Blooming Business

By the time Phillip Morici received his degree in business administration, he already laid the groundwork for his landscaping, floral and design brand fleurdetroit.

While attending Oakland University, Morici managed properties for well-heeled families in Oakland County, "maintaining the grounds, staffing, making sure contractors were (present)," he explains. Upon graduating in 2002, Morici had a full business operation.

"I told my parents, 'Why would I start an entry-level job at a marketing firm making X, Y, or Z?' When I already have a successful and profitable business underway," he says. Founded in 2011, fleurdetroit is an offshoot of the parent company Urbanscapesdetroit, which Morici co-owns with his partner, Joe Nieradka.

"We joined forces, we retooled the business plan, assembled a talented team, and we focused on the families here," he says, of fleurdetroit's approach to business and beautification. "I wanted to be inclusive for everybody. I think good design should be approachable and attainable for all."

Oakland University alumnus Phillip Morici inside the Garden Shoppe at fleurdetroit in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Photo by Adam Sparkes.

Located on Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, fleurdetroit consists of a lush design campus featuring a
floral studio and a garden shoppe festooned with antiques
 and seasonal flora. "I like that community building aspect of the garden shoppe and design campus," says Morici. "Our campus has become the place where people come to visit and chat, a calm harbor in today's hectic world. Plus, people enjoy watching the creative process in the floral studio." But there is more to fleurdetroit than flowers, he says.

In addition to "plantscaping" services, fleurdetroit regularly plans and produces posh events for prominent local businesses, families, and supports area nonprofits such
 as CARE House of Oakland County and the Belle Isle Conservancy. Morici also serves on the Cranbrook Academy of Art Board of Governors and recently joined the Beaumont Art Advisory Committee, which finds, commissions and places art throughout the Beaumont Health System.

"Art and the biological sciences are my passion," says Morici. He originally had plans to study marine biology. But a change of direction "by fate," he says, gave him a nose for business and an eye for details.

"I loved the whole Dodge-Wilson legacy at Oakland. I think that's what really connected me to that campus," he says, likening OU's historic roots to a beech tree. "It's one of my favorite trees. They are really long lived with deep roots, and they keep growing for future generations to marvel upon."