Leis de Buds turns flower business green
Alyssa Sager is betting there’s big business in building a better flower business.
The Vancouver-based entrepreneur and founder of the company Leis de Buds, is merging her business experience gleaned at companies such as Tesla with her background growing up in Hawaii with her new venture.
Sager chatted with Postmedia News about her business, the innovative “leisdeBUS” and why she thinks the flower business should become even more green.
Q For those who aren’t familiar, what is Leis de Buds?
A Leis de Buds is Vancouver’s first Hawaiian-inspired flower shop, with a local Vancouver twist. We offer traditional Hawaiian leis, hakus (flower crowns), and bouquets made primarily from locally sourced flowers, designed with a modern style and a tech-focused, sustainable approach.
Q What makes it different from other flower shops?
A I spent my formative years in Hawaii and then a significant amount of my career in tech working with companies such as SpaceX and Tesla. I had a vision for blending tech, sustainability and Hawaiian botanical art, combined with a strong desire to own a business primarily run by women, and Leis de Buds is a product of those passions.
Q And what can you share about the leisdeBUS?
A In terms of tech and sustainability, the leisdeBUS is the first solar-powered, off grid flower market in Vancouver. In addition, partnering with SaaS companies like Foodora for delivery and Routific for route optimization is a unique approach to the industry. We incorporate the traditions of Hawaiian lei and haku making in our flower designs, and our diverse team of female entrepreneurs brings a fresh modus operandi to running the business. We’ve collectively built a space where we can express our unique set of talents and creativity in a psychologically safe environment.
Q You have a unique approach to sustainability. What can you share about that?
A We are inundated by the consequences of our poor business practices: Global warming, rising temperatures and increasing storms, waves of trash rolling onto shores — these aren’t buzzwords. It is happening, younger generations will hold us accountable, and companies will be out of business if they don’t do something about reducing their carbon footprint. We are doing our part by using flowers predominantly sourced from local B.C. farms. Our seed paper boxes can be planted in soil and will grow wildflowers, our reusable storage bags are made from backyard compostable material and our stem wrap from natural foam. Leis de Buds has a first-of-its-kind approach to the retail carbon footprint in Vancouver. We are not perfect, but we want to be, and it feels right to know we are doing our part.