In November 2018, four Saudis came up with the idea of starting a floral business because “a bouquet of flowers is a symbol of care and appreciation.” And so the luxurious online floral shop Hues was born.
The four partners all have different roles. Tala Bakhsh, who holds an MA in Cultural and Creative Industries from King’s College London and a diploma in the art of floral composition from Catherine Muller Flower School in London, is Hues’ specialist florist. Maryam Abduljawad, who has a bachelor’s degree in visual communication and arts with an emphasis in studio art in Lugano, Switzerland, is its creative florist.
Sultana Binladen, who holds a master’s degree in events and conference management from London and is an aromatherapist and marketing and graphic design specialist, serves as Hues’ events and coordination manager. Lastly, Mashael Binladen, a postgraduate in international business with emphasis in entrepreneurship, is its floral arrangements specialist.
“We were discussing ideas for businesses within art and education. All we had in common was a love for handwork and art. While conversing, the idea of flowers came up, which the four of us are passionate about,” they told Arab News in an email.
There are a few online flower businesses in the Kingdom but what makes Hues stand out is their monthly and weekly subscriptions can be tailored to the customer’s needs, such as for the home or office.
“During the first couple of months we realized how people were looking for reasonable prices, as well as visually pleasing designs and types of flowers. The market also lacked any type of subscription services, which we took the opportunity to provide.”
As the floral quartet put it: “Actions speak louder than words. Nowadays, with technology you can be there for someone 24/7 via text, but what really matters is to show you care, and to go above and beyond and touch someone’s heart.
“Sending a bouquet means far more than just sending a flower emoji in a text. Receiving flowers is bound to make your loved one smile, whether on special occasions such as Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day or a birthday, or simply on any day you would like to make your loved one feel special.”
They offer a wide range of flower selection and displays, with Enchanted Beauty (orchids and roses) being their bestseller. It is the colors (hues) that give this bouquet its name — purple roses symbolize enchantment, while baby orchids signify beauty.
Hues would like to get the wider public interested in the different types of flowers, their meaning and symbolism, and to this end they will be offering workshops for children aged 4-12 from next month.
“Flowers make us happy and we wanted to provide an online floral store that would add beauty not only to people’s lives but to the lives of the ones around you as well, in a simple, yet luxurious way.”
They plan to open a store by September 2020 or early 2021 in Jeddah.
Customers can place their orders through their website: www.hues-sa.com. Keep up with Hues on Instagram (@hues.sa)
Startup of the Week: Hues - a Saudi online florist adding a touch of beauty to flower shopping
https://arab.news/8rz5f
Startup of the Week: Hues - a Saudi online florist adding a touch of beauty to flower shopping
- “Flowers make us happy and we wanted to provide an online floral store that would add beauty not only to people’s lives but to the lives of the ones around you as well, in a simple, yet luxurious way”
‘Masterpieces of Saudi Orchestra’ shine at Maraya in AlUla
- The concert on its opening night presented a seamless artistic journey, where orchestral works met Saudi musical identity
- It underlined the Music Commission’s aim to present Saudi artistry at a high professional level
RIYADH: The “Masterpieces of Saudi Orchestra” concert opened at Maraya Concert Hall in AlUla on Thursday under the patronage of the Kingdom’s Minister of Culture and Chairman of the board of the Music Commission Prince Bader bin Abdullah.
Organized by the Music Commission, the concert on its opening night presented a seamless artistic journey, where orchestral works met Saudi musical identity.
The Saudi National Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Maestro Hani Farhat, led audiences through carefully curated pieces reflecting heritage and modern creativity.
The repertoire combined traditional influences with orchestral scoring, offering listeners heritage-based compositions alongside recent arrangements.
Regional rhythms and layered musical textures were used to echo the Kingdom’s history, while pieces rooted in Saudi classical music tradition connected audiences with familiar cultural references in a fresh format.
The concert underlined the Music Commission’s aim to present Saudi artistry at a high professional level.
The series seeks to honor national heritage while encouraging contemporary artistic engagement, and its growing local and international presence was highlighted throughout the evening.
The program also featured a visual dimension led by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, which staged live performances of Saudi folk arts.
Audiences saw presentations of Samri, Dahha, Rafeihi, Yanbawi, Zair and Khabeeti, synchronized with the orchestra to create one integrated artistic experience.
These folk elements were arranged to complement the orchestral sound, reinforcing the richness and variety of Saudi cultural identity. The combination of music and movement aimed to show how traditional forms can engage with large-scale concert settings while retaining their historical character and community roots.
This performance is an extension of the series of successes achieved by the Saudi Orchestra’s masterpieces both locally and internationally, and reaffirms the Music Commission’s commitment to showcasing Saudi music in its finest form.
