Today we’d like to introduce you to Azalea Maes.
Hi Azalea, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I started Flowers by Azalea in 2012. I came from the luxury watch and jewelry industry. I was DOO of a Swiss watch brand that had a headquarters in LA. I missed the sense of community in Oceanside, and so I moved back in 2011. I researched various industries based on the market needs within the coastal community and came across floristry. I learned that the wedding floral industry, at the time, was a 4 billion dollar-a-year industry. I had some background in event planning and am pretty creative, so decided to give it a shot. I reached out to friends and neighbors and took orders for Valentine’s Day. I made $500 and used that to open a tiny little storefront on Wisconsin Ave. With a lot of literal blood, sweat, and tears and an outpouring of support from the community Flowers by Azalea is now celebrating 11yrs in business.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Any small business owner will confirm that it is a roller coaster ride. But the struggles are necessary. In my experience, they tested my resolve and definitely helped shape the brand and define its purpose.
In the early phase, I was pushed out of my retail/workspace during peak wedding season and had to make some major adjustments. I was new in the industry, and my resources were limited. I didn’t got to florist school or attend workshops or seminars so I didn’t have a network of other florists that I could go to. I was on my own. I found a little office space where I could meet clients and shifted to only taking on large events.
We all know about 2020. The Covid19 pandemic hit the event industry early with the nationwide cancellation of gatherings of 100+ people in mid-February and then the subsequent shutdown and stay-at-home order in March. I used this time to get my online store dialed in. I established relationships with local farmers and picked up inventory from them directly to keep my online store running. With supply chain issues growing, I reached out to my customer base and called out for unwanted vases. This call spread to their neighbors and other neighborhoods, and I found myself driving around town picking up and sterilizing vases. I designed a collection based on the native floral I was able to source from the neighboring farms and set up a contactless floral delivery service. This saved us!
This collection, I unofficially call my covid babies, are still some of my top-selling designs to date.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Botanical Artist. I create beautiful scenes for milestone moments in people’s lives. These scenes are captured in photos and are the stories and memories passed to the future generations. These designs become a part of their story, and I take that seriously.
I create experiences though flowers.
I found a special niche early on in Flower Crowns. I started off with photoshoots and hosting workshops that eventually went mobile. We started getting calls to do larger events and developed our Flower Crown Stations. This concept has taken on a life of its own. We’ve worked with Coachella and recently NYE at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I wouldn’t be here without the love, support, and faith the community had in me and my vision. Oceanside is a special place, and I am forever grateful. Thank you, Oceanside!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.flowersbyazalea.com
- Instagram: flowersbyazalea
- Facebook: flowersbyazalea
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azalea-maes-0bb006a/
- Twitter: flowersbyazalea
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/flowers-by-azalea-oceanside-2
Image Credits
Natalie Warr Photography
