Business is Blossoming at Root 75

Written By  Gloria Tierney

Kristy Pierre and Katherine Farley opened Root 75 two years ago on Orange Avenue, known officially as Route 75. They’re old friends who first met a Central Elementary, now Village Elementary. 

Since Blooms on Ninth closed, it is the last full-service flower shop in Coronado. However, the Flower Lady at Rotary Park still offers a wide selection of bouquets. Flowers are also available at Vons and Albertsons.

Patch: How has your business changed since opened two years ago?

Katherine Farley: We have had a large increase since we opened. We’ve been booked every weekend from May to November. Weddings still definitely pay the bills.

Kristy Pierre: In the beginning the bulk of our business events was weddings and dinner parties, now we are getting more requests for deliveries. We deliver personally. Our arrangements can also be wired flowers through B|Brooks, (a by invitation only online flower consortium.)

Patch: What’s special about your floral arrangements?

Pierre: We pick flowers that are more interesting and more natural. We also have herbs that we design with. We like things to be natural, lots of texture. All of our arrangements are custom so we can take request and create exactly what the customer wants.

Farley: We like really textual interesting sometimes old fashioned feeling flowers, but I think they pair really well in more modern vessels. On the opposite side we like actual vessels like milk glass and mercury glass filled with really cool quirky elements. We call the style vintage modern.

Patch: Why did you open a flower shop?

Farley: We were looking for away to get back into the business world after having our children. I have an almost four year old and an almost seven year old; Katherine has an almost four year old. Both of us loved flowers. Katherine had 10 years experience working in a flower shop in Chicago and New York.

Patch: What else do you sell in your shop?

Farley: Home goods, like candles, vases, quirky décor pieces like Jonathan Adler match strikes and while pitchers, glassware and orange and park prints.

Patch: What are the highs and lows of running a flower shop?

Pierre and Farley: It’s a pretty fun job. You get to put a smile on people’s faces. You walk in and you can’t deny the general happiness that flowers bring. As working mom’s its great to be able to bring your kids to work with you when the nanny gets sick. On the down side, when you own your own business you live and breathe the business. There is little time for anything else.