The Prettiest Flowers You Ever Did See
Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.– Luther Burbank
(Quote from La Belle Bloom's Website. Photo Credit: Nichol Ferng)
The Prettiest Flowers I ever did see come from one of my favorite people & spots in Little Italy. I met Claudia, owner of La Belle Bloom flowers, last year when I stopped at her darling French boutique flower stand in Little Italy to purchase some seasonal flowers for my living room. I happened to have a picture of my husband and me on my phone, back from when we landed the cover of Exquisite Weddings Magazine in 2012 (a big achievement for my husband, I'm sure he'd agree....according to all the razzing he received from his family and co-workers....), and Claudia recognized it from helping with the florals for our wedding! What a coincidence it was! Ever since then, I've become a regular at her quaint flower stand. She has a fabulous selection of flowers, always in season, and her packaging is to die for. I've probably posted one too many pictures on Instagram every time I stop by her stand. They are just too beautiful for words!
Pretty lil' ranunculus from La Belle Bloom in my living room
The adorable packaging of La Belle Bloom
Claudia does amazing work, is so kind and generous, and has helped me with numerous events like our recent accessory exchange and a photo shoot for Zooey Magazine. I adore her and you should too! Today Art in the Find has the pleasure of interviewing her so that you can get to know more about the talent behind La Belle Bloom.
(photo credit: La Belle Bloom)
INTERVIEW WITH CLAUDIA OF LA BELLE BLOOM
Art in the Find: How did you come up with the name for your business? What’s the story behind how your business get started? What path led you to where you (or the company is) are today?
Claudia: I didn't actually venture out to open up a business, it just sort of happened. I searched all over San Diego, LA and Palm Springs for any kind of job in a flower shop, even if it was just sweeping the floors, but I found nothing but temporary gigs and unpaid internships. Finally, I became so frustrated that I decided to open my own flower cart, and seeing as how there were no flower shops in Little Italy, it seemed like the perfect moment to plant myself there. I wanted a French vibe to the business, so I gave it a French sounding name like La Belle Bloom that rolled off the tongue.
AF: What were/are some struggles/challenges you faced in the beginning of starting your business? Any advice from those struggles you can give others starting out?
C: Thank God, there were no real challenges to starting and operating the business, everything really fell into place. I had the financials, the support, and the experience (or at least enough to feel comfortable). I think an ongoing challenge for me would be feeling so small and voiceless sometimes. Like you mentioned in your blog post about starting out in a business, I struggle with comparing myself to other similar businesses and feeling discouraged; for solutions I'd refer back to your post, it helped me a lot.
AF: Awww, thanks Claudia. I agree that it's hard not to compare ourselves with others. It's a challenge for many of us business owners. What's a favorite part about what you do?
C: Working with flowers of course! It's something I used to do in my free time, but now I get to do it every day and I get the challenge of doing it for others and tailoring to their specific needs.
AF: With whom/what would be your dream collaboration? Who, if any, have you already collaborated with/done work for?
C: I have already worked for my florist role model! Her name is Sara from Black Lotus Design, she took me under her wing a few times and showed me some basics and she is always readily available when I need any kind of business / flower advice. As far as collaborations, just working with other good and honest businesses who give me free reign to be creative makes me happy.
AF: Our wedding florist! I love Sara. So glad you were able to learn from her! What makes your brand/company unique?
C: I think La Belle Bloom may be the only flower cart in San Diego! Aside from that, I think that the familiarity and friendships I have with my customers is what keeps them coming back. Because I'm a one person operation, I can remember their spouse, their kids, their pets and what they bought three months ago. Also, because the cart is so small, I can typically carry about 20 different types of flowers every week, so when Monday rolls around, I get a fresh new batch depending on what looks good at the market. Something new and different every week!
AF: I love your floral selection and love that you always have something unique and new. Where do you find your inspiration?
C: I find inspiration in my customers; their love stories, their loss, even their new couch! I find inspiration from other florists and the change of seasons. I find inspiration on my morning stroll with Pierre, my dog, and whatever happens to be growing in my neighbors' yards and, lastly, I find inspiration on my daily blog reads, including Art in the Find of course!
AF: How does your brand relate to style/how would you describe the style of your brand/company?
C: I like to think that the flower cart is like slicing off a little piece of Paris and dropping it off in San Diego. I am really drawn to the French culture, Parisienne in particular (I'm even a French major in college), and I wanted to bring that to life. I like to keep things quaint, simple and natural with bursts of color.
AF: How has the designs of your brand/company evolved over the years? What helps to contribute to this evolution?
C: I have only been open for a year and a half and things have already changed so much! I've become more comfortable with my style and my likes and dislikes become a bit more refined. My confidence as a business owner is finally kicking in, I was very timid in the beginning. It has been a steady process and I would say time and experience is what has contributed most to my evolution as a florist.
Want to know more about Claudia & La Belle Bloom?
Check out her blog || Head to her flower stand when you're in Little Italy