UrbanStems

We've witnessed firsthand the power of The WIE Suite as they bring together trailblazers and modern leaders redefining entrepreneurship and changing the future for the better. Our CEO Meenakshi Lala is thrilled to be this week's WIE Woman and to share her journey and keys to intentional leadership. "At UrbanStems, we aren't just delivering flowers - we're helping people express love, joy, gratitude, and sometimes even grief. We get to play a small but powerful role in some of life's most personal moments. That purpose is what drives me every single day." - Meenakshi Lala After two decades in luxury fashion, our CEO made what she calls an "unexpected" move to join UrbanStems as COO in 2021, becoming CEO in November 2023. For Meenakshi, it wasn't just a career pivot—it was finding her calling. Meenakshi's playbook for bringing your full self to leadership: ✨ Hard work: "There's truly no substitute for it" ✨ People first: "Surround yourself with those who challenge and inspire you" ✨ Never stop learning: "Three years in, I'm still just scratching the surface" As a first-generation immigrant, engineer-turned-CEO, and mom to 5-year-old Anya, Meenakshi is redefining what leadership looks like. Her goal? To show her daughter that "she doesn't have to choose between ambition and presence—she can have both." From her classical Indian Kathak dance training to transforming complex supply chains, Meenakshi brings the same precision and passion to creating "moments of unexpected joy" for our customers. Read the full interview at the link in comments.

🌸🍪 We’re making birthdays a little sweeter! Two NYC brands. One unforgettable gift. Delivered nationwide. We’ve teamed up with Levain Bakery to launch The Sweet Summer Birthday, a new gift set that marks the start of a major partnership between two beloved NYC brands. This exclusive gift set pairs our breezy, coastal-inspired Nantucket bouquet with Levain’s iconic 8-pack of cookies, creating the ultimate birthday moment, wherever you’re celebrating. It’s the first in a series of curated gifts built around meaningful moments, with birthday gifting at the heart of it all. Together, we’re redefining how we celebrate, from coast to coast, through thoughtful design, elevated flavor, and seamless delivery. #UrbanStems #LevainBakery 

At this year’s CommerceNext Growth Show, our CEO Meenakshi Lala joined Meera Murthy of Bloomreach to explore what it means to be customer-obsessed in the age of AI. Their conversation dug into how personalization, storytelling, and seamless CX can come together to build real loyalty at scale. Meenakshi shared how UrbanStems is using customer data to create trust and long-term connection through thoughtful touchpoints. “We’re creating meaningful experiences for the recipient, but beautiful, high-quality, and on-time delivery is table stakes. We prioritize the giver with personalization and curation to create a faster, more agile experience. That’s how we become your forever brand.” Thank you to CommerceNext for bringing together trailblazers in the retail and ecommerce space for these timely and insightful discussions. https://lnkd.in/erNaWeTD

What do Nicole Kidman and our CEO Meenakshi Lala have in common? They were both featured in the The Female Quotient newsletter! 💐✨ We’re so proud to see our CEO spotlighted among trailblazing women making waves in business and beyond. Meenakshi's story is one of grit, grace, and asking the hard questions (even in a room that isn’t ready to hear them). Some of our favorite takeaways from the piece: 💡 “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” Hard work matters, but so does visibility. Build relationships with people who’ll champion you. 👶🏽 Don’t choose between ambition and motherhood. Meenakshi became a CEO while becoming a mother. She’s living proof you don’t have to pick! 🔥 Own being the ‘troublemaker.’ Sometimes the person asking the tough questions is the one shaping the future. Huge thanks to The Female Quotient Quotient team for recognizing the impact Meenakshi is making — not just in florals, but in the future of leadership. https://lnkd.in/epDfRrfw

Flowers aren't just for "special occasions" or one type of person. Our Men Love Flowers campaign is about breaking stereotypes and reminding everyone that beauty, joy, and meaningful gestures should be for everyone, including the men in our lives! Last week, we teamed up with the incredible team at Faherty Brand to bring this message to life. Their stunning Madison Avenue space set the perfect scene as we helped guests discover florals that matched their energy, vibe, and spirit. To all the men redefining what it means to show up with love, warmth, and style—we see you. 💐 #MenLoveFlowers #UrbanStems #FlowersForAll

More than 70% of men don’t receive their first flowers until their funeral. Bleak, right? Especially when over 60% say they want to receive them. At UrbanStems, we’re on a mission to normalize gifting flowers to men, because men love flowers too! For Father’s Day, birthdays, or no occasion at all, it’s time we start showing up with stems. Our floral designer Justin hit Bryant Park this week to ask real people what they think about receiving flowers. Have you ever sent flowers to a man?

The best ideas bloom at the table. 💐 UrbanStems and The WIE Suite partnered to bring fresh florals to our Table for Eight series. From celebrating achievements to creating spaces that inspire connection, flowers have a unique way of fostering leadership. Join us as we gather, connect, and let blooms set the tone for powerful conversations. #WIEWomen #TableForEight

🎓Calling all NYC Class of 2025 grads! Join us this Thursday, May 15th from 4–5 PM at Washington Square Park for a little celebration: 📸 Free grad photos 🌸 Free flowers (yes, really!) Bring your friends, your caps, and your biggest smiles — we can’t wait to celebrate you. #ClassOf2025 #NYCGrads #GraduationDay #UrbanStems #FlowerTok #GradSeason

If you’re reading this, it’s not too late to order for Mother’s Day! There’s still time to send something beautiful, and something that really means something. Last year, we noticed an interesting customer behavior: our customers weren’t just sending one bouquet for Mother's Day, they were sending two, sometimes three. That insight stuck with us. This year, we asked: Who else shows up with mother energy in your life? Our 2025 Mother’s Day collection is our answer with bouquets like The Nurturer, The Bonus Mom, The Gigi, and The Emergency Contact, each one designed to honor the many ways love, care, and presence show up in our lives. As our CEO Meenakshi Lala told Inside Retail US: “It’s not just your biological mom. It can be your aunt, your nanny, your chosen family — the ones who shape our world in quiet, powerful ways.” We believe intentional gifting means celebrating all forms of motherhood, both the expected and the beautifully unexpected. #UrbanStems #MothersDay #ThoughtfulGifting #MotherEnergy #DTC #CustomerInsight #NotTooLate

Flowers may be a classic Mother’s Day gift, but UrbanStems is proving they don’t have to be predictable. 💐 💛 As featured in PS, their curated arrangements and gift boxes offer a fresh take on tradition, with options that range from bold and colorful to timeless and elegant. With luxe add-ons like candles, chocolates and chic vases — and delivery in time for the holiday — it’s never been easier to gift something thoughtful, beautiful, and right on time. 🕯️🍫