contribute, you can, you know, do this a little bit of the year. It's, it's not a big commitment, it's on your terms, um, but uh, I, I, my also favorite part is the like, the reveal, like when they come out and they're like I, I mean, they're just so happy. And then I'm just so surprised, you know, because I'm like, oh okay, I don't know, they just seem to it just sparks so much joy and I think it really enhances their season. And you know, fall is such a beautiful time of year and then it leads into Christmas, and so it's just a really nice feeling, beautiful time of year, and then it leads into Christmas, and so it's just a really nice feeling.
Speaker 1:Well, I love that you have a reveal, but I never even dawned on me that you know you would say, okay, stay inside, go away and then come back, and so you can do your thing.
Speaker 3:Yeah, Well, I I think I mean it doesn't always work out that there is a reveal, because sometimes, like our clients, like you, don't need to be home for us to come and deliver your, your pumpkins on your porch, right? This is something that we can do. We'll give you a notice that we're, we're coming within this timeframe If you're at work or whatever. You know, that's fine too, but there is a reveal when, if they pull up from when they get home from work and they see their porch, they're like, oh my gosh, look at this curb appeal. Like I am now ready. I think you know that's just whenever it kind of happens in the process, right, For every client's a little different.
Speaker 3:But one of the things that's amazing is we had so many people tell us last year that their husbands loved it, Like they were just like, oh my gosh, like it was so surprising that the husband and then the husbands were a couple of them were like we're doing our family photos. This is, you know, like I'm the talk of the town, like kind of they just loved it. So that was something that was kind of surprising. But but yeah, for us we can deliver pumpkins anytime a day. Um, you don't need to be there, we'll let you know when we're going to be there. Um, just you know, just so you know. But, um, we're completely outside and out of your hair.
Speaker 2:Yes, that's a unique thing is um, which, which I like being busy. You know, like everyone, we're busy, so you don't have to be there. Uh, we let you know, uh, via like message. We're here busy. You know, like everyone, we're busy, so you don't have to be there. Uh, we let you know, uh, via like message. We're here and you know now we're finished and then pictures, um, so you know, the involvement is is none if you want it to be, or you can sit out in a chair and watch us.
Speaker 1:You know, like right you don't have to be there I was just thinking hey, ladies, tell your husband for a gift, you want a package. Yeah, yeah, if we got male listeners, surprise them. That is so unique, that would be super, super fun. So back to building your team. Are you already working on this fall's team?
Speaker 3:yes. So on our website there's a join join our team tab and the little hamburger, three lines, and then we would love you to just click that, fill out some information. It's really you know, it's just, I think it's name, email, contact details, a little bit about yourself, a little bit about yourself, and then we'll be in touch because we, we are really looking forward to having a big season. We're going to need help. It's we're hoping that it's going to be way more than Ashley and I can handle and we need, we need these moms and help us.
Speaker 1:Yes, we need a village, exactly, I love it. I've just got this gut feeling. You guys have huge plans for this business. So you know, if you want to share anything or, uh, you know, drift on us that now would be the time there's more to come.
Speaker 2:We're working on more things. There are other seasons in the year there are.
Speaker 1:There really are, in fact. Memorial day to july 4th, that would be a wonderful one. Well, you guys are absolutely. You ladies are amazing. You're just such a good blend of, you know, entrepreneurial female vibes, smart, and passion and creativity. So I'm kind of jealous.
Speaker 3:Oh, thank you so much.
Speaker 1:Absolutely Well. It has been a pleasure having you both with on the show and one of you, ashley or christine, tell us how, tell our listeners how to find you once again so our website is www. littlepumpkindecorators. com.
Speaker 2:our instagram is little pumpkin decoratorscom. Our instagram is little pumpkin decorators. Um phone number is 704-840-3017 and we go by lpd, so very nice for this season. We're excited to grow our our pumpkin dream team and see what the future has in the future for us.
Speaker 1:Do you want to add anything? We good.
Speaker 3:No, I just say we've got big plans and we're excited to bring more, more ladies onto our team.
Speaker 1:Local women power Love it, love it. Thank you for being on the show and I look forward to meeting you guys out in the community.
Speaker 3:Thank you so much.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much.