Established in 2017 by Itika Oldwine, Oldvine Florals has emerged as a vibrant floral enterprise in downtown Los Angeles, presenting modern and breathtaking floral installations.
Nestled in the heart of the Old Financial District, just a stone’s throw away from the historic Flower Market, Oldvine has quickly become one of the city’s premier floral businesses.
Oldwine’s journey into the floral industry is both inspirational and unique. With a background in marketing, she transitioned from a corporate career to one rooted in creativity and floral artistry.
In a recent interview with the L.A. Sentinel during Black Business Month, Oldwine shared her experiences, insights into the fragrance industry, and words of encouragement for budding entrepreneurs.
Having collaborated with some of the world’s most luxurious brands, including Cartier, Ferragamo, Dior, Alexander Wang, and Louis Vuitton, Oldwine has firmly established herself within the high-end floral design landscape.
Originally hailing from the Bay Area, Oldwine moved to Southern California to attend UCLA for her undergraduate studies.
After graduating, she ventured to Chicago to work for the Oprah Winfrey Show.
Following the show’s conclusion in 2010, she returned to Los Angeles to delve into a marketing career.
She worked for AEG at L.A. Live for two years before launching her marketing firm, where she had the fortune of meeting Eric Buterbaugh, a significant influence in her journey.
Known as “The King of Roses,” Eric Buterbaugh is a renowned floral designer and fragrance creator, celebrated for his collaborations with celebrities, fashion houses, and even royalty.
After her two-year stint at Eric Buterbaugh Design, Oldwine took the bold step of launching her own floral business to express her unique artistic vision, infusing modern twists into the traditional floral landscape of Los Angeles.
For Oldwine, flowers embody not just beauty, but also the ability to convey emotions and reflect personal taste.
Reflecting on her career in the floral industry, she stated, “People who love flowers are amazing; they are good people, they are kind people, and they are usually people who are generous because they’re giving gifts or being thoughtful.”
Oldwine credits her husband for encouraging her to open her own flower shop, emphasizing that she possessed a solid understanding of the floral business after working closely with Buterbaugh.
As she began to strategize her clientele, she recognized the potential within the Black community, which had a strong appreciation for floral aesthetics.
Highly aware of the importance of word-of-mouth within her community, Oldwine initiated her online floral business.
Just six months into her new venture, an opportunity arose when a former UCLA classmate informed her about Matt Barnes, an investor interested in backing small businesses.
With the aspiration of opening a brick-and-mortar storefront, Oldwine realized she would need substantial funding to turn her dream into reality.
Accessing loans as a small business can be particularly challenging, especially for a Black woman, but Barnes became her angel investor and helped launch Oldvine Floral Studios in 2017.
With nearly a decade of unwavering support from her community, Oldvine Florals has flourished.
In her latest venture, Oldvine Fragrance, Oldwine continues to break barriers as the first global luxury fragrance brand founded by a Black female floral designer.
The fragrance industry presents its own set of challenges, requiring a more intimate customer experience, as clients often prefer to test products before purchasing.
“As it turns out, promoting fragrances is tougher,” Oldwine admitted, highlighting the unique challenges compared to floral arrangements, which customers readily associate with visual beauty.
Initially, the fragrance was available in stores, but after reassessing the business model, the decision was made to transition to online sales, offering one fragrance and two candles.
Each product boasts high-quality packaging, made from the same glass as Baccarat, featuring expertise from some of the best noses in the industry.
Despite the high costs associated with running a business, Oldwine speaks with pride about the fragrances and candles, noting that they provide an alternative for customers outside the greater Los Angeles area who may not have access to her floral designs.
Oldwine emphasizes progress over perfection, embracing the wisdom passed down from her grandmother: “only God is perfect.”
This mantra allows her to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship without the pressure of striving for an unrealistic ideal.
Her positive outlook and dedication have left a lasting impact in the floral industry and continue to inspire many.
The story of Oldvine Florals exemplifies the power of creativity, community support, and resilience in the face of challenges, paving the way for future generations of entrepreneurs.
image source from：lasentinel
