This mother and daughter entrepreneurial duo is making the world a more beautiful place, one bloom at a time. by rachel yeager
Phyllis and Marilyn Lill are a mother daughter entrepreneurial team who personify everything that might be good about working with your mom. Lilium, their rustic yet glamorous bijou of a floral boutique in an historic home on Hazelton Avenue in Yorkville, opened its doors in the Spring of 2010.
Like its owners, Lilium is effortlessly chic. The shop is filled with luscious blooms, bouquets and potted plants, complemented by a carefully curated selection of products for the home. Care for quality and an eye to detail are evident in every display, unsurprising considering the store’s location and surroundings. With White Bridal a few doors down, Celebration Shoes around the corner and the Hazelton and Four Seasons Hotels at the end of the street, one could plan a posh wedding within the two block radius. What is unexpected about this Yorkville florist are the surprisingly down to earth prices.
The idea to open a flower shop with her mother came to Marilyn LILL ’02 while she was working for Bergdorf Goodman in New York after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in that city. Having studied floral design at renowned institutions including Constance Spry Flower School in England and Catherine Muller in Paris, Phyllis SCANDRETT Lill ’70 was running The Conservatory floral design studio out of her home in Toronto when Marilyn, who was ready for a change from fashion and New York City, made the phone call that would drastically impact both women’s careers. As soon as Marilyn suggested that they open a store together, Phyllis knew instantly that going into business with her daughter was something she wanted to pursue.
Not long after they began planning their new endeavour, they happened upon the perfect location in Yorkville and, from there, everything fell into place. Sympatico personalities and a mutual respect for each other’s talents have resulted in a harmonious and conflict free working relationship no small achievement for a mother/daughter business duo, though for Phyllis and Marilyn this comes naturally.
“It’s a privilege to work together,” says Phyllis. “We have mutual respect for each other’s strengths. I so respect the skills Marilyn brings, and vice versa.” These include the strong style aesthetic and marketing savvy that Marilyn honed working in New York at Bergdorf’s, and before that in events planning and as an intern for famed fashion house, Prada. Phyllis’s artistic sensibility and botany knowledge round out the entrepreneurial picture. “What we each bring to the table is very different,” says Marilyn. It’s a harmony that’s reflected in the soothing atmosphere of the boutique, which also hosts workshops and seminars for budding floral designers from Toronto to Korea. Overseas, education related travel is a new business direction for Lilium, though it’s Phyllis’ passion for sharing her craft, as much as the alternate revenue stream, that has led them to innovate. As a legacy family, (Phyllis’s daughter) Mary Catherine LILL ’97 is a lawyer in Toronto, son James is an Engineer in Australia), both women agree that the lessons they learned at BSS helped contribute to the success of their entrepreneurial venture. Having served as a longtime volunteer, including terms as a Governor and Trustee, Phyllis cites the strong and successful women she met and learned from during her time on the Board as influences. Marilyn credits the strong work ethic and confidence to set and pursue goals that were instilled in her while at BSS as essential tools to success. She was also motivated and inspired by her BSS peers (including fellow classmate at BSS and FIT and NYC roommate, Aja SINGER ’02, who is also featured in this issue of The Link.)
The lessons they would share with future BSS entrepreneurs in training include the importance of having a business plan and persevering when obstacles inevitably do arise. Knowing that mom has your back? That can’t hurt, either.
