Sophia’s Crowns has blossomed as affordable florist

“Each petal tells a story” at Sophia’s Crowns Flower Shop and the story of how the Black-owned business became a reality is a testament to the power of family.

“I’m a first-generation business owner and it was inspired by my daughter Sophia,” said owner and lead floral specialist Trish Boyle.

“When she was six months old, we learned she was diagnosed with eczema, psoriasis, and asthma. This would impact her being outdoors and being around plants and flowers.”

Boyle said a day came when Sophia was having a challenging time with itching and decided to take a stroll with her through Tower Grove Park.

“I saw how she was interacting in the park with the floral arrangements, and that her itching had gone away,” said Boyle.

There was happiness on Sophia’s face and less inflammation on her skin.

“I decided to purchase a floral arrangement for her. I was a single mom at that time getting my master’s degree. The arrangements were so expensive, I just could not afford it.’’

Sophia then suggested a move that would change her family’s life.

“Mom, we should open our own flower shop, so people can be happy like me but not have to pay as much,” Boyle recalls her daughter saying.

Boyle shares on her website “I trusted her vision” and the business was launched from her two-bedroom apartment in 2018.

“Family and close friends supported me, and I began the journey,” she said.

 The COVID pandemic would hit two years later but it provided a unique opportunity because she began getting booked for virtual weddings.

“I saved that money and invested it in the location we are at now at 4500 S. Kingshighway,” she said. The ribbon cutting was on Juneteenth 2021.

She also acknowledges her parents’ ongoing support.

“Both my mom and dad have been extremely grateful,” Boyle shared with the online publication Bold Journey. 

“In 2022 I even offered my mom (Diana) a general manager role at the flower shop to allow for her to be a true stakeholder in the process of building generation wealth for our family.

“Furthermore, my dad (Kirk) has been over to the garden countless times to assist with various needed tasks. It’s truly a blessing to have my parents be a part of the vision and it makes it so much more fulfilling and impactful.”

Family history is important to Sophia’s Crowns, and so is Black history.

The florist offers a Black History floral arrangement among other diverse floral offerings.

“We embrace Black history,” Boyle said.

“We sell that arrangement year-round. It is quite popular.”

The floral shop has also become quite popular. Sophia’s Crowns was a vendor at the May Night Market entrepreneurial event on May 10, 2024, at The Foundry.

“We sold everything we had, it was more than 80 pieces,” Boyle said.

“People appreciate that we want to be affordable, and we want to be for everyone.”

Community outreach also blooms from Sophia’s Crowns. The store donated arrangements to the Gateway 180 shelter so mothers who are residing there could feel the love on Mother’s Day.

“All mothers deserve flowers on Mother’s Day. We were so blessed to provide them,” Boyle said.

Sophia’s Crowns served as official florist for Disney’s Lion King at the Fox Theatre and provided arrangements for other Disney productions, the local World Trade Centre, and other organizations.

“We provide the customer with what they want. Each person is different, and the arrangements are made just for them,” Boyle said.

Boyle also caters to her clients with creative options including build your own bouquet Wednesday’s, monthly floral subscriptions, flower crown & sip nights for adults, as well as grow and learn classes for children.

Sophia’s Crowns can be contacted at (314) 717-0797.

Website: https://www.sophiascrowns.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiascrownsflowers/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SophiasCrowns/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiascrowns?lang=en