Today we’d like to introduce you to Toni Rose Hernandez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always had a love for flowers and tried to fill my home with them when I could, especially during the stay-at-home orders in 2020. It was then that I came across a flower truck on Instagram and was immediately inspired. I went on an IG/internet rabbit hole and learned that the first one out of a vintage Volkswagen truck started in Nashville back in 2016. From there, many flower-loving entrepreneurs followed suit. I had never seen it before, especially in SoCal, and I thought to myself “SoCal needs to be part of this VW flower truck phenomenon!” The dream took root and two years later, I officially launched in July 2022 with Rosie, a 1970 single cab transporter.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting something new is never easy. The hardest part and what took the longest was finding the truck. Vintage VWs are hard to come by and it took me over a year to find one already in California and one that I could afford. But once that happened, things got rolling pretty fast. I’m quite the planner so while searching for the truck, I wrote down all my ideas and set a timeline and budget. Unsurprisingly, I didn’t stay within the timeline nor the budget. But even so, while it has been a challenging journey, it’s been so fun and fulfilling. And that’s when you know you’re doing something truly worthwhile.
With all that said, I was not alone in all this. My brother-in-law built the flower bar. My friend helped with the logo. Her husband helped get the website domain. My older brother has been a back-up driver. My best friends were extra hands for special events. Above all, my husband has been my biggest supporter. I joke that he’s my unpaid intern, but really, he’s been so patient since day one and continues to cheer me on. Little Rosie is truly a family business!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Little Rosie Flower Truck?
I thought a lot (and still do) about what I want this small business to be. What is the mission and vision? It didn’t take long for me to land on “community” and “joy”. At its heart, Little Rosie is about supporting and uplifting folks and bringing joy through flowers. Yes, I know – it’s just flowers. But flowers can mean so much. They can celebrate a milestone. Comfort someone in grief. Encourage someone who’s lost hope. Let someone know you care. Flowers provide an opportunity for us to love ourselves and those around us.
With that said, we’re available for private events and workshops – birthdays, weddings, baby showers, corporate events, graduations, staff appreciations, etc. Basically, if there’s a celebration, we want to be there! Picking out stems out of a vintage truck makes for a fun and unique experience. Rosie also makes a great photo backdrop. Photographers can rent the truck for sessions. We also love pop-ups – it’s a great opportunity to partner with local businesses. I’ve met the best and most inspiring business owners and hustlers.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
My first advice is to be yourself. I’m inexperienced in this field and can be a bit awkward at times, but people have been kind and receptive, regardless of my social skills (ha!). My next advice is to just start and do, regardless of how prepared you feel. My plan was to have my first pop-up at the end of July 2022 and someone reached out to me to join one a few weeks earlier. I originally declined because I just didn’t FEEL ready. But I eventually accepted and it was the best day. I was not expecting to sell out (I brought a book with me, thinking there would be so much downtime) and was just floored by the support. On top of that, I was able to get my feet wet, work out some kinks, and have an even better official launch pop-up a few weeks later.
Speaking of advice, I’m so happy to have this opportunity to recognize someone who was overflowing with advice and who I consider a mentor – Kristina of Sweet Pea the Flower Truck, (@sweetpeatheflowertruck), located in the SF Bay Area. I reached out to her about a year before launching and she offered to meet on Zoom to answer all my questions. Her kindness and generosity is unmatched and I truly hope Rosie and Sweet Pea can meet IRL one day.
As far as networking, I can’t believe how much growth has happened in a few months just on Instagram. I reached out to different accounts and tried my best to show my genuine excitement to partner with them because of who they are and what they believe in. From growers to coffee shops, clothing boutiques to pop-up markets – I just contacted everybody! I’m also super grateful that folks have been reaching out to me. Like I said, I’ve met the best people who make this new adventure so fun and a wonderful growth experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.littlerosieflowertruck.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/littlerosie.flowertruck
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/littlerosie.flowertruck
Image Credits
Eden K Photography, Toni Rose Hernandez, Hana Storybook
