ABOUT SUNSHINE FLOWERS INTERNATIONAL
Sunshine Flowers International was founded in 1986 by Patricia Valencia, a native of Bogota, Colombia. Prior to starting her flower business, Patricia worked at various prestigious companies, including Mobil, Pepsi and Disney World! She's lived in Bogota, Los Angeles, Miami and in Orlando, FL, and has been a resident in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1997.
In the mid 1980’s, Patricia moved to California and she completed her degree in Business Administration from San Francisco State University, with an emphasis in importing and marketing. Thereafter, she embarked with importing cut flowers from Colombia. Patricia Valencia has been a pioneer in being the first female business owner and flower importer at the San Francisco Flower Mart. She continues to represent only the prime flower growers, specializing in roses from Ecuador and Colombia.
Her daughter, Patricia Araujo Clay, studied Architecture and received a B.F.A in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute and she has been exhibiting her works annually in San Francisco since the late 1990’s. Patricia grew up in Bogota, Colombia and has worked in the retail industry since she first moved to California, including at Ah Sam Flowers and Silver Terrace Nursery, where she learnt all about cut flowers. Other jobs she worked for art galleries and design firms, and was an esteemed Concierge at Banana Republic San Francisco's Flagship store in the early 2000's.
Patricia has been running Sunshine's flower company alongside with her mother, Patricia Valencia, for over 15 years. Patricia Araujo Clay specializes in handling distribution and sales of cut of flowers, and working direct with the growers and assisting customers with their orders. Both Patricias'- daughter and mother, work together, and they personally hold contacts with the elite flower growers in South America and visit there annually to evaluate new products in person. All of this to ensure for the discerning eye, a flower worth remembering.
Photo above top far right: Patricia Valencia at SF Flower Mart. Employee, Jose Guzman, at SF Flower Mart
Photo above left: Patricia Araujo Clay, at Proflora trade show
We’re very pleased to have our latest addition to this company, employee Jose Guzman. Originally from Mexico, he has lived in the Bay Area most of his life. He’s worked at the San Francisco Flower Mart for over 25 years, assisting to various vendors and florists, and we’re delighted he has joined us at Sunshine in 2020! Jose will be at our stall to assist with handling distribution to other vendors inside the mart and handling customers' pick up orders. Jose is a wonderful worker, he has a great smile and very enthusiastic and eager to always be attentive and helpful.
