There are so many different colors and shapes, scents and sizes of flowers. We send them to our friends and family for all occasions such as birth of a newborn baby, on birthdays and anniversaries, to congratulate, to ask forgiveness and to say goodbye to loved ones who have left this world. Lovers give flowers to each other to profess their adoration, and husbands to know they can make their wives smile with a beautiful bouquet. Spring, summer, and fall are wonderful seasons because they bring forth such incredible flowers, but even in winter they are available to bring home for our enjoyment. Well, residents of the Inland Empire are in luck. The Inland Flower Market (IFM) can provide almost any cut-flower for you, from almost anywhere in the world. All of this is available at the Inland Flower Market (IFM).
The Inland Flower Market (IFM), formerly known as Inland Wholesale Flowers, has been a staple in the Inland Empire for decades. Not to be confused with the traditional flower shop, IFM is a wholesale flower market, which typically provides bundles of fresh-cut flowers at discounted prices. Although most of IFM’s customers are florists, retail shops, DIY (do it yourself) entrepreneurs are welcome, the establishment is unique in that it is open to the public. A business license is not required to shop at IFM, however you will pay a sales tax. Charles Moreno (Charlie) and his partner, Phil Sanchez, took over ownership of Inland Wholesale and officially changed the name to IFM on July 1st 2017. Both men have a particular vision for IFM, and major plans are in the works to expand the already giant-sized cooler that houses all of their fresh-cut blooms. Charlie states that his goal is to “provide every customer with a luxury product at an affordable price, so that other flowers shops and the average person can indulge in the quality of our products”. “This is definitely an exciting time for anyone who enjoys flowers,” states Edilia Avila, a longtime employee. According to Charlie, “business has been booming,” through word-of-mouth, and advertising via Facebook, Yelp, Yellow Pages and other social media outlets, the word is quickly spreading fast: we have the freshest flowers in town.”
Prior to embarking in the wholesale flower venture, Charlie attended college at Northridge University and then worked for a private insurance company. Charlie states that his in-laws were involved in the flower business for over 30 years, so it was an easy and natural decision to own his own floral business. In addition to the IFM, Charlie runs another wholesale operation at the famed downtown ‘L.A. Flower Market,’ which has been in existence for a decade. While working in L.A., Charlie had the opportunity to network with other shops, growers and entrepreneurs and earlier this year, seized the opportunity to purchase the IFM. Both Charlie and Phil are focused on helping educate the public and providing unbeatable customer service, which is why the IFM has quickly become the ‘go to’ floral provider for local flowers shops, businesses and individuals in the community.
Whether it’s for a love interest, a wedding, or a sober occasion, IFM is a one-stop-shop to get everything your heart desires. Besides flowers, other items available include a variety of beautiful vases, floral tape, floral foam, flower food, cards, etc. Charlie’s primary concern has and will always be to provide the ultimate customer service experience. Long-time customers, such as Rachel Johnson, will agree that this goal has already been met. “The main reason I come to the IFM on a weekly basis is due to the close proximity to my business, the great pricing and the incredible customer service by the staff.” Destiny Covar states: “the minute I walk in, I’m always greeted by somebody and there is usually a donut and hot cup of coffee waiting for me!” One of Charlie’s other missions is to make the Flower Market experience an exhilarating one for new and old customers alike. The staff make it a point to “get to know each and every customer. Charlie wants to thank his loyal customers and professes that “none of this would have been possible without our wonderful customers”. IFM has also been blessed with a team of staff who have had extensive experience in the floral industry. Sara Snowball and Dayna Kelsey, for example, are former florists with nearly 20 years of experience as professional designers between them.
If you are not familiar with a flower market, it is quite a unique experience. The hustle and bustle of his famed ‘L.A. Flower Market’ can be witnessed at Charlie’s San Bernardino location as well, with staff constantly processing fresh flowers, sliding buckets of water back and forth and running around catering to customers' needs. Whether you’re choosing flowers for your home, office, or planning a wedding, it’s essential to tour the coolers. Flowers are not sold individually, rather in bunches. There are dozens of flowers and plants to choose from, some of which include roses from Ecuador, orchids from Thailand and Dutch novelty flowers that can be imported for customers. The helpful staff can assist you in navigating the cooler and to answer any questions you may have, such as colors, varieties and ordering. Customers can also order over the phone or email. Once you purchase your blooms, you must remember some key items. Most of these fresh-cut flowers are arriving straight from the growers that may have originated from other countries. Prepping is key, and this should be done as soon as your blooms arrive to their destination. Almost every item sold at IFM is unprocessed, so you will need to remove excess leaves and you may need to give the items a fresh diagonal cut before placing them in treated water. With roses, it’s important to cut off all the leaves up to the first bud so that the water can make it to the buds that need it the most. Any leaves that would be submerged in water can grow bacteria that will result in premature death of the flower. To prolong the life of your flowers, a variety of flower foods are available at IFM. Also, it’s essential to keep your blooms in the darkest and coolest place you can think of, as sunlight and heat will cause flowers to open prematurely or wilt. Customers can special order other exotic blossoms such as peonies, succulents and anything else that the legendary L.A. Flower Market offers. IFM exports flowers from the L.A. Flower Market a few times a week, so that all customer needs are met. Why spend extra time and gas driving to L.A. for flowers, when the best flower market in Southern California is right here in the Inland Empire.
You can find Chalie and his wonderful staff at Inland Flower Market located at 759 S. Allen Street San Bernardino, CA 92408. (909) 888-0161 www.inlandflowermarket.com
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