Today we’d like to introduce you to Ora Burley.
Hi Ora, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
818 Floral Boutique Bar began from a love of flowers, creativity, and the desire to create something that felt personal and meaningful. My entrepreneurial journey actually started with 818 Shop, a women’s boutique that I launched in 2018. Over time, I realized that my creativity was leading me in a different direction, and that evolution eventually became 818 Floral Boutique Bar.
I officially started 818 Floral Boutique Bar on April 20, 2022, a date that holds a very special meaning in my heart because it was the day my grandmother passed away. What began during a very emotional time in my life became something beautiful—an opportunity to turn my creativity and passion into a business centered around helping people express love, celebrate life, and honor the people who mean the most to them.
Since then, it has truly been a journey. I started small and have continued to learn, grow, create, and build the brand one arrangement at a time. From sympathy florals and heartfelt gifts to luxury bouquets, event florals, and unique floral designs, 818 Floral Boutique Bar has continued to evolve.
What started as a passion has grown into a vision for something much bigger. I’m currently working toward opening our physical location, where I want 818 Floral Boutique Bar to become more than a place to purchase flowers. I envision it as a beautiful, welcoming floral experience where people can celebrate, create, gather, and make memories.
I’m proud of how far 818 has come, but I’m even more excited about where it’s going. This is only the beginning.
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?
My journey with 818 Floral Boutique Bar has been anything but a straight line. I originally started my entrepreneurial journey with 818 Shop in 2018, but life took me in a different direction. I got married and, for a period of time, I put my business aside to focus on being a full-time wife and taking care of my family.
During that season of my life, I was also navigating my own struggles with anxiety and depression while helping care for my elderly parents. There were times when I had to put my own dreams on the back burner because my family needed me. Although that chapter was challenging, it taught me a lot about responsibility, resilience, patience, and putting one foot in front of the other even when life doesn’t look the way you imagined it would.
Eventually, I realized that I couldn’t completely let go of the entrepreneur in me. I returned to my passion for flowers and began rebuilding 818 Floral Boutique Bar. What started as something I had put aside became something I was determined to bring back to life.
At the same time, I decided to pursue another passion of mine: funeral service. I enrolled in funeral directing school because I wanted a career where I could serve families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. I am currently continuing that journey and plan to return for the embalming portion of my education so that I can earn my Associate of Applied Science degree and become a well-rounded funeral professional.
Balancing entrepreneurship, marriage, family responsibilities, school, and my personal journey has not always been easy. But I’ve learned that sometimes you have to pause your dream without abandoning it. 818 Floral Boutique Bar is proof that you can step away, grow through different seasons of life, and come back with an even clearer vision of what you want to build.
Today, I’m rebuilding 818 with intention. My vision is to grow it into more than just a floral business—to create a beautiful experience and eventually a physical space where people can celebrate, connect, create memories, and experience flowers in a completely different way. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m excited because I truly believe I’m just getting started.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
818 Floral Boutique Bar is a floral design business focused on creating beautiful, intentional arrangements that help people express emotions, celebrate milestones, and make meaningful moments unforgettable. I specialize in luxury floral arrangements, hand-tied bouquets, box arrangements, sympathy florals, corporate and event florals, and custom designs created around each client’s vision.
What I love most about flowers is that they can say something when words aren’t enough. Whether someone is celebrating love, sending an apology, honoring someone they’ve lost, celebrating a birthday, or simply reminding someone that they’re loved, I want every arrangement to feel personal and intentional.
I’m known for creating bold, eye-catching arrangements that have personality. I don’t want 818 to look or feel like every other flower shop. I want the brand to have a distinctly Houston feel—luxurious, creative, confident, and unapologetically unique. My goal is for someone to see an arrangement and immediately know, “That looks like 818.”
What I’m most proud of is the fact that I continued to pursue this dream even after putting my business aside for a season of my life. Rebuilding 818 while balancing marriage, caring for my family, school, and my own personal challenges has required a lot of determination. I’m proud that I didn’t give up on something that has always been a part of me.
What sets 818 Floral Boutique Bar apart is the experience and the vision behind the brand. I don’t want to simply sell flowers; I want to create moments. My long-term vision is to have a physical space that combines floral design, creativity, events, and community. I envision a place where people can come together for private events, floral classes, celebrations, and other experiences while surrounding themselves with beautiful flowers.
For me, 818 is about more than flowers. It’s about creating something people remember.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something most people probably wouldn’t guess about me is that I can actually play basketball! Lol I also really enjoy fishing. Those are two sides of me that people don’t necessarily see when they think of a floral business owner.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.818floralboutiquebar.com
- Instagram: 818floralboutiquebar_
- Facebook: 818floralboutiquebar
