Meenakshi Lala, Urban Stems: Turning Perishables Into a Premium Brand

“So that is what I shifted my focus to, really partnering with the marketing team on, what are the channels that we want to invest in today for future growth? What are the channels that we want to really build loyalty and build loyalty with our customers, create excitement for them, so they display that repeat purchase behavior with us? And that's where I invested a lot of my time.”In this episode of The Entreprenista Podcast, we sit down with Meenakshi Lala, CEO of Urban Stems, to go behind the scenes of one of the most complex and emotionally driven e-commerce businesses out there: flowers.Meenakshi shares her journey from two decades in fashion retail to leading a high-growth floral brand with one of the most demanding supply chains in the world. From forecasting blooms a year in advance to navigating Valentine’s Day weather chaos, she reveals how trend forecasting, brand obsession, and operational excellence come together to deliver happiness—one bouquet at a time.What we talked about:Business of Flowers [3:38]Extreme Forecasting [9:52]How Fashion Operates [15:58]Partnering with the Marketing Team [22:31]Trust Your Gut [30:30]Follow Meenakshi:Website Instagram LinkedInUse code ENTREPRENISTA for a special offering from UrbanStemsJoin our Entreprenista League community of women founders! You’ll have access to a private community of like-minded Entreprenistas who are making an impact in business every day, special discounts on business products and solutions, exclusive content, private events, the opportunity to have your story featured on our website and social channels, and access to Office Hours with top founders who have been on our show! We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!Curious about joining the Entreprenista League? Sign up here for a free info session.Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Entreprenista Podcast - the most fun business meeting for women founders and leaders. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the show and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | Stitcher | iHeart Radio | GooglePlayBe sure to share your favorite episodes across social media to help us reach more amazing female founders, like you.