Acclaimed San Diego florist Carlos Franco is the shopkeeper and creative director at Green Fresh Florals + Plants, San Diego's premier modern flower and plant shop, located in Hillcrest and online at greenfreshflorals.com.
A Grandmother's Love
Carlos Franco's love for plants and flowers was nurtured from an early age by his beloved grandmother, Flora. Surrounded by her extensive garden, Carlos developed a deep connection to the beauty of nature. His grandmother’s passion for nature, combined with their trips to parks across California and Arizona, instilled in Carlos a profound appreciation for the natural world. This connection not only grounded him but also inspired his future in floristry. Carlos honors his grandmother's memory with a tattoo on his forearm, a permanent tribute to the woman whose love and devotion planted the seeds for what would become Green Fresh Florals + Plants.
Training with Top European Floral Designers
During his formative years, Carlos lived in Europe and found work in a London flower shop, where he trained with some of the top florists. His journey through Paris and other European cities enriched his understanding of floral design, giving him the inspiration, training, and confidence to pursue his dream of opening his own flower shop. Upon returning to San Diego, Carlos worked in several local floral shops before venturing out on his own. In 2005, he opened his first flower store in the East Village neighborhood of San Diego’s revitalizing downtown—a modest start that laid the foundation for future success.
Green Fresh Florals Opens in Hillcrest
After several years in the East Village, Carlos decided to open Green Fresh Florals in Hillcrest, showcasing his floral design work and offering a unique shopping experience. The Hillcrest shop, located at 3785 4th Avenue, opened its doors on July 5, 2009, and has thrived ever since, thanks to the support of loyal clients.
Over the last decade, Carlos has made numerous improvements to enhance the customer experience and expand the product offerings at Green Fresh Florals + Plants:
- 2012: The exterior patio was remodeled to create a plant and garden patio.
- 2013: The online store launched at greenfreshflorals.com.
- 2015: The store underwent a rebrand, adopting a contemporary color palette, logo, and style, and the name was updated to include "+ Plants" to better reflect the product selection.
- 2018: An interior remodel and expansion of the merchandise selection improved the shopping experience.
- 2019: A website redesign expanded online shopping opportunities, and curbside pickup was added.
- 2020: Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the store adapted, with online sales skyrocketing during the six-week closure.
- 2022: Green emerged from the pandemic stronger, ready to continue serving the San Diego community.
Delivering an Exceptional Customer Experience
The Hillcrest store offers a contemporary environment with a fresh, clean design aesthetic and a wide selection of plants, flowers, and gifts. Green Fresh Florals + Plants provides same-day flower delivery in San Diego and free curbside pickup. Carlos leads a team of creative floral designers and plant caretakers committed to delivering excellence in customer service and high-quality products. The store is proud to have received over 450 5-star reviews from satisfied customers.
Partnering with Top Brands
Carlos and the Green Fresh Florals + Plants team have worked with some of the world’s top international brands, including Scott’s Miracle-Gro, Volkswagen, Patron, Burberry, Gucci, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Kettle One, and Adobe. Carlos' work has been featured in various media outlets, including the San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Magazine, BizBash, Exquisite Weddings, Modern Luxury, KPBS, KUSI, NBC 7/39, and CBS8.
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