Esscents of Flowers
Inspired by her grandfather’s love of gardening, Ariana Marbley decided to open her florist shop, Esscents of Flowers, in Oakland, California in 2016. A proud East Oakland native, she is proud to own a business in a community that is rich in culture and political awareness.
Ariana Marbley’s florist shop relied on in-person events, including weddings, to stay in business. When the pandemic hit, and gatherings were canceled en-masse, Ariana was forced to look for resources that could help her pivot her business and provide her with some financial relief.
She learned about TMC Community Capital’s Small Business Big Heart Grant Program through Uptima Boot Camp, who helped her with the application process. Her business was selected in the grant program’s lottery and she was awarded a $2,000 grant. She was able to receive her grant within 3 business days and began putting the funds to use. Her flower arrangements are used to help celebrate life’s joyous moments, big and small. This grant helped Ariana continue to provide flowers for life’s events, even if their events look different right now.
The grant funds Ariana received were used to expand the business’s home delivery service in response to COVID, allowing her to purchase inventory for these deliveries.
Esscents of Flowers created a yellow rose campaign for the Black Lives Matter movement, which has boosted their sales. They’ve also partnered with local coffee shops and bakeries to expand their home delivery service.
TMC Community Capital’s grant program provided publicity for the business that has allowed Ariana to reach new clients and expand her business. She plans to partner with West Oakland women small business owners to create marketing campaigns that reach a large audience. She is excited to continue to provide floral arrangements that encourage community members to celebrate all successes, big or small.