Today we’d like to introduce you to Genesis Martinez.
Genesis, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My idea started at the end of 2017, being a senior at Sam Houston State University, I didn’t know what I was capable of starting or doing on my own? My plate was full, being that it was my last year of college, had a part time job at a restaurant along with an internship in Houston. I wanted something of my own that would define my visions.
Coming from two parents that came to the U.S. at seventeen years of age to begin their journey on their American dream to have now both their own businesses. My mom with a dry-cleaning business for over twenty-one years and a father that started as a diesel mechanic that now has a commercial vehicle repair shop. I saw how hard they worked and wanted something of my own that I could leave for my children.
I have always had an artistic side that I only did on my free time, but I asked myself “what I could do that I would love and incorporate God’s nature?” I loved floral arrangements and how they made someone’s day… It didn’t matter how big or small, so I started working on everything I thought I would need from materials, space, and my logo. I then partnered up with a Houston photographer Daniel Rodriguez that helped me generate logo ideas and photography skills that would benefit me along the way with my business. I then decided to set a launch date after I graduated which was in December 2018.
By that time, I had so many friends and contacts that wanted MY services. It was shocking to me on how many people were supporting this small idea I thought I would just do for fun into becoming a small floral shop in Houston. I started making these arrangements from home designing my own ideas too actually having up to 45-100 orders for season like Valentine’s Day. Having my own tent starting at 4:00am in the morning up to my last arrangement at 11:30 pm. I then started to realize how much dedication a small business needed to become a lifelong dream of one day owning a large floral shop. I have now done several local weddings, baby showers, baptisms, church alter arrangements and more. I have something to look forward to every day, whether it be just creating a flyer for my next holiday or make someone’s day with a floral arrangement.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?Everyone always has bumps on the road, and honestly, I can say I’ve felt like I was at a dead end at times. Whether it was funding or time management I had to be a problem solver at any given time to make sure my service was to its best ability. I wouldn’t call these obstacles but learning curves. Little did I know the best and biggest curve ball would come my way in March 2019. After numerous hours of booking and organizing arrangements in February for Valentine’s Day, I found myself a lot more exhausted which was not like me. I found out I was newly expecting, my first child.
During the next nine months I had an even bigger flame in me to strive for bigger and better opportunities as an individual and for Kasa De Las Flores. I pictured my floral business blossoming but made me want to work harder because I knew I had someone I could teach and one day leave my business to and she could work hand and hand like I did with my parents.
This new chapter in my life brought mw more of a motivation because it was if my child was working with me the while growing inside of me! There were a handful of stressful moments, when I wanted to give up because I didn’t have any more energy but I kept going because of what was ahead of me in the future for myself and my daughter.
Kasa De Las Flores – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Kasa De Las Flores is known for floral arrangements custom made to the customers vision. They give me a color scheme and I create it with different flowers and greenery. I try to incorporate different ideas to them and let them also be a part of creation of the arrangement. I have also done local weddings with 100 centerpieces to 25 centerpieces for baby showers, church alters and company weekly arrangements for large corporate meetings.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success doesn’t mean a huge bottom line. Success is hard work. It is not accomplished as fast as we want it but it is totally worth the wait when it arrives. My biggest satisfaction at Kasa De Las Flores is communicating with my customers and their response to our creation to make a loved one happy. The other end I make most of the deliveries myself and being able to see the reaction of the receiver is the icing on the cake! Being able to change someone’s mood or emotion with flowers is what makes me happy and the real idea behind Kasa De Las Flores.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 713.501.2632
- Email: kasadelasflores@gmail.com
- Instagram: Kasadelasflores
- Facebook: @kasadelasflores
Image Credits:
Image credits to @danielrodriguez
KanisPhotography
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