Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Kalifa.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Amman, Jordan, and immigrated to the United States in September of 1974. Shortly after arriving, I began attending school and later graduated from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia. While completing high school, I also attended beauty school and began developing my creative skills.
My late husband, Sami, and I always shared a dream of owning our own business. After many years of hard work, we finally felt ready to pursue that dream. We considered nearly twenty different business ideas and gradually narrowed the list down. Every few days we would eliminate another option until one stood out above the rest, a flower shop.
The decision made perfect sense for us because it combined both of our strengths. As a hairstylist, I had developed a strong eye for color, design, and creativity, along with a genuine passion for flowers. Sami brought extensive experience in sales and management. Together, we felt we had the right combination of talents to build something special.
We planned to open Flower Den in February 1990. As we listened to others talk about the busy Valentine’s Day season, we became a little intimidated by the idea of starting during one of the florist industry’s biggest holidays. Instead, we decided to open on February 15, allowing the Valentine’s rush to pass so we could start on the right foot.
That decision marked the beginning of an incredible journey. More than 35 years later, Flower Den is still serving our community. Through the support of our loyal customers, dedicated employees, family, and friends, we were able to turn our dream into a reality and build a business that continues to grow today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Building Flower Den was not always easy. In the early years, my husband Sami and I worked extremely hard to make our dream succeed. We wore many hats and often worked long hours to keep the business running.
I would arrive very early each morning to help prepare orders and make sure everything was ready for delivery. Sami would handle many of the deliveries himself. After he returned, I would go home to care for our four children, who ranged in age from two to twelve years old, and prepare dinner for the family. Balancing a growing business with raising four children required a great deal of dedication, sacrifice, and teamwork.
Even with our busy schedules, we remained committed to improving our skills and growing professionally. Every Sunday, we attended floral design classes to stay current with industry trends and techniques. In 1993, I took the exam and earned my Master Designer certification, an accomplishment that was very important to me and helped elevate the quality of our work.
Looking back, the biggest lesson I learned is that there is always more to learn. I have always believed that the sky is the limit and that continuous education is one of the keys to success. Staying curious, improving your craft, and never becoming complacent has helped us overcome challenges and continue growing for more than three decades.
As you know, we’re big fans of Flower Den. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Flower Den is a family-owned florist proudly serving Northern Virginia, Washington DC, and parts of Maryland since 1990. What began as a dream shared by my late husband, Sami, and me has grown into one of the area’s trusted floral providers for everyday occasions, sympathy tributes, weddings, celebrations, and corporate events.
Over the years, we have become especially known for our sympathy and funeral work. Helping families honor loved ones during difficult times is a responsibility we take very seriously. We work closely with local funeral homes throughout Fairfax County, Alexandria, Arlington, Springfield, Falls Church, and the surrounding communities to create meaningful floral tributes that reflect the life and personality of the individual being remembered.
What sets Flower Den apart is our commitment to quality, personal service, and floral design expertise. Every arrangement is designed with attention to detail, using fresh flowers and professional design techniques developed through decades of experience. We believe flowers should be more than beautiful; they should communicate emotion, comfort, celebration, and love.
One of the things I am most proud of is the reputation we have built within our community. Many of our customers have been with us for generations. We have had the privilege of creating flowers for their celebrations, milestones, and moments of remembrance throughout the years.
As a Master Designer, I have always believed that education and continuous learning are essential. That philosophy continues to guide our team today as we combine traditional floral artistry with modern technology to better serve our customers.
Above all, we want readers to know that Flower Den is built on relationships. We are grateful for the trust our customers place in us, and we remain committed to creating beautiful floral designs and providing exceptional service for every occasion.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My biggest piece of advice is to be prepared to work hard and fully dedicate yourself to your business. Success does not happen overnight. It takes commitment, patience, and a willingness to put in the effort day after day, even when things are difficult.
When we started Flower Den, we understood that building a successful business would require sacrifice and dedication. There were long hours, constant learning, and many responsibilities both at work and at home. However, staying focused on our goals and remaining committed to serving our customers helped us continue moving forward.
I would also encourage new business owners to never stop learning. Invest in yourself, continue improving your skills, and stay open to new ideas. The more knowledge and experience you gain, the more opportunities you create for yourself and your business.
Most importantly, believe in your vision and do not give up when challenges arise.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.FlowerDen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowerdenflorist
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flowerdenflorist
- Yelp: https://www.facebook.com/flowerdenflorist
- Other: https://linktr.ee/FlowerDenFlorist
