Elderflower Life Recording was born from my dual passions in archiving and care for the elderly. It took time for me to realize that I could build a business of my own. A life’s work can be discovered through the unexpected. After my mom passed away when I was 18, I spent ten months going through her possessions to both cleanse and establish order. I came away with several lessons: our homes are often filled with exhaustive excess, family photographs take a great deal of time and emotional fortitude to organize, and longing for the stories from a deceased loved one can feel agonizing.

In 2015, I jumped at the chance for a position in the Burchfield Penney archives with Heather Gring and Tullis Johnson, hoping that it would fulfill the yen to learn the archival process. I thrived there and constantly delved into a new world that is the power of a living library. When I left that position for elderly care work, I found ways to apply the skills, including building a memoir with a dear client. It was clear to me that there was a need for preservation in older generations. Providing archival and Swedish death cleaning services for families that did not have the time or methodology was something I could take pride in.

When I decided to pursue the idea, I was fortunate to have a close friend who works for the Small Business Development Center. Olivia Harbol became my advisor and confidant and helped me discover all that was available. It astounded me each time I was linked with a new resource. We started with setting a date with the legal team, but also contacted the research department for current trends and rates that were related to my business. With all the questions I could ask Olivia, I was provided with a great base to begin from. Then WNY Legal Center helped establish my LLC and drew up my first contract. To produce a logo for Elderflower Life Recording, Olivia connected me to Stronghold Studios through the marketing referral program. I was practically slack-jawed with the final design and have been warmed by how everything has come together. Without the SBDC, I would likely still be in the initial stages or maybe would have even abandoned it altogether.

A mantra that I’ve had since I started down this path was, “ordinary people start businesses every day.” Throughout the past year, this mantra pushed me through any self-doubt that would occasionally creep in. In strength, I knew that I had not only the idea, but also the experience and keen fascination to attend to a niche market. And I believe that will make all the difference.