Growing up in rural Indiana, Christina Stembel never pictured herself as an entrepreneur. But in 2008, after moving to the Bay Area, she had a business idea. Stembel was working as the director of alumni events at Stanford Law, where a big part of her job was ordering décor. "I saw how much we were spending on flowers and went down the rabbit hole from there," she says. She learned that the e-commerce flower industry was shrinking in popularity among younger consumers. And that when people did order online, they were often unhappy because their arrangements looked nothing like the photos.
Stembel was inspired to build a better direct-to-consumer floral shop. It would be sustainable, with flowers sourced from a network of ethical farms. The bouquets would come wrapped in upcycled burlap to help combat the industry's plastic waste issue. She even had a name for her venture: Farmgirl Flowers.
To Stembel, it seemed like a much-needed concept in an industry that was "ready for a little disruption," but investors rejected her business proposal over a hundred times. That's when she decided to fund her idea with her own money. "I used the entirety of my life savings," she says. A total of $49,000.
Esta historia es de la edición The Identity Issue 2023 de Marie Claire - US.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición The Identity Issue 2023 de Marie Claire - US.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
“THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF BECOMING A MEDIOCRE CRAFTER"
In her new book, The Age of Magical Overthinking, author Amanda Montell explores the state of the modern mind. This exclusive excerpt examines why we're obsessed with things that are handmade.
Field of Dreams
While agriculture has historically been a male-dominated industry, a new crop of farmers is working to make the community more diverse, inclusive, and cool.
On Pointe
As a dancer with the New York City Ballet, India Bradley knows a good performance-and that the outfit plays a role.
MASTERS OF THEIR CRAFT
In today's murky fashion landscape of discourse and 'cores, to be a revolutionary is to tune out the chatter and focus on your skill. Here, a vanguard group of designers who prioritize their artistry above all else.
CAMERA, KIRSTEN
After a two-year hiatus, the actress is back where she wants to be: the big screen.
Whiskey Business
Fawn Weaver, the founder of Uncle Nearest spirits, is doing more than just raising a glass—she’s raising awareness.
The 700-Mile Journey to Get an Abortion
As states continue to enact harmful legislation that restricts access to reproductive healthcare, a network of pilots is flying people across the country to get services they need. Marie Claire reports from the air.
INSIDE THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF THE WIZ
The famed show is back on Broadway, and with it, a dazzling new group of creatives. Before the curtains go up, writer Amber Ruffin gathers the cast to discuss the magic of making the musical.
RAISING THE BAR
Despite endless body wash options, the art of luxury soap making hasn't slipped away. Many beauty brands are leaning into the centuries-old product, while elevating it with unique scents and ingredients.
What Really Happened to Jessica Savitch?
In the 40 years since her death, the pioneering newscaster has become an Icarus-like parable, a woman who was punished for her outsize ambition. She was one of the most powerful names in news, until one disastrous broadcast tarnished her golden image. In an exclusive report, her friends and family speak out about what everyone got wrong about her life.
