Hidden Gems: Meet Michael Jacobson of French Florist

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Jacobson.

Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Americans see flowers as a luxury. They’re not.

They’re proof that life can still be beautiful. That someone thought of you. That you matter. In much of the world, flowers are part of daily life. In the U.S., they’re often saved for apologies, holidays, or loss.

I never planned to enter the floral industry. I was helping my uncle close his failing flower shop in Los Angeles. But when I looked around, I saw the problem wasn’t just his. It was everywhere. The entire industry had become transactional. Fast. Generic. Stripped of meaning.

So I stayed, out of frustration with what they’d become.

I rebuilt the business from scratch, from operational proprietary software, to deep supply chain enhancement, and a delivery experience that makes people feel something. We elevated the emotional and operational standard and not just a small amount.

That’s how French Florist began.

Today, we’re growing with multiple flagship locations and a very special franchise model. Our mission has always been quite clear: to help create a more loving and compassionate world through flowers.

We remind people what flowers are.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not even close.

The road has been anything but smooth, because we weren’t just building a business, we were rebuilding expectations for the market. People are used to buying flowers very transactionally. So creating something slower, better, and meaningful took constant convincing of customers, vendors, and team members. It still does.

We had to build everything from scratch. We built our own systems, our own design standards, our own supply chain. There was no template that someone paved for us. Just a belief that it is meaningful to bring something like what we’re doing into the world.

There have been cash crunches, hiring learnings, even doubts. While those struggles existed, it has been clear to stay true to the vision, even when cutting corners would’ve made things easier. I think that is the temptation in any industry.

But, we chose depth instead.

And it’s that choice, over and over again, that’s gotten us here and will continue to take us where we think the market needs us to be.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about French Florist?
We could say we have the best quality, the best designs, the best client service. And maybe we do. But that’s not our place to say. The marketplace decides that. Our clients decide that.

What we can say is this:

We understand how powerful flowers really are, I think more than any other company. And so we know how much trust is put in us when someone places an order with us.

We take excruciating measures to honor that moment the recipient receives their flowers. We build our systems, train our team, and design every step of the process to handle each order with more precision, care, and reverence than any company we’ve ever seen in this space. Why? Because it matters.

And we think that’s why our clients come back.

Because they can feel that we mean it. It’s who we are.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
“You are who you are, when nobody’s looking.”

In the early days for us it was about setting high standards for how we show up in the marketplace. As you grow, I’d say hold the standard, even and especially when it’s inconvenient. I obsess, especially over the little things.

We build with conviction in bringing something into the world we think it will enjoy, not for ambition by itself.

I think everything that matters starts there.

Pricing:

• Arrangements start at $50
• Franchise startup fee: 45k (2025)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.frenchflorist.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frenchflorist/reels/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frenchflorist/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/french-florist/
• Other: https://www.frenchfloristfranchise.com