Check Out Lara DeBroux’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lara DeBroux.

Hi Lara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story as a florist started working in a local grocery store in high school called Alfalfa’s. I work in the floral department and loved it. Then I worked in restaurants in college and studied photography. After college, I moved back home to Boulder and decided to work in a local flower shop. I have always loved working in retail, customer service based jobs, working in fast paced environments, and working with flowers, colors, and art.

The woman who owned the flower shop wanted to sell it and after less than a year of working for her, I decided to forgo photography and jump fully into the floral world, business ownership, and entrepreneurship and bought the business. that was 15 years ago and here I still am!

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?
Is business ownership ever a smooth road? Well not for me. The greatest struggles to date for the flower shop have been making it through a recession, making it through a pandemic, and keeping up somewhat of personal life and some sanity through it all!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I strive to prioritize in-season and local flowers and foliage and greens whenever possible and support other small businesses, farmers, and makers. Fiori tends to veer away from the standard carnation and uninspired rose displays while creating arrangements that are as fresh, local, and thoughtfully sourced as possible, a bit more high-end while still attainable, and super creative. Our arrangements are a little bit more unusual and thoughtful and a little bit unexpected.

You can always do flowers out of your home or garage with way less overhead but having a retail storefront is a unique offering that I am so happy to be able to curate and uphold for the community. the space we currently occupy on Pearl street is historic and you can feel it in the original brick walls. plus My Dad opened an iconic grocery store called pearl street market in the late 70s that shared these same walls.

What were you like growing up?
Honestly, I don’t think I was much different than now! I have always loved flowers, being around people I love, being creative, having fun, curating the community, and dancing, singing, and playing.

Contact Info:

• Website: fioriboulder.com
• Instagram: @fiori.flowers

Image Credits
poppy&co