Title: Owner of Gia and the Blooms
Hometown: Minsk, Belarus
Why we love her: For channeling her passion into beautiful bouquets and delivering them for free
Yuliya Bui loves life. It’s the first thing she says when asked to share the things she loves most, and it’s evident in just how much her life has already entailed. Ten years ago, Bui was living across the ocean in Minsk, a city in Belarus just north of the Ukraine. Traveling has always been important to her; some of her favorite places include the Baltic Sea, Barcelona and Turkey. (Two days after this interview, she jumped on a plane to Hawaii.)
Her voyage brought her to Cincinnati in 2007, when she enrolled at Northern Kentucky University to pursue a degree in computer science. She worked as a user interface designer for more than three years before a fresh idea took root in her mind and refused to let go.
Applying her love for the clean, contemporary aesthetics of UI design to floral arrangements, Bui opened flower shop Gia and the Blooms — named after her pit bull Gia, a rescue from the SPCA — in 2016 after shifting her focus to the business the year prior. Bouquets begin at $35, and delivery is free within the Cincinnati metro area.
“When I worked for corporate, before I started the business, I was kind of dragging getting out of bed in the morning,” Bui says. “Now I’m wide awake at 6 a.m., excited for what the day is going to bring. I wake up before my alarm goes off.”
A portion of the store’s proceeds are donated to the SPCA as a way to thank the organization for connecting Bui with Gia. Although Gia, unfortunately, failed her trial period as a shop pet — she has a knack for knocking over plants.
CityBeat: What aspects do you love about your job?
Yuliya Bui: Working with flowers is great just because of the material you get to work with. I really couldn’t wish for anything better to do. We get reminded of it multiple times a week — the kinds of customers we get, people who like and appreciate flowers and are willing to spend money on buying flowers. The messages that people send to each other with the flowers, whether it’s encouragement or sympathy — it doesn’t matter what the message is. Just people thinking of each other and thinking to send each other flowers, it’s great.
CB: How is passion different from love?
YB: When you love something, it’s maybe a little more passive than passion. When you’re passionate about something, it has to do (more) with doing and acting upon things. You can love something and not do anything, but if you’re passionate you’re acting on it and doing things with it.
CB: It’s Friday night after a long week. Where would you love to be?
YB: I’m actually at my shop most of the time on Fridays. But we have music on, laughing, probably a good bottle of wine and getting things done.
CB: What do you love about Cincinnati?
YB: Oh my gosh, lots of things. I’m really excited to be in Cincinnati. Budget airlines, first of all. People don’t realize it, but we can get to the East Coast, Miami, Los Angeles for so cheap. It’s a good home base. Also, it’s a bigger city but still has a hometown, smaller city feel. You can get anywhere within 20 minutes and still feel like you live in the city. And then all the restaurants that just opened up, and we have a great music scene and arts scene. Getting all of it being in the Midwest is kind of fascinating.
CB: Name someone who inspires you and tell us why.
YB: My dad does a lot. He’s just always been a business man and really hard working, but also confident and always positive and encouraging. We talk a lot and he always gives me perfect advice. He’s someone I can rely on, always.
CB: What’s the best lesson life has taught you about love?
YB: Probably the more you give the more you receive back. No tough lessons — just all good lessons.
CB: What is a phrase or motto you live your life by?
YB: My friends tell me I do whatever I want. If you set your mind on something, just do it and get it done as soon as possible.
This article appears in Feb 8-15, 2017.