If you had told me a year ago that I’d be launching my own luxury flower wall brand, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. My background is in user experience (UX) design, working in tech, where my days revolve around designing digital products that are intuitive, beautiful, and user-friendly. But outside of work, I’ve always had a creative side—one that wasn’t confined to screens.

I’ve long been passionate about floral design, and I often helped my friends create flower arches, arrangements, and installations just for fun. I loved the process—choosing the right blooms, balancing colors, and transforming a simple backdrop into something breathtaking. It was purely a hobby, but the more I worked with flowers, the more I realized how much joy it brought me.

Then I started noticing something frustrating: high-end flower walls were overpriced, inconsistent in quality, and controlled by just a handful of companies. Clients were paying thousands of dollars for flower walls that didn’t always live up to expectations, and smaller event planners had no real alternatives.

I knew there had to be a better way. That’s how Once Upon a Blossom was born.

How It All Started: Seeing the Problem Firsthand

At first, I just wanted to understand why luxury flower walls were so expensive. What I found shocked me.

• The market was controlled by a few big players—meaning little competition and unjustified price markups.
• Quality was inconsistent—many vendors on Etsy and AliExpress were selling flower walls made from cheap plastic flowers but still labeling them as "premium." Customers would receive something that looked nothing like the product photos, with thin floral coverage and artificial-looking blooms.
• Lack of transparency—customers had no way to tell whether they were getting a luxury product or a mass-produced backdrop until it arrived.

As a UX designer, I’m trained to identify problems and design better solutions. And I saw a huge gap in the market for high-quality, handcrafted flower walls at fair prices—with a seamless shopping experience to match.

That’s when I decided to build my own brand from scratch.

The Sourcing Journey: Finding the Right Factory

Once I knew what I wanted to create, I had to figure out how to make it happen. Unlike the big brands outsourcing their products with no quality control, I wanted to be hands-on in the production process—so I started from the ground up.

1. Researching manufacturers – I spent months searching for factories that could produce high-quality artificial flowers that looked and felt real. Many of them cut corners by using low-density designs and cheap materials, but I refused to settle.

2. Building relationships – I connected with a trusted manufacturer in China. Instead of just placing bulk orders, I made sure we had direct communication, allowing me to oversee everything from flower selection to construction techniques.

3. 100% Hands-On Approach – Our company is based in New York, but I travel between China and the U.S. regularly because I don’t just oversee the process—I am involved in every single step. I get my hands dirty on every design, test every material, and personally identify problems before they become issues. From production to shipping to customer experience, I ensure that every detail is exactly how I want it to be.

4. Ensuring fair pricing – Unlike big brands inflating their costs, I worked out a fair pricing model that reflected quality without ridiculous markups.

What I Learned: Many companies don’t actually design their own flower walls—they just slap their brand name on generic factory-made pieces. I wanted Once Upon a Blossom to be different.

Why Our Flower Walls Are Different

Most flower walls on the market had major design flaws that led to disappointing results. Here’s what I set out to fix:

• Cheap Flowers That Look Fake – Many competitors use low-quality plastic flowers that look unrealistic, especially in photos. Our flower walls are crafted with high-end silk blooms that mimic the texture and softness of real petals.
  
  
• Flimsy Boxwood Panels Instead of Handcrafted Arrangements – Most brands simply glue boxwood panels to a base, making the wall look generic and low-effort. Every single grass and flower on our walls is individually glued by hand, ensuring a full, lush, and organic design with no patchy areas.
  
  
• Outdated Designs That Haven’t Evolved – Many companies offer the same repetitive styles that feel outdated and uninspired. At Once Upon a Blossom, we focus on modern aesthetics, color harmony, and custom design, so our flower walls feel truly luxurious and unique.

Transparent & Fair Pricing: No Crazy Markups

One of the biggest issues I saw in the industry was ridiculous pricing strategies that took advantage of customers.

• Big brands charge $2,000+ for flower walls simply because they can—not because the materials justify it.
• Some companies inflate prices due to demand, even though they use the same cheap materials as lower-cost vendors.
• No transparency—many brands hide extra fees like shipping, setup, and customization, only revealing them at checkout.

At Once Upon a Blossom, I wanted pricing to be:

✔ Fair & transparent – No hidden fees, no misleading pricing.
✔ Luxury without the markup – Premium materials at a price that actually makes sense.
✔ Free shipping on all orders – No extra costs due to tariffs or logistics.

💡 The Bottom Line: You shouldn’t have to overpay for a high-quality product, and you shouldn’t have to worry about hidden fees. What you see is what you get.

More Than Just a Flower Wall: Thoughtful Additions for Event Planners

Many of our customers are event planners who travel frequently with their flower walls. We know that durability and convenience matter, so we don’t just provide a product—we provide everything you need to maintain and transport it easily.

• Protective storage bags – To keep your flower wall in pristine condition between events.
• Gloves for handling – No more fingerprints or accidental damage to delicate blooms.
• Glue gun & extra flowers – Quick fixes on the go, so you’re never caught unprepared at an event.

We don’t just sell flower walls—we think about how our customers will actually use them in the real world.

The Future of Once Upon a Blossom

This is just the beginning. My goal is to:

• Expand the collection with new, high-end floral designs
• Offer more customization for luxury event planners
• Partner with wedding & corporate brands for exclusive collaborations

At the core of everything, my mission remains the same:

Bring true luxury to the flower wall industry without the unnecessary markup.

📩 Let’s create something beautiful together. Contact me today to get started!

Once Upon a Blossom Founder

Claire Zhang

claire@onceuponablossom.com