Beaumont Flower Shop News
East Lansing flower shop customer honors late wife by giving anonymous gift - Lansing State Journal
Thursday, March 12, 2020In his letter to Van Ark about his wife Jennifer, Shuster said their 18-year marriage hasn't been without challenges.The couple met in East Lansing and got engaged at Beaumont Tower. They have four kids, 17-year-old twins, TJ and Camille, Jocelyn, 13, and Katarina, 11.TJ was diagnosed with autism at age 2, Shuster wrote in his essay, and Jennifer, who had studied journalism at Michigan State University, put her career on hold to stay home with her children."If it wasn’t for my wife our autistic son would not be where he is today," Shuster wrote. "His success and progress is mostly because of his mama."Shuster's letter resonated.In an email, the anonymous customer told Van Ark his own marriage had come with "career disappointments and multiple re-locations across the country, problems with relatives, miscarriages, and health concerns.""The marriage itself never, ever wavered," he said. "We were going to be together no matter because no matter what we faced, we would face it together, and that’s how it was when she died: we were together."B/A Florist staff delivered the roses to Jennifer Shuster on Feb. 24 at East Lansing City Hall, where she is a clerk.She's never received a flower arrangement that "extravagant," Jennifer Shuster said in an email to the State Journal.The story behind it brought her to tears, she said."...it forced me to slow down during my busy life and think about the life of a woman I never knew," Jennifer Shuster said in the email.The anonymous customer has already discussed continuing to gift flowers to another couple next year, Van Ark said."I guess the way I see it is, she was truly the love of his life, and even though she's not here in body she's no further away in his heart," she said.Contact Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ. https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2020/03/04/east-lansing-flower-shop-customer-honors-late-wife-anonymous-gift/4884506002/
Flower etiquette has changed dramatically over time. But the type you give still sends a message. - The Washington Post
Tuesday, November 19, 2019It never hurts to let a woman who is about to give birth know that she is radiant, owner Ashley Greer says.Anne Chertoff, chief operating officer of Beaumont Etiquette, a New York consulting firm, says it’s always a good idea to check on religious practices and customs. “People like to know the rules,” she says. “They can think about the message they want to get across. Then it’s up to them if and when they want to use the rules or break with them.” For instance, flowers for a funeral often center on lilies. But she says instead of flowers, it’s customary for Jews to send or bring food to the homes of the family who aren’t supposed to cook during the shiva, which lasts seven days, and also to feed people who come to pay respects to the family. “I’m Jewish, so I would send an edible arrangement,” she says. Amy Merrick, a flower designer who ran her own studio in Brooklyn and now focuses on events and teaching, says she’s found that many customers don’t have a very good knowledge of the varieties of flowers and place more importance on the style or mood of their arrangements. “The average person does have an interest in what flowers represent, but not in the historical context,” she says. People are sending their own messages, choosing them based on the personality of the recipient and the personality of the flowers. “I think buying a bunch of daisies signifies this is a sweet, free-spirited personality, whereas an orchid has a more elegant feel to it,” Merrick says.Tif HunterDaisies are good to send to someone who has a casual, free-spirited style, says Amy Merrick in her new book “On Flowers,” just published by Artisan Books. In her new book “On Flowers: Lessons from an Accidental Florist” Merrick observes one of the mysteries of a florist’s life. Though she spends her days arranging thoughtful bouquets and compositions for others, “it is an unwritten law of the universe that no one ever sends a florist flowers” she writes. Are they afraid they would be judged or that their message would be messed up? “I w... https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/when-you-send-flowers-what-message-are-you-sending/2019/11/05/61d33abc-f1e2-11e9-8693-f487e46784aa_story.html
She drives a tiny flower truck, and business is blooming - CBC.ca
Tuesday, July 09, 2019It's just brand new and it's kind of taken off running," Crawley said. "Everything just fell into place."'People love it'Crawley's business is technically based in her home community of Beaumont but the truck allows her to park her business at events across the Edmonton area.The flower shop is becoming a regular at farmers markets and craft fairs. The truck is fully loaded with flowers ready to be cut and arranged for customers. (Tara McCarthy)Crawley said the response to her business has been amazing. Customers flag her down on the street."People love it," she said. "You drive down the road and people wave frantically at you out their windows." Along with food trucks, flower trucks have been hitting the streets across North America in recent years, serving up made-to-order floral arrangements.Crawley, 42, believes she is the first one to capitalize on the idea in Edmonton."I had taken a photo of one of these trucks from down South and kept it in my phone for five years," Crawley said."I've had this in my dream box for quite a few years now and just decided that now is the time to put it into play." She has no formal training as a florist. A former stay-at home mom to her three children, she spent seven years working as a secretary at a local elementary school.After a string of family illnesses and mishaps last year, Crawley felt overwhelmed and craved change.Then she realized being a florist on the move was her dream job."You really try to sit back and try to figure out things that really make you tick, the things that you really love."If you could pick anything in the world to do, what would those things be? For a long time, it was really hard to make that list. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-flower-truck-business-1.5197252
Albina Biz Mob to bloom at Beaumont Florist in June - Hollywood Star News
Tuesday, June 20, 2017Beaumont Florist will host an Albina Community Bank BizMob on Tuesday, June 20. (Ted Perkins)By Ted Perkinsofni.1497998847swen-1497998847rats@1497998847snikr1497998847epdet1497998847On Tuesday, June 20, Albina Community Bank will resume its innovative BizMob program with an event at Beaumont Florist in Beaumont Village. Albina’s BizMob program is designed to promote the bank’s neighborhood business customers and reinforce connections within the communities they serve.From 11:00 a.m. to noon, Albina associates will pass out flowers to anyone walking or driving by the flower shop at 4201 N.E. Fremont St. The flowers will come with cards attached that can be dropped off at the bank’s Beaumont branch, or at the florist, and one card will be drawn to win a Beaumont Florist gift certificate. Neighbors can also enter the raffle by stopping by the Beaumont branch anytime throughout the week.“We always strive to be interactive with our clients and this program is a great way to demonstrate that... http://star-news.info/2017/06/12/albina-biz-mob-to-bloom-at-beaumont-florist-in-june/
Beaumont Unique Flowers picked for closed Sun Lakes Florist patrons - The Record Gazette
Tuesday, November 01, 2016For the past few years, he developed a favorable rapport with Beaumont Unique Flowers owner, Kandy Buckley, who has owned her 50-year-old shop since 2010.With her, Moosbrugger confides, “My customers will be in good hands.”He closed his store more than a week ago, and transferred all of his accounts to Beaumont Unique Flowers. He left a sign on the door of his old business, encouraging his supporters to now support Buckley’s shop.“She’s the best flower shop in the area,” Moosbrugger insists.He fondly calls her “Kandyse,” having met her through mutual friends, occasionally swapping business with her.“In this business, you do a lot of little things, and try to be pleasant to each other,” Buckley says. “You might borrow things, or run out of things, and get them from another florist,” of which there is only a handful left in the Pass area.She is sincerely thankful to have Moosbrugger’s endorsement.“In a small town, it can be challenging to own a flower shop,” she explains. “You’re competing with grocery stores and drug stores, and the guy who sells flowers on the street corner. This is so wonderful for my shop. I’m so thankful — he’s such a fantastic human being. I want to give him a great send-off.”Moosbrugger insists on correcting her.“I’m not fantastic,” he claims. “I’m fabulous.”Buckley and her staff, which includes award-winning designer Lydia Natividad, who has received floral design accolades from the California State Floral Association, are prepared to welcome Moosbrugger’s customers with open arms, and floral arrangements with the personal touches that they have come to rely on.Moosbrugger is preparing to move to Bellevue, Wash. to retire.Unfortunately, it’s no joke: he has been researching retirement options and living arrangements there, where he will be able to relax and watch the changing of the seasons — something he misses, ... http://www.recordgazette.net/business/beaumont-unique-flowers-picked-for-closed-sun-lakes-florist-patrons/article_b18d76a4-96e0-11e6-a47b-0fbac745f452.html
Parker: Momentum carries new Canadians to successful floral business - Calgary Herald
Wednesday, October 28, 2020It was while perusing the web that she discovered Momentum — a program that provides training to new Canadians and low-income Albertans in a bid to improve the economy as a whole — made an appointment and told the counsellor, “I want to start a business here, but I don’t know how.”After relating her previous business history, she was told she had the ability to run her own enterprise in Calgary and was encouraged to take a six-month Momentum course. Her sink or swim attitude resulted in her quitting her job at Market Mall, dedicating her time to school from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, plus homework.Thanks to all that she learned from the course, she was granted a Momentum small business loan and a crucial, larger loan from BDC, and with some added family savings the couple bought the former Unique Flower Boutique business that had been in the same location for 22 years.That was in 2012, just over a year after they arrived here.Refat says he enjoyed being his own designer of floral arrangements and, with a number of inherited clients in the shop’s database, they were off and running.Then came the 2013 flood, and although they didn’t suffer water damage the shop was closed for two weeks and they lost another week due to an ele... https://calgaryherald.com/business/commercial-real-estate/parker-momentum-carries-new-canadians-to-successful-floral-business
Man to be sentenced in Edmonton flower store owner’s mall death during robbery - theglobeandmail.com
Monday, August 24, 2020When she arrived at the mall, she saw the building surrounded by emergency vehicles, she said. “I felt my heart drop,” she told court. She was diverted to the University of Alberta Hospital, where she was met by police and called her son and daughter to meet her. “We were all so scared and confused,” said Ms. Armstrong, who added that doctors started using words like “dire, catastrophic” to describe her husband’s injuries. The family decided to take him off life support three days later. Story continues below advertisement Sharon Armstrong was one of eight family members and friends who provided victim impact statements. The couple’s daughter, Dana Mikulasik, said her world came crashing down when she received the call that her dad was in the hospital. “I was crying so hard I couldn’t breathe.” Ms. Mikulasik said her family has a tradition in which members get to pick their favourite meal for dinner on their birthdays. “That Friday, I was supposed to come home to my favourite food: my father’s homemade pizza,” she said through sobs. “Instead, on the eve of my 29th birthday, I sat with my family in the hospital making the decision to take my father off of life support.” Ms. Mikulasik said her mental health has been seriously damaged. Sean Armstrong said he will never forget hearing his mom’s voice on the phone, running in his work boots to the hospital emergency room and seeing his father on a hospital gurney. Story continues below advertisement “Such a sight was something previously unfathomable, unimaginable to me.” He said his father was a titan among men, full of kindness and a role model. Others – including Mr. Armstrong’s brother, sister-in-law, a friend and employees – spoke of his “ordinary goodness,” his hard-working nature and his willingness to help others. The Crown and the defence jointly recommended the six-year sentence. Mr. Cushnie had been in custody while waiting the conclusion of his case. Justice Simpson said manslaughter cases can be difficult because they range from near accidents to near murders. “Obviously, the close friends and family of Mr. Armstrong have been forever harmed,” the judge said. “Society has also been harmed.” Story continues below advertisement He said society loses its sense of safety when a tragedy happens in a public place such as a mall. The justice said he accepted the joint recommendation because Mr. Cushnie pleaded guilty and may not have anticipated that the blows would lead to Mr. Armstrong’s death. Mr. Cushnie was also sentenced to three years for the robbery... https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-man-to-be-sentenced-in-edmonton-flower-store-owners-mall-death-during/
Flower growers see sales wither as planting season launches - CBC.ca
Monday, April 27, 2020Andi Kuyvenhoven, noting garden centres' crucial role for bedding plants in particular. British Columbia — the second-biggest flower and plant producer — Alberta and Manitoba and have allowed garden centres to keep running, while Quebec deemed them essential along with nurseries as of April 15, though not in time for Easter. Kuyvenhoven, who with his wife co-owns a $2.5-million business selling potted Chrysanthemums and indoor calla lilies — largely to U.S. distributors — on a pair of farms west of Toronto, says clogged supply chains south of the border remain a problem. 'I haven't slept in five weeks' "U.S. customers for a time closed their distribution systems to floral and so the main grocery chains were not purchasing plants," he said, which was hard on growers of cut flowers such as roses and tulips. "If a truck can take 24 skids and four skids were flowers, the flowers came off the trucks and they put more food on the truck — which we completely understand. The only challenge is, when you're growing flowers as we do, they also have a shelf life," said Kuyvenhoven, who bought his business from his parents in 1990. "Now we're now facing liquidity issues...I haven't slept in five weeks." Flowers Canada Growers says exports to the U.S. make up about one-third of greenhouse flower and plant sales, which hit $1.6 billion in 2018, according to Statistics Canada. Nursery sales topped $500 million. While garden centres can continue to operate across much of the continent, growers wonder whether bouquets and flower pots will remain on the shopping list of consumers struggling to make rent amid soaring unemployment numbers and a looming recession. Kuyvenhoven is hoping that families confined to their homes for most of the day will choose to spend what they've saved from unpurchased vacations and lattes on plants for their vases and flower beds. "That's part of what's carried us through downturns in the past," he said. Growers associations are in talks with federal and provincial governments over potential financial relief, with Flowers Canada Growers asking for a "cash injection" as well as extended debt repayment plans secured in part by Ottawa, Kuyvenhoven said. So far, the federal government has extended a stay of default for eligible farmers until Oct. 31, giving flower and potted plant producers an extra six months to pay off federal loans that would have been due at the end of April. Ottawa has also granted exemptions on air travel restrictions to temporary foreign workers and invested $50 million to help farmers fly in labourers on charter trips. "New flights are being booked ever day," the agriculture department said in an email. Back at the greenhouse, VanZanten mulls the overripe lilies and orchids. "Flowers do make you happier, they do actually lift your spirits...but there are farms that can't bounce back from this," he said. "This all happened at the wrong time."... https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/flower-growers-hamilton-1.5546023
Lethbridge-area garden centres slammed with curbside orders - Global News
Monday, April 27, 2020Spring weather has officially hit southern Alberta, and with warm weather comes gardening season. READ MORE: Coronavirus: Alberta announces 216 more cases, 1 new death Related News With COVID-19 impacting businesses of all avenues, Lethbridge County garden centres and vegetable markets have had to adjust.Paul De Jonge has owned and operated Broxburn Vegetables and Café since 1994. He said there is no other place like it in the area.“Broxburn Vegetables has always been kind of a destination,” he said.“The food in the café, of course, reflects what we grow here. We have a ‘you-pick’ strawberry farm so a lot of families in the summertime want to come out and pick strawberries.”However, due to COVID-19 health concerns, De Jonge said he has closed the café and limited customers who shop in the store for peppers, eggplants, cauliflower, broccoli and other products. Story continues below advertisement Workers hired from Mexico arrived later than usual due to travel restrictions an... http://globalnews.ca/news/6868970/plants-gardening-lethbridge-covid-19-coronavirus/