For a florist, marking milestones, sharing surprises are all in a day’s work

<< Baby showers call for flowers, and not just pink and blue | Free flowers for one lucky winner >>

For a florist, marking milestones, sharing surprises are all in a day’s work

August 13, 2008

If you read my recent post on lavender or, more specifically, enjoyed the pictures, you can thank Rich Dudley of The Bloomery Florist in Butler, PA, bloomery.com, who supplied the crisp, colorful photos. (To read the lavender post, go to: teleflora.com/FLOWERBLOG/post/A-flower-that's-a-true-multi-tasker-lavender.aspx.)

Rich and his wife Kathy are co-owners of The Bloomery, and Rich was kind enough to share his views on the diversity of flowers, being a part of the milestones in people's lives, and changes in the floral industry over the last 10 years. Florists almost always have a hectic schedule but, as new parents, Rich and Kathy are particularly busy right now so I really appreciate the input.

Florist Rich Dudley says being part of the important times in people's lives is the best part of his business.

Q. Why did you become a florist? How long have you been in the business?
A. Feb 1, 2008 marked our 10th anniversary in the business. My wife's family had started a flower shop several years before we began dating, so she had a little knowledge of the industry. We were interested in running our own business, and being a florist was appealing because flowers are so appealing. And, we wanted to be in a business that would have significance to people.

Q. What are the best and worst aspects?
A. The best aspect for me is being part of the most important times in people's lives. We deliver flowers to celebrate births and birthdays, make a beautiful bride even more radiant, mark anniversaries, and even provide some solace when a loved one departs our world. The look on a bride's face when we show up with her bouquet, or the surprise arrival of an unexpected bouquet, makes a lot of hard work very worthwhile.

The worst thing is that major family holidays are almost a total loss. Our daughter was born on February 16, so she's probably never going to have a big birthday party. We'll have to celebrate her half birthday in August (which is a better time of year in Pennsylvania, anyway). We're just too worn out by the time the holiday arrives; it's tough to feel festive.

Q.What do you love most about flowers? What's your favorite flower?
A. I love the diversity of colors and shapes. Flowers grow everywhere (except for the polar regions), and have adapted to an amazing variety of living conditions and ways to attract pollinators. Flowers are available in almost every color, in a tremendous variety of sizes. I love the macro lens of my camera which lets me capture fine details very clearly.

My personal favorite flower is the grape hyacinth (muscari), but I'm not really sure why. I'm in a war with some yard creature which keeps eating my bulbs. Dogwoods and lilacs would be close seconds. We didn't have lilacs in the south (where I grew up), so I'm still anxious for ours to bloom every year.

Q. Who was/is your biggest influence?
A. Top notch designers with strong businesses, such as the Rullodas and Avante Gardens, or BJ and Guenther at Bouquets. I'm inspired by their artistic ability as well as their business sense. Oberer's, Smith's of Midland and Royer's are other businesses I look to for examples of how to perform successfully.

Q. What surprises you?
A. Two things. I'm always surprised when someone is ungrateful they received flowers. It doesn't happen often, but always surprises me. Secondly is how significantly the floral industry has changed in 10 years, but how slow the majority of florists have adapted to the changes. I'm not sure how shops without a website and point of sale will stay in business in the next few years. Outstanding design skills aren't enough anymore.

Flower Fact of the Day: Ever curious about the behind-the-scenes work at a flower show? Planning and preparation is afoot for the Standard Fall Flower Show in Montgomery, Ala., an event that's still two months away. Read up at: montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080809/LIFESTYLE/808090349.

15685e5f-1e18-4183-8681-228f4981065e|1|5.0