We had the good fortune of connecting with Niki Santana and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Niki, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Woman and Afro-Latina Owned, Rosas de Alma Florals is a Premium Pop Up boutique that specializes in arranging with the freshest and most unique blooms. We dedicate time to make all our arrangements with love and it comes straight from the ALMA, straight from the SOUL ! We provide a more personalized service, taking the time to understand our clients specific needs and preferences and we offer a unique selection of blooms and arrangements that are not typically found in larger commercial stores, but are personalized for our clients, especially providing a higher quality of blooms for our clients.

Rosas de Alma Florals came to fruition because I wanted to create a different type of floral boutique where we can offer a variety of premium arrangements and services, as well, as “pop – up” in various flea markets throughout LA as a DIY Flower Bar. One of our services includes collaborating with the Silver Lake Flea Market and Discotheque Salon in Silver Lake, where we bring in a DIY Flower Bar for guests to create their own arrangement for themselves or their loved ones. We enjoy including our clients creativity in our arrangements; and that’s why Rosas de Alma Florals was created. Along with our pop ups, we offer a range of services from Corporate Events to Hospitality Floral Design to Weddings.

The thought process behind all this started with my wonderful mother. Growing up in Downtown Jersey City, NJ, every time we went to the grocery store, my mother always made it a point to always purchase flowers to place on the kitchen table. Growing up, I would always see a different kind of arrangement and I grew to have a love for flowers. I saw how happy it made me, even on my lowest of days, and how happy it made anyone that came to visit. My mother, whose name is Alma and means “soul” in Spanish, inspired me to name my business after her. To me, every arrangement I make are the versions of the flowers she brought home. Opening up this pop-up floral business is a reminder that I can bring happiness to others but also happiness within myself, when I’m popping up at different locations and selling our arrangements. I’ve always wanted to have something to take my creativity out and making these premium arrangements not only brings me to create amazing floral design and arrangements but also challenges myself with different blooms, colors and design, sprinkled with a little thought and dedication to my mother.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
At Rosas de Alma Florals, we want to provide memorable local customer experience through premium floral arrangements. We love to build relationships with local customers, growers and participate in community events to strengthen our ties to the local area. We’re not only a “Premium Pop up Floral Boutique”, we also customize for Corporate Offices/Events, Hotels and Restaurant Hospitality Floral Design, Personal Arrangements, Birthdays, Weddings, Funerals, Film Production Floral Set Design and we pop up with a DIY Flower Bar at the local markets. We’re also starting a subscription service for bi-monthly delivery floral orders for corporate offices and hotels!

It’s never easy to start a business from the bottom up, however between building relationships and networking, I was able to put my name out and market. Staying resilient and consistent and setting goals is something that I learned to help grow my business. Although, I also work heavily in logistics and numbers in the television production entertainment industry as well, Rosas de Alma Florals allows me to work on what I love, which is being creative. The process of creating an arrangement can be deeply therapeutic, providing a sense of mindfulness and relaxation. It allows me and helps me engage with blooms, clients, markets and vendors on a daily basis to make beautiful arrangements. Being allowed to have an outlet for self-expression, and allowing me to share my ideas, and unique perspective with the world through floral blooms is so special. There’s a deep sense of accomplishment in creating something that didn’t exist before, and taking our clients ideas and requests makes the process itself deeply fulfilling. Whether someone is choosing flowers for their meaning, colors for their emotional resonance, or an aesthetic that speaks to them, the process becomes a great form of self-expression for both myself and my client.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When anyone visits LA, we have to check out the local bars and restaurants! The start of the day with brunch, Eat This Cafe, has a great variety of dishes and mimosas! For some yummy pizza and the best bread in LA, I love to check out Grandmasters Records in Hollywood, included with a rooftop and some dancing in the first floor for the night. For some tapas, Bacari in Silver Lake has the best ones (they also have brunch!) And for some delicious Italian, Osteria la Buca is where it’s at. If Thai is being craved, Night & Market Song in Echo Park is the place to go. Checking out a concert at the Greek or the Hollywood Bowl is always so much fun! On weekends, of course we have to shop at the Silver Lake Flea and the Los Feliz Flea and go on a hike at Griffith Park. If anyone wants to have some late night cocktails, Gold Line in Highland Park is always a nice vibe. And for some late night food or some really good wings, Ye Rustic is one of the best!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to thank the overwhelming support of my family and friends and supporters, they’ve been my #1 cheerleaders since I brought up the idea to open up a floral boutique business. Super special shout out to Greg, who has been there since the beginning and has always had the most confidence in me. Special shout out to Kayla who opened up her salon for my arrangements, my mentor Juan Carlos who has taught me amazing tips and tricks of the business, and of course my wedding/event and flea market team – from their incredible hard work helping me set up, lifting up buckets and helping with the heaviest of arrangements to showcase what we can bring to the table. Anyone can check out our arrangements at the next flea market, just follow us on Instagram on where we’ll pop-up!

Website: https://www.instagram.com/rosasdealma.la?igsh=Ynh3YzNjZ2t6M2Fk&utm_source=qr

Instagram: @rosasdealma.la

Other: Email: rosasdealma.la@gmail.com

Image Credits
Salon Pop-Up Photos by Ricky Rosario
Wedding Photos by Patricio Angelo

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.