How One Florist Escaped the Wire Service Trap and Built a Profitable Business
- August 4, 2025
- 4 minutes read
Florists of BloomNation: Chita’s Floral Design From Survival Mode to Scalable Success
When Chita Avalos opened Chita’s Floral Design in Downey, California, she was doing what many florists do to stay afloat: juggling multiple wire services, outsourcing SEO, and trying to keep up with competitors while holding on to shrinking margins.
Now, she runs a thriving, high-volume shop with full control of her profit and brand. But getting there wasn’t easy.
We sat down with Chita to discuss what nearly broke her business and what turned everything around.
Q: Let’s go back to the beginning. What was it like when you first opened your shop?
Chita: I opened in 2014, and like most new florists, I signed up for all three wire services. It felt like the only option at the time. But after a while, I realized I was working for them, not for myself. Between all the hidden fees and forced charges, I was lucky if I broke even.
Q: When did you start to see things needed to change?
Chita: It became clear that I wasn’t building my business. I was fulfilling orders, but customers weren’t coming back to me. I was invisible online, and even though I was working nonstop, I wasn’t seeing the growth I needed.
Q: How did you discover BloomNation?
Chita: Farbod, BloomNation’s co-founder, actually walked into my shop one day. He told me what they were building and how it was different from the wire services I was using. At first, I was skeptical because I’d heard a lot of promises before. But something about the way he spoke, how passionate he was about helping florists like me, made me want to give it a try.
And I’m so glad I did. I saw the difference almost immediately. My sales started going up, I had more visibility on Google, and for the first time, I felt like I was building my brand, not someone else’s.
Q: You left BloomNation briefly. What happened?
Chita: I did. A web designer offered to build me a custom site for $1,500, and I thought I’d give it a shot. But within three months, my sales dropped. The site looked fine, but it wasn’t built to perform. I had to call him for every little change, and nothing was integrated. I came back to BloomNation quickly, and they had me back online within days.
Q: What changed once you returned?
Chita: Everything. BloomNation gave me a system that worked for my business, not against it. Now, I don’t have to worry about paying extra for SEO, proposals and invoicing, wedding and events tools, managing marketing, or dealing with a clunky website. It’s all there, and it works.
Q: Can you talk about some of the tools that have made a difference for you?
Chita: The built-in email marketing is huge. I used to have no email program, and now I make thousands during the holidays from BloomNation’s managed campaigns. I also love being able to test product photos, pricing, and placement on my website, especially around peak seasons. And I don’t need to call anyone to make changes, it’s all flexible and easy to use.
Q: What advice do you have for florists who are still relying on wire services or outdated platforms?
Chita: You’re probably doing more work than you need to, and making less than you should. You’re a great florist, but you also need the right system to support your growth. BloomNation gave me that. It’s not just about orders; it’s about owning your brand, building relationships with your customers, and keeping your profit.
Chita’s Floral Design is now one of the most successful flower shops in Downey, California. Her story is a testament to the power of choosing a platform that work for florists, not against them.
