Hundreds of students in the Philadelphia area will graduate with marketing degrees this month, but Danisha Ortega will have an experience that few of her peers can match. She has run her own business for three years.
Ortega operates Petal Pastries, a florist that creates custom flower arrangements, out of her home in Northeast Philadelphia. The concept started years ago with a simple request from a friend to make a bouquet. Ortega gave it a try, liked what she saw, watched instructional videos on TikTok, and began posting her creations on Instagram.
Interest grew, and she launched Petal Pastries on Mother’s Day in 2023. She has cultivated the business with care and watched it expand since her freshman year. Just a few months ago, on Valentine’s Day, Ortega sold more than 5,000 roses to almost 100 customers.
“Busy seasons can be a struggle,” she admits. “They involve many days of work, a lack of sleep, and being on your feet for 12 hours. But I start prepping a month in advance and have a whole team set up to help, including my mom and my friends.”
The business has filled the whole garage, which is attached to her house. On Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, operations expand to the basement, living room, and any other part of the house that she needs.
“Now, it’s my full-time job, and I dream of going big with it,” she says. “I reinvest in the business and save as much of the profit as I can because my goal is to open a flower shop one day, maybe purchase a house and work out of my own garage and basement.”
Petal Pastries offers bouquets, mixed arrangements, vase arrangements, and boxed arrangements for special occasions ranging from birthdays and anniversaries to weddings and holidays.
Balancing the competing demands of business and academics can be challenging. Ortega uses her time management skills and is grateful for the support of Neumann’s faculty.
“Thankfully, I have had very understanding professors. At my busy times, they’re flexible with assignments and take-home work.”
Those professors and other members of the Neumann family will have the opportunity to see her work in person on May 17th when she will be selling floral arrangements during the 10 a.m. graduate and adult commencement.
“I won’t be able to sell during the undergrad ceremony since I’m part of that one,” she jokes.