Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristina Richardson.
Cristina, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Owning a floral design business began as a thought in college. When my friend and I would get stressed out during midterms and finals, we would always say we should just open up a flower shop. You can’t go wrong with selling flowers- they make everyone smile. Alas, I opted to finish college and began my career as a physical therapist. Fast forward to 2017 when I took a week-long floral design course. It was then that I became hooked on working with nature’s beauties!
The Petal Exchange Floral Design was then established in 2018. At the Petal Exchange, we specialize in creating eco-friendly floral designs for weddings and other special occasions throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties. We offer a large variety of floral arrangement styles and work closely with our clients to make their dream event come to life.
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. Just when my business was on an upward trend Covid-19 reared its ugly head. Weddings have been canceled, clients have opted to elope without need for florals and some events have had to be rescheduled.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The Petal Exchange Floral Design story. Tell us more about the business.
The Petal Exchange has taken an eco-friendly approach to floral design. We recycle, reuse and compost our floral waste. We use foam-free mechanics to minimize our use of single-use plastics. Our goal is to only source flowers from California/USA flower farms thereby ensuring our clients get the freshest flowers possible. After events, we offer our clients the opportunity to donate their flowers to senior living facilities where we offer free flower-arranging workshops.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
When I was young, my family and I would spend summers at my Godparent’s recreational ranch. We would ride horses, swim in the pool and eat food grilled on an open fire. We even got to milk the cows! At night we would gather around the fire and listen to the adults tell stories.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thepetalexchange.com
- Phone: 7144586550
- Email: cristina@thepetalexchange.com
Image Credit:
Lupe Juarez Photography Amber Jean Photography Lucy and Lee Photography Courage and Dash Photography Burrow
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