We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cori Laska a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Cori, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

From a Single Bloom to a Thriving Community
It all started with flowers.

I’ve always had a passion for creating but there was something about flowers that felt different. They speak a universal language of beauty, healing, and intention. What began as a simple joy arranging blooms for friends and family slowly turned into a deeper calling. I realized I didn’t just want to make beautiful things.

Starting the floral business wasn’t easy, but it felt right. I spent days researching local growers and suppliers, experimenting with designs at home, and staying up late to sketch ideas for workshops and a subscription service. I taught myself how to price bouquets, market on social media, and speak with clients. I started hosting intimate design workshops not just to share my skills, but to bring people together.

As the floral business took root, something else started to blossom: a vision.

I didn’t want to stop at flowers. I began to imagine a space, a community where like-minded people could gather, grow, and heal. A place that could nurture body, mind, and soul. That vision grew into new branches of the business:

A nail studio, offering a peaceful and expressive space for self-care.

A yoga studio, where people could reconnect with themselves and their breath.

An event space, where love, creativity, and celebration could flourish.

Each of these wasn’t just a business it was a way to bring people together. To offer experiences that aligned with beauty, mindfulness, and community. The same values that began with a bouquet.

What tied everything together was the desire to build a community of like-minded souls people who care about creativity, wellness, expression, and growth. I started to hire not just employees, but dreamers florists, nail artists, yoga teachers, and coordinators, people who saw this as more than a job. I wanted them to grow their own dreams alongside mine, to co-create something meaningful.

Now, when someone walks through our doors, they’re not just buying flowers or booking a class. They’re stepping into a space built from passion, purpose, and a whole lot of heart. A space where everyone clients, artists, teachers, and guests can feel like they belong.

This is just the beginning. What started as one bloom has become a bouquet of ideas, people, and possibilities and I can’t wait to see what continues to grow.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

What sets us apart is that everything we do is rooted in purpose. We’re not just a business we’re a community. I’ve been intentional in building a team of passionate, creative individuals employees and contractors who bring their own dreams and gifts to the table. We grow together, and I’m deeply proud of that.

We serve people who are looking for more than a service they’re looking for an experience, a relationship, a moment of peace in a busy world. Whether it’s a bride needing custom florals, a local wanting a fresh bouquet every week, a yoga student seeking grounding, or someone celebrating life’s milestones in our space we’re here to bring beauty and presence to that moment.

What I’m most proud of is the community we’ve created not just among our clients, but within our team. I believe in helping people grow their dreams beside mine, and that energy is felt in everything we do.

At the heart of it all, I’m just someone who followed a passion and trusted that by doing what I love, I could help others reconnect with what they love too.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

How I Met Erika, Our Lead Yoga Instructor

I wasn’t a yogi, not at first. But everything changed when I was planning a puppy yoga class to support my dog rescue. That’s when I met Erika, and from the moment we connected, I knew she was something special. Her energy, her passion, her work ethic, it was like meeting a mirror of myself. She landed in my life at the perfect time, and it quickly became clear she was meant to be more than just a guest instructor. Erika shares the same drive, heart, and vision for growth that fuels everything we do here. She doesn’t just teach yoga she creates space for transformation, and I’m so grateful to have her leading our movement community.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

There’s a chapter of my journey that defines my resilience more than any other the season where I was juggling everything: running and growing my business, being present for my team, and also being a mom to teenagers navigating the toughest stages of their mental health journeys.

There were days I would go from designing floral arrangements or leading a staff meeting to sitting in the car with one of my kids, holding space for their anxiety, their tears, their silence. I was answering client emails in parking lots outside therapy appointments, managing contractors while reminding my kids to drink water and breathe, and still trying to keep dinner on the table and joy in our home.

It was overwhelming. I often felt torn between two worlds that needed all of me, my business and my family and some days I questioned whether I could really do both well. But the truth is, I learned that resilience isn’t about perfect balance. It’s about presence, even in the chaos.

I showed up. Every day. For my team. For my clients. For my kids. I found strength in small wins a successful event, a moment of laughter at home, a teen who made it through the day. I leaned on faith, routines, and the incredible people around me. And I started building a business not just rooted in beauty, but in flexibility, grace, and compassion, values that come from living both sides of this life.

What I’m most proud of isn’t just that I kept my business thriving it’s that I did it without sacrificing the people who matter most to me. I’ve built a life and a brand that lets me be present here and there, and that’s what I want other women to know is possible, too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.flora-room.com
• Instagram: floraroom_stpaul