I think about ideas, invention and innovation a lot. In the early 2000’s I spent time in my corporate life leading a large scale innovation effort for McDonald’s Corporation. I learned a lot; especially that it is not as easy as they make it look on shows like Shark Tank. I began to search for new ideas to start something on my own. It always starts with an unmet need; the essence of innovation. During my quest for new ideas, I learned about a business model called “subscription.” This model allows business owners to bill clients monthly with consistency, which is a perfect way to predict one’s cash flow. Now all I needed was an unmet need and a product idea.
The floral industry is a $30 billion market here in the USA, yet until now there has been little to no innovation in the industry, especially for luxury businesses. Fresh-cut floral is gorgeous but it does not last and takes time to care for to insure it lasts even a week. On a business trip to London, I came upon a product called preserved roses. It was at that corner I realized luxury businesses could enjoy the value the product would bring while being beautiful. I smashed all these concepts together and Luxe Bloom was born in the basement of my home.
Luxe Bloom is a transformative innovation in the antiquated floral industry. We sell long lasting rose arrangements to luxury businesses on a monthly recurring basis. The innovation is that the roses do not require water or refrigeration to maintain their natural beauty. Our roses can last up to 60 days in a hospitality environment and save businesses time and money!
Our product is stunning. We worked hard to figure out all aspects of the business from importing, to shipping, pricing and more. Our first client was the Waldorf Astoria in New York City at the famous Guerlain Spa. I was peddling roses in New York assuming it would be a lead market for the finest of luxury. The Spa Director was seeking ways to save money but needed a luxurious product. Sold! We stumbled a bit trying to figure out how to pack and ship the product right to her front door ready to be displayed. Today we are proud to serve Ritz Carlton Chicago, Four Seasons Austin and more. Our clients tell us that we have saved them 30 to 50% cost and time compared to fresh roses. That is the very reason we started Luxe Bloom.
After several meetings pitching visual merchandising experts, we received a call from Saks Fifth Avenue in NY. The visual merchandising team was seeking a way to celebrate Mother’s Day 2015 with their top fragrance vendors in a glamorous installation in all 33 of their windows. After many meetings and several designs, we bid on the complex job. We are pleased to say that debuting May 5th, our two year anniversary, we made it to the big time….New York City’s Saks Fifth Avenue! With 100,000 roses and a lot of physical work we just installed 33 windows with our roses. Not bad for starting in the basement.
Innovation is hard. It takes a willingness to give up everything to make your idea a reality. It also takes the right business plan, allowing bankers to believe in you and illustrating that you can run a company responsibly. At Luxe Bloom, we have a small but mighty team. There's nowhere to hide in an early stage company. I do not believe in luck. Sheer perseverance is the only way to make it happen. Believe in yourself and do whatever it takes to make your idea a reality. Look for us in a hotel lobby, on a nightstand or even in the windows of Saks Fifth Avenue. It can happen.
#saksglamgardens #luxebloomroses