But as the pandemic and global events upended shipments over the last year, even core tasks like finding flowers proved challenging. Increased demand for arrangements at funerals also added to the nationwide shortage of flowers that kept the Ramirezes scrambling to find products, but Isabel said it is these hectic times she loves the most.
“I really like the chaos,” Isabel said. “I love Mother’s Day and February when you’re running. You can’t sleep, you can’t eat, you can’t do anything. It’s my favorite time of the year when I’m going crazy.”
The flower shop is a dream their mother held; she aspired to own a flower shop since she lived in Mexico seven years ago, the sisters said. After moving to the U.S., she opened the store in 2018 on FM 2978. She combined her daughters’ names to create Anisa Flower Shop, which sells high-quality flower arrangements, bouquets and plants.
One year later, she retired and appointed Isabel and Ana, who were ages 18 and 22, respectively, at the time, as the new shop managers. Neither daughter possessed any previous business experience, Isabel said.
Soon, however, the flower shop expanded to Anisa Shop—located just up the street—in 2019 and then into a party decorating business that provides decorations for events ranging from baptisms to graduation parties.
Anisa Shop sells a selection of unique gift items, Ana said.
"For the customers to have in the back of their minds that if they go and get a present nobody else is gonna bring that same present,” Isabel said.
The sisters said they are constantly looking to try new ‘crazy’ ideas, like creating a cloud of flowers for a baptism party or renovating the back shed into a gingerbread house.
Ana and Isabel, who are now both enrolled as full-time marketing students at the University of St. Thomas, intend to part ways after college, they said. Ana aims to become a teacher, and Isabel said she hopes to franchise the businesses to better serve the community.
“People keep coming back to the gift shop and a flower shop because they get to know the girls and their families,” Anisa Digital Marketing Manager Diego Garces said. “It is cool that they are so close to customers.”
Anisa Flower Shop
31807 FM 2978, Magnolia
832-521-5522
https://anisaflowershop.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-2 p.m., closed Sun.
Anisa Shop
31911 FM 2978, Magnolia
832-521-5522
https://anisagiftshop.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., closed Sun.
