The Moment it Became Real

Even though there were many small moments along the way where I realized Fleur was becoming something real, I still found ways to doubt it. Even when something exciting happened, my mind would immediately say, “No, I need to do more.” Or “No, it’s not enough.” Or even “It’s just a flower shop.”

Looking back, I realize I had become my own worst critic. Instead of letting those moments affirm the dream, I kept moving the goalpost forward.

There were so many tiny signals that Fleur was growing into something meaningful — customers discovering us through friends, people walking in saying they had heard about us, social media slowly gaining traction. But for some reason, I kept telling myself it wasn’t a big deal yet. The moment that truly changed that mindset came on Fleur’s third birthday.

I was sitting in my room alone, reflecting on the past three years. Looking through photos, watching old videos, remembering the early days — the quiet shop, the slow weeks, the uncertainty. As I sat there thinking about everything Fleur had been through to get to that moment, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. By that time, I had an incredible team beside me, and Fleur had grown in ways I never expected. Sitting there with tears in my eyes and a full heart, I remember thinking how grateful I was to have been given the opportunity to build something like this.

And then, right in the middle of that moment, I received an email. It was from Nordstrom.

At first, I genuinely thought it was a scam. The email was written by the store manager, who explained that she had been gifted flowers from Fleur. She described the experience of receiving them as one of the most beautiful and thoughtful flower deliveries she had ever experienced — from the arrangement itself to the packaging and details. She then asked if we would consider opening a Fleur pop-up inside Nordstrom. I remember sitting there staring at the email in disbelief.

For a moment, everything slowed down.

Seeing It Differently

Up until that point, I had still been telling myself that Fleur was just a small flower shop. But that email forced me to see something differently. It made me realize that Fleur was reaching people in ways I hadn’t fully allowed myself to acknowledge. Someone had received a bouquet, felt something special, and that feeling traveled all the way back to us. That was the moment my thinking shifted.

Instead of asking, “Is this enough?” I began asking, “What if this really is something?”

From Surreal to Real

Fast forward, and of course, the email was real. Nordstrom truly did want Fleur inside their store. Even after our first meeting and walkthrough, I still had moments where I couldn’t believe it was happening. And even once the pop-up opened, it still felt surreal. But that email changed something inside me.

It helped me understand that Fleur had grown beyond just an idea. It had become something people recognized, something people valued, something people wanted to experience. It was no longer just my dream. It had become something real.

A Reminder I Carry With Me

Even today, every time someone walks out of one of our stores holding a Fleur bag, I’m reminded that something very special happens when flowers are given with intention.

XoXo,
Your Fleurist,
Angelina