Benton Flower Shop News
Maker Space: Eden Garrett's idea blossomed - NWAOnline
Thursday, March 12, 2020Northwest Arkansas."I love Northwest Arkansas," she says. "There are so many opportunities for growth here. And because I work out of a truck, I can go from Fayetteville to Rogers to Springdale to Bentonville and all of those towns in between -- so I catch more people than just being in the middle of Springfield."Garrett says part of the process of becoming a successful business person was learning how to be flexible when business was in a slow period."I'm just motivated every day to push forward and make the sales higher each day -- even if it's really slow, even if, that day, no one wants flowers," she says. "I'll think, 'OK, what else can I do? Can I do deliveries? Can I announce on social media that all bouquets are $5 or that delivery is free on this particular day?' Each day, I'm going to make as much money as I can and provide an excellent product."She's also available for parties and weddings; one popular option for celebrations are the custom flower crowns partygoers can make inside the truck.Garrett says she's wanted to own a business since she was a child. Her first business idea -- a boutique that would serve as both a makeup salon as well as an event space, so you could get ready for a party right there at the site -- came to her when she was just 10 years old."My mom owned her own business, and I was just super fascinated by it," she says. "I've always known I didn't want to have a 9-to-5 job where I sit behind a desk all day -- that's just not who I am. I've always wanted to own my own business."It's clear that her youth isn't holding her back. Eden's Flower Truck was recognized at the 2019 Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Business Awards Ceremony, and she's opening up her first brick and mortar store called Eden's Botanicals this month. She says opening a storefront was in her five-year plan but, when she found a perfect location on North Steele Boulevard, her business instincts told her it was the right time to make a move."The storefront will mostly be for workshops and parties -- more of an event space," says Garrett, who adds that the mobile truck will still be used for floral sales. "We'll also sell flower gifts [in the store]. I'm super excited."Garrett is already looking towards the future and making plans -- big plans."I want to own some land, hopefully around the Fayetteville area, and have a mini-Magnolia Market, similar to [Fixer Upper stars] Chip and Joanna Gaines' business," she says. "I want there to be a few cottages, like an Airbnb, and then also have a spot to grow my own flowers so I don't have to buy them wholesale any more. And I would sell gifts and flowers and other merchandise and have it all be in one giant property, a destination that people from all over come to."If what she's accomplished so far is any indication, the goals of her 10-year plan may just be closer than she thinks..inline_item { float: left; display: inline; }div class="inline__bloc... https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2020/feb/13/maker-space-eden-garrett-s-idea-blossom/
Business Spotlight: Blooming Business - Springfield Business Journal
Tuesday, November 19, 2019Springfield. Eden’s Flower Truck, a similar business concept, launched in Springfield in 2018. Owner Eden Garrett earlier this year moved the business to Arkansas, where the flower truck serves the Bentonville and Rogers areas.Hartman says she’s starting to see the trend grow nationally.“Since we’ve started, I’ve seen more pop up across the country,” Hartman says. “I still get emails pretty frequently asking how to start a flower truck, and the whole concept is gaining momentum.”Kate Penn, CEO of the Society of American Florists, says retail floral sales have been growing – to the tune of $35 billion in 2017, a $2 billion increase from the year prior, according to a U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report on personal consumption expenditures.Penn says the mobile floral business is catching on, and she describes it as “experiential, interactive purchasing.”“There’s a lot of innovation and entrepreneurialism in the flower-buying space right now,” Penn says, noting floral sales have steadily increased during the last decade. “There is a big trend across retail right now, and the floral industry is no different. It’s the idea of trying to do something creative that makes what you’re purchasing interactive and memorable and fun.”The consumer appeal, she says, is being able to walk down the street, stop at a flower truck and purchase flowers by the stem, or create an individual bouquet. “It’s a super smart business model,” Penn says. ... https://sbj.net/stories/business-spotlight-blooming-business,66208?
Court again rules against florist who refused gay couple - The Spokesman-Review
Tuesday, November 19, 2019She refused. Ferguson filed a complaint under the state’s consumer protection and anti-discrimination statutes, and the couple filed a separate lawsuit. A Benton County Superior Court judge combined the cases and reviewed the arguments, eventually issuing an injunction against Stutzman requested by Ferguson and awarding damages to the couple.The Washington Supreme Court upheld both decisions, and Stutzman appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. But before it could be argued there, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to create a cake for a same-sex wedding, saying that during the process of deciding whether he was violating that state’s anti-discrimination laws, a member of the Civil Rights Commission made disparaging remarks about the baker’s religion.The U.S. Supreme Court sent the Arlene’s Flowers case back to the Washington Supreme Court to reconsider it in light of the Masterpiece Cakeshop decision. Attorneys for Stutzman argued the cases were the same, contending Ferguson was showing animus toward religion by taking action against Arlene’s Flowers but not against a Seattle coffee shop that refused to serve Christians. But McCloud wrote there is key distinction between the two cases because the Colorado case involved religious intolerance from an adjudicatory body. The only two such bodies – the trial court and the state Supreme Court – showed no such intolerance. The attorney general’s office isn’t an adjudicatory body and the coffee shop case is irrelevant, she wrote. The court also rejected Stutzman’s arguments that applying the state’s anti-discrimination laws to her refusal to provide floral arrangements for a same-sex wedding violates her constitutional rights. “Discrimination based on same sex-marriage constitutes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,” McCloud wrote. Enforcing the anti-discrimination law in this case does not violate her rights of artistic expression because it doesn’t fit with previous cases that protect that right. Allowing such an exemption would create a two-tiered system system the law, similar to saying a dime-store lunch counter would have to serve an interracial couple but an upscale bistro wouldn’t, she wrote, quoting from a friend of the court brief.Stutzman can still freely practice her religion, McCloud wrote. She was never asked to attend the wedding ceremony. She has provided floral arrangements for weddings of Muslims and atheists, and wasn’t endorsing Islam or atheism by doing that.“After careful review on remand, we are confident that the courts resolved this dispute with tolerance, and we therefore find no reason to change our original judgment,” the court concluded. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/jun/06/court-again-rules-against-florist-who-refused-gay-/
'The Fire Within': 9 years of honoring Great Falls women in business - Great Falls Tribune
Wednesday, April 03, 2019I find it as an honor that they thought I stood out among the other nominees...to me a little surprising, but it's wonderful." She started at Riverview Floral in Fort Benton where her boss pointed out her eye for color. From there it was five years of delivering at Sally's Flowers, Electric City Conservatory for seven years and finally her own store in 2010. "She has hired staff with no floral experience and turned them into designers," Evans said. "Kari offers flower design classes throughout the year...as she shared her knowledge and skills with others," Evans said. Johnson said she has fun being a part of local events, but one of her biggest passions is being a part of weddings and teaching her flower classes. "I like to be able to help the brides and help them select what flowers they want to make them look beautiful," she said. "...the flower classes that I teach, those are always exciting, because I get to share my knowledge with the ladies." My Viola had outgrown its first building within four years and now resides at 716 Central Ave., where she said she's able to offer more classes and have more employees. In the future, Johnson sees herself and her employees continuing to serve the community by providing their flowers and services. "Still doing the fun events that we do like the Russell and the art auctions...," Johnson said. "I just hope I can continue doing what we do and expanding." As spring has shown its sun rays and prom season is here, Johnson said from now until Mother's Day is going to be full of flower galore. Susan Crocker of The Good Wood Guys Crocker is the 2019 Aspire Award recipient. She was nominated by business partner and husband, Chris Crocker who kept his nomination a secret. "I was shocked...I had no idea," she said. "It was pretty humbling. There's a lot of pretty amazing people in Great Falls, Montana, and so to know people thought I was doing something awesome felt really good." The Good Wood Guys live by their words as "born ra... https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2019/04/01/the-fire-within-9-years-honoring-great-falls-women-business/3314905002/
Caught on camera: Man burglarizes east Tulsa florist with toddler in tow - KTUL
Sunday, February 10, 2019What the gentleman took was of no real value, just some tools we've accumulated over the last 30 years," said Trey Benton, the owner of Greenleaf Wholesale.Benton's business is the one that was hit. His concern, and every one of the employees that we spoke to, was for that little girl."As a father, seeing how he treated a child that he would even bring along with him during this incident," he said.The girl dutifully follows him around, and several times reaches for him, but the man almost sees right through her."It just broke my heart seeing how many times that girl reached up to her daddy, I'm assuming. It was really troubling," said Benton.Finally, as the two walk off into a grassy field, the man acknowledges the little girl, picking her up and carrying her away.Anyone with information is asked to call Tulsa Crime Stoppers. http://ktul.com/news/local/man-robs-east-tulsa-florist-with-toddler-in-tow
Calif. flower shop with no connection to Capitol riot flooded with threats, negative reviews - SFGate
Sunday, January 17, 2021Alberti’s business appeared to have been removed from the platform. However, Cudd’s business also has a 4.6 rating.) Two other florists bearing the same name in Kentucky and Scotland were burdened with similar harassment. Alberti said all of them have given up on deleting the comments, and are instead attempting to respond to each one in order to set the record straight. “I offered to send some people maps of the United States,” joked Alberti. “Most people apologize and then they reverse, but some are steadfast. My thing is, I understand the need to vent and get rid of that hostility, but just spend an extra five seconds of time to see that we’re not in Texas. The very platforms that these people are using to type these rants and tirades … it would take them less time to find out we’re not that business than it would take for them to write the post.” He’s concerned about what the future holds for his business, which has been around since 1973 and spans four generations. “We’re just trying to survive,” said Alberti. “Being a florist is hard enough. We don’t have a high profit margin. We do it because we love it and love flowers. To already be suffering through COVID and add this on top of it, it’s stressful.” source srcset="https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/16/13/46/20494742/3/700x0.jpg 1x, https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/16/13/46/20... https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Beckys-Flowers-Roseville-mistaken-Capitol-rioter-15871654.php
Florist Who Bragged About Entering Nancy Pelosis Office Charged - Patch.com
Sunday, January 17, 2021KOSA. Death threats have been left for Cudd at her flower shop, she told KOSA. Other businesses with similar names to "Becky's Flowers" across the country have also been targeted. In Kentucky, Becky's Flower Basket has received backlash even though its business has no affiliation with Cudd's Texas shop, according to a WKYT report. Amber Sergent told the Kentucky television station her family has been swamped with angry calls from people who are confusing them with Cudd's business. "Very violent language, I'll put it that way," Sergent said. The FBI had not listed the exact charges Cudd faces as of Wednesday afternoon. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.Florist Who Bragged About Entering Nancy Pelosi's Office ChargedThe rules of replying: Be respectful. This is a space for friendly local discussions. No racist, discriminatory, vulgar or threatening language will be tolerated. Be transparent. Use your real name, and back up your claims. Keep it local and relevant. Make sure your replies stay on topic. Review the Patch Community Guidelines.Reply to this articleReplyReplies (1)Show 1 previous reply... https://patch.com/texas/across-tx/florist-who-bragged-entering-nancy-pelosis-office-charged
Audrey Cleary Bailey, 76, advocated for military families - Port City Daily
Wednesday, December 02, 2020Survivors include her three children, retired U.S. Cmdr. Navy Todd E. Bailey, and his wife, Anita, of Norman, Oklahoma, Deborah B. Stakelum, and her husband, Kevin, of Prospect, Kentucky, and Leigh Ann Cumberland, and her husband, Jeff, of Chaplin, Connecticut; and seven grandchildren, Ali, Tyler, T.J., Brigid, Molly, Eddie and Caelan. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, retired U.S. Navy Reserve Capt. Harry E. Bailey.At her direction, no local services will be held. A service and interment will be held in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Paws4People/Paws4Vets.Share online condolences with the family at Peacock-Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service. https://portcitydaily.com/obits/2020/11/30/audrey-cleary-bailey-76-advocated-for-military-families/
Newtown Florist Club to hold follow-up event on progress made in policing reform - Gainesville Times
Wednesday, October 28, 2020Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times March 13 by officers who entered her Louisville home during a narcotics investigation.A Kentucky grand jury indicted one police officer last month for shooting into neighboring apartments but did not move forward with charges against any officers for their role in Taylor’s death.The Taylor case will be part of the conversation but not central to it, as there is a criminal justice roundtable set later to discuss the case.Johnson said it is vital for communities not to miss the opportunity to focus on problems highlighted in these national cases to prevent them from happening locally.“We have to take advantage of these moments and learn as we go and not be afraid to have conversations,” she said.Johnson said the event will last one hour, and people wanting to register for the event can call or email the club. It will also be shown on the club’s social media through Facebook Live. https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/badge-bar/newtown-florist-club-hold-follow-event-progress-made-policing-reform/