• About
  • Contact
  • Testimonials
  • Newsletter
  • More
    • Demographics & Advertising Rates
    • Terms & Conditions
Saturday, June 3, 2023
No Result
View All Result
California Business Journal
  • Front Page
  • Business
  • Finance
  • People
  • Featured
  • Opinion
  • Technology
  • Law
  • News
  • Food
  • Art & Culture
  • Human Interest
  • Education
  • Insurance
  • Real Estate
  • Health & Fitness
California Business Journal
Dose of Roses

Get a Dose of This

When Joseph Ayoub and Julian Wilson launched Dose of Roses, a buying frenzy ensured: In its first 30 days, they amassed $3 million in sales.

by Victoria Kertz, Staff Writer, California Business Journal
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Are they artificial? No. Are they fresh? Yes. So how do they last up to five years?

The Rose Parade may have been canceled this year, but Dose of Roses is red hot.

Joseph Ayoub and Julian Wilson first found success with their first product: a bear. A rose-covered bear, to be exact. They were drop-shipping a wide range of trendy products from China and marketed the Rose Bear, a bear-shaped novelty covered with artificial roses, as a youthful alternative to fresh roses in 2019.

ADVERTISEMENT

The bears sold out well before Valentine’s Day and the young business partners, who met at Fashion Nova a couple of years earlier, learned two lessons: online shoppers don’t want to wait one to three weeks to get their orders delivered, and roses sell.

They decided to create a new brand and invest in roses, with an unexpected twist.

Wilson, who came up with the name Dose of Roses, knew that they wanted to offer the Rose Bear again, but how could they make it newer and better than the previous year? After all, Wilson recalls, over 40 million people already saw the Rose Bear via social media posts and videos, how could they possibly outdo themselves?

Well, Wilson and Ayoub started buying fresh roses from a farm in Ecuador that then took the large blooms to a facility where buds are preserved and injected with a variety of colors and even scents.

The new rose is still soft and real but has a whole new color and lasts for as long as five years, with proper care, of course.

“It won’t wilt or die. They look the same, but it’s a better version of a rose,” Wilson says.

How did social media followers respond to Dose of Roses? When the preserved roses collection first hit Instagram, presented in chic black suede boxes, Wilson says their business “absolutely exploded.” A buying frenzy ensured, and at the end of their first 30 days, the pair had amassed $3 million in sales.

Joseph Ayoub and Julian Wilson3One glance at the brand’s Instagram feed tells you this isn’t your grandmother’s florist, with image after seductive image of models, celebrities, and influencers posing with their arrangements. Flowers are an easy share for influencers, Wilson says, unlike teeth whitening gadgets or food products.

“I give them something to make them happy. Posting flowers is organic.”

Dose of Roses might be the first to harness paid social media to move preserved flowers, although their current product range includes everything from single roses dipped in gold to massive boxes of roses arranged to spell a name, like the gigantic arrangement they gifted to Cardi B for her birthday party in Las Vegas. Comedian Kevin Hart and Paris Hilton are among those who’ve shared their love for the long-lasting roses.

“We want to be known as the brand for floral and gifting,” Wilson says. “We work with about a thousand influencers and it’s a lot of gifting throughout the year. It all comes down to having a really good product.”

But even the best products require innovation to stay top of mind, particularly with young shoppers. As part of Dose of Roses’ limited-edition strategy, the brand teamed up with rapper Bryson Tiller for the release of his newest album, Anniversary, and created a limited-edition bouquet in the album’s signature turquoise and white. Only 500 were made and “they were a smashing success,” Wilson says.

Things are rosy now, but the pandemic, which caused China to close up before the U.S. did, affected Wilson’s ability to fill orders during the Valentine’s rush. At one point, they rented a 747 to fly product from China to their office in Los Angeles. They later bought a 55,000 square foot facility downtown to process orders.

“We do everything ourselves,” he explains, “One of the hardest things to do is keep things in stock and COVID-19 made it harder.”

Dose of Roses Teddy BearSo for now, Dose of Roses is banking on the e-commerce boom and will only offer the roses via their website, but it’s all part of their plan to invest in California and create jobs in the Los Angeles area. They expect to grow even more when events that were canceled due to the coronavirus are rescheduled.

And there will always be Valentine’s Day, and even Mother’s Day, which Ayoub says was a close second in sales this year. Many buyers are gifting the arrangements to loved ones, but a surprising amount of people buy them for home decor. The larger arrangements have up to 150 roses in them, which makes for a spectacular presentation on tables or mantles.

Before Valentine’s Day 2020, Ayoub and Wilson staged a pop-up shop at Alfred’s Coffee on trendy Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. To attract passersby, they rented a silver Porsche and placed over 4,000 brilliant red roses that literally draped out of the car’s window and onto the street. Needless to say, people stopped and shopped. When they asked buyers who the lucky recipient was, seven out of 10 people said they were buying them for home decor.

Still, Ayoub and Wilson know from experience that roses are at the heart of the gifting space. Decor trends come and go, but a big bouquet of roses on Valentine’s Day will never go out of style.

Wilson says he and Ayoub plan to expand into similar gifts, like chocolate, scents, and intimate apparel. But for now, they’re readying for a busy holiday season and putting a post-COVID-19 plan into place.

“We’re different,” Wilson says. “Anything we do, we want to innovate. And now we’re disrupting the floral industry.”

Copyright © 2021 California Business Journal. All Rights Reserved.

This article was edited and published by Rick Weinberg, California Business Journal’s Founder and Editor-in-Chief. Click here for Rick Weinberg’s biography.

For testimonials on the impact of California Business Journal articles, click here.

 

 

Tags: anniversaryCaliforniachinaCoronavirusCovid-19DecorE-commercefoodgoldinnovationjobsLas VegasLos AngelesorganicPopsilverSocial Media
ADVERTISEMENT
Victoria Kertz, Staff Writer, California Business Journal

Victoria Kertz, Staff Writer, California Business Journal

In addition to writing for CBJ, Victoria has written for Laguna Beach Magazine, Newport Beach Independent, Saute Magazine, The Fullest, Local Dish Magazine and Blue Sky The Color of Imagination. She holds a business degree from Appalachian State University.

Related Posts

pepsi-zero-virtual-swag
How to Impress Your Digital Audience with Virtual Event Bags
Icehotel, Sweden
Top 6 Most Unique Romantic Places in the World
ADVERTISEMENT

CBJ Newsletter

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram LinkedIn

Advertise With CBJ

Contact Rick@CalBizJournal.com

CBJ Rates and Demographics

ADVERTISEMENT
1REALTOUR-SAN DIEGO-WEB DESIGN
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn LinkedIn Instagram Youtube
C B J   LOGO  SVG-01
  • About
  • Contact California Business Journal
  • Testimonials
  • Demographics & Advertising Rates
  • Terms & Conditions

Categories

  • Art & Culture
  • Business
  • California Hotel Listings
  • Daily Updates
  • Editor's Choice
  • Education
  • Featured
  • Finance
  • Food & Dining
  • Health & Fitness
  • Human Interest
  • Insurance
  • Law
  • Lawyers
  • Marketing
  • Medical
  • News
  • Newsletter
  • Opinion
  • People
  • Popular
  • Real Estate
  • Social Media
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized

CBJ Partner Firebrand Media

Laguna Beach Independent Newspaper
 Laguna Beach City Guide
 Newport Beach Independent Newspaper
Newport Beach Country Club Magazine
  Montage Magazine
 Omni Escapes Hotel Magazine
 Bespoke Concierge New York
 Evans Hotels
 Laguna Beach Magazine
 On The Menu Laguna Beach
 Newport Beach Magazine
Coastal Real Estate Guide (NB,LB, CDM)
Monarch Beach Resort Magazine
 Pacific Coast Magazine (SoCal)
Sea Island Life Magazine
Salamander Hotel & Resorts Magazine
 View our entire portfolio

 

Most Viewed

  • More Truth About Temu: Is Temu A Chinese Company?

    The Truth About Temu: Where Is It From?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Lawsuit Basics: How Much Does It Cost to Sue Someone?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Investigation: Can TriumphFX Take Your Money?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What to Do When an Online Casino Refuses to Pay Out Your Winnings

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Impact of Covid: Racing to Buy Second Citizenships

    3 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Top 5 Flavors On Elf Bar BC5000 Review

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • NFL Paychecks: How Do NFL Players Get Paid?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Temu’s New Shipping Policy Is A Smashing Hit For Shoppers All Over the Country

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 30 Best Temu Alternative Apps To Buy from Online

    2 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Five Reasons Why The Government Does Not Like Bitcoin

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Latest Articles

Gambling Guide for Crypto Slots Players

How to Create a Handwritten Signature for Electronic Signature

Initiating a Small Business? Check Odoo Solutions

Top-Notch E-Commerce Fulfilment Companies Serving Sweden

Savor The Sweet And Tangy With Raspberry Lemonade Strain

What You Need to Know About Prezzy Card Casinos: A Beginner’s Guide for New Zealanders

Image via Unsplash by sharonmccutcheon

5 Reasons To Invest in a Fixed Annuity

Understanding the Social Security Disability Special Examination: What to Expect

After Receiving a Criminal Traffic Ticket: When to Call an Attorney?

Source: Shutterstock

What are the Best Digital Marketing Diploma Courses for 2023?

California Business Journal | California Business News, California News Media, California business articles | Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Inland Empire, Northern California, San Francisco | Huntington Beach CA 92649 | (949) 648-3815
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY CALIFORNIA BUSINESS JOURNAL.
Site Design by 1REALTOUR

No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Business
  • Finance
  • People
  • Featured
  • Opinion
  • Technology
  • Law
  • News
  • Food
  • Art & Culture
  • Human Interest
  • Education
  • Insurance
  • Real Estate
  • Health & Fitness

California Business Journal | California Business News, California News Media, California business articles | Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, Inland Empire, Northern California, San Francisco | Huntington Beach CA 92649 | (949) 648-3815
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY CALIFORNIA BUSINESS JOURNAL.
Site Design by 1REALTOUR