Faced with the unattractive offer of online flower deliveries, Olivier and Louis, two French expatriates in New York, saw an opportunity: that of putting French know-how and elegance at the service of their start-up. up, Ode to the Rose. A thriving company that has continued to grow since its launch, and whose delivery area now extends over most of the United States. Ôde à la Rose even offers same-day delivery service in six cities across the country, namely New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin, Miami and Washington.
But how do we move from the austere world of banking to that of online rose deliveries? This is what we wanted to know by interviewing Olivier Plusquellec, co-founder of Ôde à la Rose.
What brought you to New York?
My father being an expatriate for a French company in the United States, I was raised in New York where I stayed until the age of 13 before returning to live in France for around ten years. Then, when I finished my studies in Paris, I decided to come back to live in the United States and settled in New York for my first job.
We saw an opportunity to highlight French floral know-how
How did the idea for Ode to the Rose come about?
After spending a few years in the banking sector, the desire to embark on an entrepreneurial adventure with my partner, Louis Brunet, became increasingly strong. We explored several industries and when we looked at the floral delivery industry in the United States, we realized that it had barely evolved since the emergence of e-commerce. The companies all offered similar bouquets, far from French quality and design standards. We then saw an opportunity to highlight French floral know-how, by offering quality products, with careful packaging and a brand that meets the expectations of a young and urban clientele.
What difficulties did you encounter in this adventure?
We had no prior knowledge of floral design or digital marketing, which meant we had to learn absolutely everything from the start. The floral industry is complex, primarily due to the perishable and fragile nature of flowers, as well as significant logistical challenges. Indeed, this activity experiences periods of high demand at certain times of the year, particularly during Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day. Since the launch of our company, we have experienced constant growth, which has gradually allowed us to gain the necessary experience.
How do you work together?
We are very complementary. In the beginning, we tended to do a lot of things together, but as the company grew, we realized we needed to separate our responsibilities. I oversee the day-to-day financial management of the company, marketing and relations with our investors, while Louis is responsible for products, logistics, our production workshops, as well as the entire IT infrastructure.
What can we wish you for the future?
To continue to grow each year and become a brand recognized throughout the United States for the quality of its products and the experience it provides to its customers.
2024-03-17 17:17:15
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