Today we’d like to introduce you to Todd Lucero.
Hi Todd, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The Bronze Petal came into being in late spring of 2021. As a rare Aroid collector that has a strong background in tropical horticulture, I felt that Denver lacked a serious presence to cater to those wishing to strengthen their unique collection of Araceae. The Bronze Petal is about being an inclusive community with stable/reliable education, and not about the pretentious and aggressive oversight that many feel this industry was headed in.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There were a few issues on what we felt would be an easy transition but in fact weren’t . Mainly from other plant shops that felt our presence would threaten their customer base. We thoroughly thought out where to place the shop and we ultimately settled on the Wash Park neighborhood as there wasn’t a plant shop in the that area. The aggressive competition in the local industry made our opening slightly more challenging, but as we began to build our community we are finding that we are gaining in momentum.
We’ve been impressed with The Bronze Petal, Ltd. , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Bronze Petal, Ltd. is a Denver, Colorado based Aroid company that specializes in the sale and education of common, uncommon, rare, and “holy grail” Aroids in the Mile High City. The Bronze Petal, Ltd. is changing the way altitude and Aroids mix and we are bringing the very best of those two worlds together. We bring nearly 30 years experience to the industry with an extensive personal collection that we want to make available to our clientele. We also provide a wide range of unique and hard-to-find houseplants that will intrigue anyone that walks through our doors. We have a strong background in plant care and guest service, so we’re able to answer questions on the diverse array of flora in the shop. We’re also about engaging with our local community. Example: We have Friday and Saturday wine nights with some local musicians on occasion. We’re also looking into morning yoga and meditation classes after you have some tea. The Petal ( as we call it) has to be community and locally driven. We find that if we can create a sense of community here at the shop, the plants will take care of the rest.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Community matters most! Hands down! The pandemic drew us apart and we’re here to change that. Corporate America sees the pandemic as a ‘vacation’ and nothing could be further from the truth. It was surgical for many of us to be severed from family and friends during that time. Relationships were severely damaged and many lost their job and/or sense of connection. The Bronze Petal is about building up those relationships again and strengthening the community around us in which we live and work. Plants and conversation is where we need to start this dialogue.
Contact Info:
- Email: contacr@thebronzepetal.com
- Website: www.thebronzepetal.com
- Instagram: thebronzepetal
- Facebook: thebronzepetal
