After spending two decades in the restaurant industry, Ashley Stracuzzi wanted something different—something better suited to her busy life as a mother of three. She had always been creative, but it wasn’t until she arranged her own wedding flowers that she realized she had a real talent for it. What started as a side hustle selling holiday wreaths eventually blossomed into Thistle n’ Thorn, a full-scale floral business offering unique, locally sourced blooms, workshops, and team-building events across Berkshire County.
When Ashley joined EforAll, she was already running her business but needed structure and connections to grow. The program offered invaluable mentorship and a supportive community of entrepreneurs. “I had a working idea but needed guidance,” she shared. The mentorship was transformative, with mentors providing unique insights. “One day, I was crying, and they encouraged me, ‘Keep going, it’s okay.’ That support meant a lot,” Ashley recalled. She also valued the camaraderie of her cohort.
Ashley wholeheartedly recommends EforAll to other entrepreneurs, not just for the knowledge gained but for the relationships built along the way. “I always recommend EforAll, I liked it so much that now I have become a mentor so that I can help other entrepreneurs,” she said. The store is thriving on North Street, with almost $100,000 in sales in 2024 and an average of 20 workshops booked every month.
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Published April 2025