As high schoolers create bonds that quickly bloom into relationships, flowers and bouquets commonly serve as heartfelt symbols of love and appreciation. Students surrounding the Acworth area prove lucky as magnet senior Sophie Salomon began her own bouquet business, Ramos by Soph, at the start of her junior year.
Growing up, Salomon always cherished the idea of gifting loved ones flowers on different occasions, especially after noticing the significance bouquets hold in her heritage. In her Mexican-American culture, ramo buchons, commonly referred to as ramos, signify celebrations and love while showcasing the rich artistic heritage of Mexico through the arrangement of the flowers. Ramos holds similar ideas to typical flower bouquets but differs in size and decoration. Florists who specialize in Ramos use at least 50 flowers per bouquet and include jaw-dropping embellishments such as L.E.D lights, glitter, chocolates and money throughout the arrangement. At the end of her sophomore year, Salomon attempted to purchase a specialized ramo for her sister’s graduation, but after noticing the high prices, she decided to build her own arrangement.
“That [first bouquet] was when I kind of realized how much I liked to create Ramos, and after my friends and family saw the results, they all told me to make a business out of it. The same night, I created an account on Instagram, and I posted what I made, and that is when I officially started my business. Starting off, it was difficult, and I began by taking a lot of inspiration from other florists on social media, and I learned a lot from that. As time progressed and I was able to produce more work, I began to get more and more orders,” Salomon said.
As her business developed, Salomon gained experience with different variations of Ramos based on the buyer and occasion. During this time, she underwent numerous challenges to help her business thrive and to achieve her goal: to provide quality arrangements. Salomon first experimented when trying to find a wholesaler that supplied roses different from ones shelved in grocery stores. After comparing wholesalers based on affordability, distance and other factors, Salomon found a wholesaler that sold the perfect flowers. In addition, Salomon struggled with bringing her ideas to life and sometimes lost money and hope through the process. Even though she felt like quitting at times, Salomon continued with a determined mindset as she saw the joy the Ramos arrangements brought to her sellers.
This process ultimately led to the success Ramos by Soph has received within the past year, with over 100 orders total. Throughout this business, Salomon enhanced her creativity through special projects such as creating a Red Bull-inspired Ramo, where she showed a unique personality compared to other florists. Her techniques and genuine care toward each creation put Ramos by Soph above traditional flower bundles.
“Sophie has grown into a confident and resourceful florist; she can easily balance her creativity with her strategic mindset. With every challenge she’s faced, she has been pushed to develop stronger problem-solving skills. Most importantly, through all of her trials and tribulations, her success shines in the loyal community she’s built,” magnet senior Lanya Washington said.
The Chant wishes Salomon the best with her business and hopes to see it flourish in the future.
