The holidays are here and if you are looking for a gift for the person who has everything, I always find you can’t go wrong with a plant. My home is always filled with fresh flowers, orchids, and succulents. We all know a walk out in nature can have a calming effect on the body and mind, so it makes sense that surrounding your interior space with greenery can also make you feel at ease.
Recently, I was introduced to a new, Los Angeles-based floral company called Bloom2Bloom. It was launched by two young women, Whitney Port and Laurenne Resnik, who created a business that not only brings fresh flowers and succulents to your door, but donates a portion of each purchase to Wish Upon A Teen.
It’s a gift that gives back, and I, for one, can say it feels good to give some green. 🙂
Here’s what Resnik and Port had to say about their blooming business:
Q: What prompted you to start a flower delivery company?
Resnick: “Launching a flower brand first occurred to me while taking a business class back in college, and it turned into a passion over the years. Then Whitney and I met last summer, we got together and hit it off and it seemed like the perfect fit.”
Port: “A big reason why I was so drawn to do this was because of the give back component. In starting Bloom2Bloom, our aim was to create a flower-buying experience that merges both style and social impact, where the purchase of the flowers is a way to give back with each purchase. This makes everything we’re doing every day more meaningful for me.”
Q: What makes your floral brand different than others?
A: “Bloom2Bloom is the first fashion-forward flower brand to make fresh, locally grown blooms accessible and convenient. We also strive to make an impact – whether it be through supporting local flower farmers right here in the U.S., or giving back with each purchase. We work hard to minimize our impact on the environment and a portion of each Bloom2Bloom purchase helps fund the design of a hospital room for teens suffering from long-term illness through our work with Wish Upon A Teen Foundation.”
Q: Flowers are a great gift for almost every occasion. Why do you think that is?
A: “Flowers make people smile. While they are not a necessity, they so beautifully capture the very human gesture of showing another her or she is thought of for pretty much any occasion.”
Q: You have a beautiful selection of flowers on your site, but you also offer the option of sending succulents. When should someone send succulents instead of flowers?
A: “There really aren’t rules around sending flowers vs. succulents. That being said, succulents are an on-trend option for almost any occasion and people will order them as a gift that can outlast a bouquet, making them great for the holidays or really any time of year.
Q: Giving back is a big part of your message. Why did you decide to give a portion of each purchase to Wish Upon A Teen?
A: Port: “Similar to why flowers are a great gift, giving flowers is a beautiful way of showing someone they are thought of. Choosing a nonprofit organization to partner with, we really wanted the opportunity to extend that same gesture, even after the blooms are gone.
That’s why we work with Wish Upon A Teen, a nonprofit organization through which each Bloom2Bloom purchase helps design a teen’s hospital room right here in the U.S. These teens go through so much, and they constantly receive necessities. Designing their hospital rooms in whatever theme they choose is a reminder that they are thought of, and just like anyone else, they deserve to smile.
We have designed many hospital rooms ourselves, and we love being involved with the organization and the events they host. Each and every room design is unbelievably meaningful; meeting the teen and his or her family, and connecting with him or her in a way that doesn’t at all involve the illness or injury is something I can’t quite put into words. It’s a moment where you each let your guard down and learn about each other, and realize what it is that makes you happy. One of the greatest parts is knowing that as Bloom2Bloom continues to grow, so does the impact we have with Wish Upon A Teen.”
Q: Do you have a personal connection to the non-profit?
A: Port: “I had the opportunity to work with Wish Upon A Teen as a volunteer prior to our partnership with them. I was, and continue to be, so moved by the impact that they make. They focus so much on reminding children and teens that they just deserve to be like anyone else, and to smile and be happy. It’s a gesture that is so human, and that never stops reminding me of the opportunity and the responsibility we have to do good.”
