Today we’d like to introduce you to Ana Cuciuc.
Hi Ana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Before opening my own flower shop, I had managed one and co-owned another one. In both of my previous experiences, I had a moment when I knew it was time for me to go. I left my other flower shop last year in September and decided to take some time to figure myself out. I was spending a lot of time in nature, mostly foraging dried flowers and meditating.
One day I, posted on Ig a picture with a little dried flower bouquet and someone asked me where can she buy it. I immediately posted it on Etsy and sold out the same night. Soon after that, dried flowers became my thing. Few months later I have decided to open my own business and 3 months after that I got my first brick and mortar. Five months later, I become the first florist of the month of one of the platforms I sell wildflowers arrangements.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been a pretty interesting journey. I started at home this January. The whole apartment was filled with flowers, while I was putting together all the legal and logistic parts. After Valentine’s Day, I understood how bad I needed to find a place and stop working from home. I was determined to find it by the end of the month, and 2 weeks later I was signing the lease. Having my first brick and mortar was the most exciting thing ever! I would go there at 8am in the morning and leave at 11pm. I had a vision in mind and wanted to make it happen. The neighborhood was pretty excited too! Slowly but surely we started expanding and recently hired our forth member of the team. I guess my biggest challenge was to step into this new role of business woman and learn to delegate! It was so hard for me to give up on making all the little dried flowers and teach my assistant to do that. It was also hard to learn to take breaks and have a social and personal life, but I realize this is my first time coming so far and I learn as I go. If I’m uncomfortable, it means that I’m growing, so I’m not complaining. 🙂
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We’re specialized in sustainable wildflowers arrangements. Our customers really love the Designer’s Choice – an option for them to describe the recipient and order a customized bouquet. We love to support local growers and use 100% recyclable and compostable packaging.
Our favorite thing is to rediscover seasonal flowers and share them with our customers.
What’s next?
My biggest dream is to find and network with local flower farms and use 100% local flowers. I would also love to connect with more local artists and have little events/ gatherings where they can showcase their products and engage with our community. We’re planning on some live music nights for this fall.
On a creative level, I dream about creating conceptual floral designs for local businesses and events.
Pricing:
- Average wildflower arrangement $125
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@wildstems.la
- Website: https://wildstems.la/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildstems.la/
Image Credits
Kathy Nolan Photography
Wild Stems LA
