Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherri Tan.
Sherri, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I moved to LA on a whim at the end of 2015. I’ve just graduated from business school on the east coast after walking away from almost a decade on Wall Street. I thought it is time to make a lifestyle change in addition to a career change. A beach bum at heart (I was born and raised on an island in Malaysia), I have always known that I wanted to live close to the ocean. But my past 10 years living in big cities like New York, Hong Kong & Singapore effectively limit my choices to cities that are by the ocean yet diverse and exciting enough for a self-proclaimed world citizen like me.
I started out looking for a job just like most recent graduates. I was interviewing for associate positions at real estate companies, but none of them seem receptive on taking a chance on someone like me with strong experience in finance but not significant experiences in real estate.
I was on the verge of giving up when I casually chatted with a friend of mine in NY who is opening up his first restaurant in L.A. (Shibumi DTLA). He asked if I could help out with fund-raising and overseeing operations at the restaurant. I agreed, not knowing that it would set me on a new path of no-return.
My experience with Shibumi kickstarted a new-found passion in investing in small business, getting operationally involved, and helping them grow to their fullest potential. Thus, when another friend of mine who has owned a bridal shop for 10 years is looking to exit the increasingly challenging industry (Alfred Angelo’s bankruptcy, David’s Bridals’ 3rd bankruptcy earlier this year, a few smaller bridal boutiques in west LA shutting down etc), I decided to rise to the challenge and agreed to take over the business.
Fleurish L.A. is born after a complete rebranding and repositioning that incorporate my personal believe in profit with a purpose. For every wedding dress we sell, Fleurish L.A. donates a prom dress to a high school girl in need. As each bride transition into the new phase of their life as wife and mother, we thought their best gift to another girl is to help them flourish into womanhood, rounding out a beautiful cycle of life.
Has it been a smooth road?
Perhaps it is the optimist in me talking but I see every obstacle as a learning opportunity/experience to improve on. That said, I am incredibly grateful to my team at Fleurish L.A. for making this journey to the launch and opening of Fleurish L.A. relatively smooth-sailing.
My friend from New York who was transitioning out of a public-health non-profit she was running agreed to take a chance on me and move out here to realize and grow my vision for Fleurish L.A. We had a steep learning curve in this industry but I am proud to say we are gaining momentum every day and making brides’ dreams come true!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Fleurish L.A. – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Fleurish L.A. is born after a complete rebranding and repositioning that incorporate my personal believe in profit with a purpose. This is a mission I am most passionate/proud of. For every wedding dress we sell, Fleurish L.A. donates a prom dress to a high school girl in need. As each bride transition into the new phase of their life as wife and mother, we thought their best gift to another girl is to help them flourish into womanhood, rounding out a beautiful cycle of life.
Fleurish’s manifesto is “fun, effortless, chic” – we pride ourselves in creating a fun and stress-free bridal dress-shopping experience for brides & bridesmaids. Our team of experienced stylists (we call them Fleurish Fairies) style brides with elegance and ease to create an effortlessly chic look. We understand that wedding planning can be stressful but we firmly believe that finding the “dream dress” that completes the “best day of your life” should be a dream come true in itself!
As a boutique, we curate our bridal gown designers carefully with a focus on elegant yet playful and romantic designs. We carry a few mainstream designer brands along with a few couture European & Israeli designers, with price points to suit different budgets.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
As someone who previously identified as a New Yorker, I surprised myself (and my friends!) by how much I have come to love LA. I fully embrace every part of what makes LA unique – the beaches, weather, the traffic, the people, the lifestyle, the entertainment scene here. If I have to choose what I like best, it has to be the opportunity to drive on the PCH up the coast to Malibu, and taking walks on the beach/boardwalk at night!
I guess most people would point to traffic as the least likable part of LA but honestly, I am not too bothered by it since I take that time to listen to music/podcasts or just relaxing in my private space (my car). I’d rather be in traffic in my car then being stuck in a packed subway in rush hour (in NY).
I used to love New York because it gives me this amazing sense of possibility, being the “concrete jungle where dreams are made of”, as Jay-Z so aptly put it in The Empire State of Mind. But LA has really taken over that spot for me. My life in New York was very focused on Wall Street/finance stuffs but in LA I am everything I ever wanted to be: I am involved in some finance/real estate ventures, yet there is a distinct creative and relax vibe here that inspires me to work on my creative ventures as well (I’m working on making a short film on cultural identity). And the best part is – creative talent is so abundant in LA I feel very supported in this endeavor!
Pricing:
- Majority of our mainstream designer bridal gowns range between $1300 – $5000.
- Our couture European & Israeli designers gowns range between $5000 – $12000.
- We have a good selection of bridesmaid & prom dresses ranging between $150 – $400.
Contact Info:
- Address: Fleurish L.A.
11263 National Blvd.,
West Los Angeles, CA 90064 - Website: https://www.fleurishla.com/
- Phone: 3103125500
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fleurishla
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fleurishla/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fleurishl
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fleurish-l-a-los-angeles
- Other: https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/fleurish-la-los-angeles-ca-1043746
Image Credit:
David Yu @davidsiqi
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
