SINCE the quarantine, more attention has been given to personal spaces at home than ever before. For most, home was something to leave in the morning and return to in the evening. These days, it’s a dwelling place that’s almost never left, so the desire to improve it is only natural.
The once empty corner washed over by the soft light of sunrise peering through the curtains now has a side table. A few days later, a vase with a bundle of lavender stems rests on that side table. And you find yourself thankful for a new day to appreciate life and nature’s beauty.
It’s this feeling of delight that Victoria Tancinco wants every home to have. A fresh graduate of De La Salle College of St. Benilde and a budding entrepreneur, Victoria started her online shop, Cortaderia by Victoria, last June. She sells premium dried flowers all the way from Holland, Brazil and the Netherlands. Cortaderia is the scientific name of the first flowering plant that caught her eye, the pampas grass. It also sounds quite Victorian—pun intended—and romantic, which suits the brand.
Her initial plans on franchising and investing in stocks took a halt because of the pandemic. The pause turned into an opportunity for her to explore her options. “I had no intention to operate a dried flower business, until a friend of mine in Manila told me about it. Once I saw the flowers, I instantly fell in love with how beautiful they looked and, in that moment, I knew that I just had to bring them home with me to Cebu. Having this small business sparked joy in me again, and gave me a purpose in these tumultuous times that the world is facing,” Victoria said.
The 23-year-old personally delivers her dried flowers to her clients, reassuring them of her commitment to quality service and products. Victoria truly enjoys engaging and establishing a good rapport with her clients, which includes Ellen Adarna, Kaye Abad, Kryz Uy-Young, Divine Lee-Go, and Liz Reyes-Lim, a close friend and her first customer. Simply wanting to share her newfound love of these pretty things to fellow Cebuanos, Victoria also sees potential growth for her brand to expand to other major cities in the country in the future.
If you’ve been thinking of adding a bit of flair and warmth to your space, consider dried flowers. Take it from Victoria, “Dried flowers are eternal. They do not wither since they have already been dried. They bring a timeless and elegant atmosphere to anyone’s home.”
You can browse through her collection of dried flowers on her Instagram account, @cortaderiabyvictoria.