One Year In: How We Built a Thriving Pumpkin Delivery and Fall Decor Business in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas

If you had told me a few years ago that I’d trade in a corporate title for a trailer full of pumpkins, a creative design strategy, and a pair of heavy-duty work gloves, I probably would’ve smiled politely and thought it was only a dream, not a reality.

And yet, here we are.

Leaving corporate America to launch My Front Porch wasn’t just a career move, it was a full-body, full-brain, full-heart commitment. Equal parts exciting, empowering, and yes… a little nerve-wracking. When you start something from scratch, you quickly realize you don’t even know what you know yet. But one thing becomes crystal clear, you’ll never find out unless you have the courage to take the leap.

So, that’s exactly what Rebecca Paxton and I did. With laser focus, a clear vision, and just enough grit to carry us through.

We set out to build a premier pumpkin delivery, design and disposal company serving clients across the Dallas- Ft. Worth Metroplex. What might look like a picture-perfect fall display on the outside is, behind the scenes, a business that demands brains, tenacity, and let’s be honest- serious physical stamina. This is not a “sit at your desk and sip coffee in the air conditioning” kind of venture. This is a “haul tens of thousands of pounds of pumpkins, create Pinterest worthy designs, and still have energy to post on our social media handles kind of business.

And we did it all. Proudly.

Jen Carmichael & Rebecca Paxton, co-owners of My Front Porch, Dallas' premier pumpkin delivery, design and disposal company servicing the DFW metroplex

In our first year, we registered the company, built an e-commerce site, established relationships with trusted suppliers, secured storage, built a robust marketing strategy and successfully launched with intention. We wore every hat imaginable- web designer, social media strategist, accountant, logistics coordinator, and yes… pumpkin loader. We personally delivered and installed tens of thousands of pounds of pumpkins for hundreds of clients across DFW-then came back to haul them away and donate them to non-profit animal rescues, laddering back to our commitment of Sustainably Grown. Responsibly Shared. Compassionately Donated.

We sweated. We laughed. We showed up every single day ready to outwork yesterday’s version of ourselves. We came home filthy, bruised, scratched, and completely exhausted while icing our hands at night like athletes after a championship game. Turns out, “no pain, no gain” applies just as much to entrepreneurship as it does to leg day at the gym.

And we’d do it all over again in a heartbeat because this is ours.

What started as a bold idea has grown into something truly special. We’ve been incredibly intentional about building not just a business, but an incredible brand- one rooted in detail, quality, and creating a “wow” experience for every client. That attention to detail has paid off. Today, we’ve grown a vibrant social media community of nearly than 40,000 followers and have had the honor of being recognized for our expertise by outlets like Apple News, Forbes, Martha Stewart, Better Homes & Gardens and Voyage.

We are incredibly proud of what we’ve built.

And at the same time, we remain deeply humble and grateful. Because behind every install, every like, every feature, and every returning customer is trust and we don’t take that lightly.

At our core, My Front Porch is about bringing joy to people’s homes, businesses and special events. And that mission doesn’t stop with our clients. Each year, we are committed to giving back to our community by donating our pumpkins and design services to a deserving 501.c.3 nonprofit organization. This past year, we were honored to partner with Hugs Cafe in McKinney who is committed to enhancing the lives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through training and employment. Supporting causes like this isn’t just what we do- it’s who we are, and a quiet reminder of our life’s purpose.

So yes, we may spend our fall seasons lifting pumpkins like it’s our job (because it is), obsessing over design details, driving business efficiencies and pushing ourselves to be better every single day. But we’re also building something with heart, purpose, and staying power.

And if there’s one thing this journey has taught us, it’s that when courage meets a relentless work ethic and unwavering determination, you don’t just build something- you create something truly extraordinary.

Even if it starts with a pumpkin.