ASHLEY CUSTER AND KRISTIN HECKLER
Co-Owners, Uprooted
You’ve heard of food trucks, right? Well, how about a truck that sells flowers? Ashley Custer and Kristin Heckler are the proud proprietors of Uprooted Flower Truck, the first truck of its kind in New York City. In addition to being a unique and convenient idea, Uprooted is also good for the environment: The truck utilizes less electricity and water than a regular flower shop, and produces fewer wasted flowers because there is less inventory. “I never noticed flowers much until I met Ashley,” says Heckler. “I always say she taught me to stop and smell the roses, literally. When we moved to New York and Ashley was bringing home flowers from higher-end shops than the grocery stores I was used to, I learned that flowers are more complex than I could have imagined. I love looking closely at the spectrum of color, touching the different textures and watching as blooms open over several days. I came to love getting leftover flowers from her shop, and as the idea for the truck evolved, I learned more and more about how to take care of them. Now, I love processing shipments and can’t wait to see what new blooms we have! I never thought I would care so much, but having flowers around really does make you happier!”
