Ali Chrisler is not your typical florist. She has a PhD, which makes her a perfect florist in DC! She is a third generation florist who instead of a food truck has a flower truck! It’s pastel blue and it’s adorable. Listen in as we talk with Ali about why she decided to start Blue Ribbon Floral.

Meet Ali Chrisler

YOUR BUSINESS

Blue Ribbon Floral

How long have you been in business?

Only a few months

What areas do you serve?

DMV

Why did you decide to start your own business?

In July, I had a miscarriage that turned my world upside down. That experience made me evaluate my life and what brought me joy. I decided to leave my 9 to 5 and start my mobile flower business. My grandmother and mom both owned their own flower shops in Wisconsin. I knew I didn't want a brick and mortar so I decided to adopt the food truck and online business model instead.

What's the coolest thing about owning your own business?

I like being responsible for my success. If I work hard and hustle, it directly benefits me and my family.

On to the fun stuff!

What challenges have you had to overcome?

It can be isolating to own your own business. Though I get to interact with people all day, I don't have someone who I can bounce ideas off of all day. I love to connect with other business owners but I also want to respect their time. Also, having a mobile /online business is so different from other traditional florists.

What advice could you offer to someone starting a business like yours?

Be persistent and know that you are going to have to get uncomfortable. Also, create a plan and budget and stick with it. When I launched my business, my biggest asset was my time. So, I did alot of the work on my own. For example, I built from scratch a flower cooler rather than pay more than $5,000 for a new one. Yes, built it from scratch. It was the first time I used a minter saw!

ALL ABOUT ALI’S WEDDING

What, if anything, would you change about your wedding?

Honestly, I wouldn't change anything.

How did you choose your wedding vendors?

Wow, I got married in 2013. I just started my PhD program when we started wedding planning so my husband was very involved in the planning. We hired a wedding planner because we were living in Michigan but going to get married in Wisconsin. I found the venue--we were one of the first weddings in the barn. We also found our own musician. Of course my mom did our flowers. The rest of the vendors my planner found.

What advice could you offer to engaged couples planning their wedding - as both a wedding professional and a married human?

No one knows what your vision is. So, if something goes wrong that day of, no one will know it!

What was the most important decision you made about your wedding?

To hire a videographer--and a great one! Also, this might sound crazy, but we kept the flowers simple too. The venue was insane so I wanted everything to complement it.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram: Blue Ribbon Floral

Facebook: BlueRibbonFloral

Blue Ribbon Floral - Cutest pastel blue flower truck in DC!