Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
I love that the closest big city is Huntington, Alabama and it’s an hour away. In fact, I love most things about Alabama altogether. Growing up in the hustle and bustle of city life, I absolutely find myself enjoying the slower pace here. Once I left New Jersey, I spent a year in South Carolina where I worked at a grocery store in their floral department. A hobby I had growing up making flowers for my grandmother’s table every week became my career. Sometimes I wonder if she’s an angel watching over me now and is she proud that I have created this new path in my life?
When I arrived in Creekdale, there were no flower shops, and Piggly Wiggly, as much as I love shopping for my food there does not have a floral department that is staffed. Instead a person can buy a premade silk grave piece from on top of the produce coolers and that is about it. Needing a job, I went to work there as a cashier with a long term goal in mind.
Seeing the need for a shop, I lived frugally until I had enough saved to rent my space, purchase a cooler, get inventory, and begin. It took me a year being here, but yes, three years ago, Bows and Blossoms Boutique was born. I didn’t do it alone. My cousin helped me get the business side of things set up since she’s good at all of that. The idea, though, it’s all mine. As for owning the business, it’s all mine too. She did the leg work of the corporate side of things and registering with the secretary of state.
From the very first month I opened, I have had one customer come in to order without fail. He wears a leather vest that says Rogue on the left side of his chest with Sgt at Arms above that. There are multiple patches all over the vest including the back where there is a skull wearing a crown and bandana that takes up most of the material. The words Kings of Carnage MC, Alabama complete the back. While he’s been my most consistent customer, I have no idea who he is.
Not his actual name.
Not his occupation.
Not even the name of the person he’s giving flowers to.
Whoever it is, they are obviously important to him. I don’t want to assume it’s for his girlfriend or wife, but I do find myself curious. Working in the grocery store, I quickly learned people buy flowers for others for a variety of reasons and making assumptions does nothing to help with the design. Keep things simple and focus on each individual design.
I had been open just shy of one full month when he came in on a Thursday. All rugged and rough. For some reason, every detail of our first encounter sticks with me.
“Welcome to Bows and Blossoms,” I greet the man entering. His face is chiseled in such a defined way he should be a sculpture. He has on jeans, a navy blue t-shirt, a leather vest, and some serious boots. His hair is cut military style but with a little more on top, so shaved sides and hair on top.
He doesn’t smile at my greeting instead he struts up to my counter. “Tiger lilies?”
What a request? I don’t keep many lilies in stock regularly yet as they tend to be a higher priced bloom versus getting something like daisies or carnations in. They also aren’t as hardy and tend to die quicker. If I order lilies, I have to be able to sell them within a few days, otherwise it’s a loss. In this business, having perishable items likes flowers, those losses add up.
“I don’t right now, but I can order some for my next shipment if you would like. I know it doesn’t help you for today, but I can get them if I have notice. My wholesale supplier will be by tomorrow if you can wait one more day.”
“Yeah, get ‘em in. Gotta go out of town. I’ll be back Monday to pick them up.”
“Okay,” I reply grabbing my notepad.
He speaks before I can get out my next questions, “Every Monday.”
His tone is clipped. I know I blink five or six times before I can get my words together. He wants tiger lilies every Monday? They aren’t the most affordable of flowers and hard to care for to make them last. “Okay, do you have a specific design idea or a price range you want to stay in.”
“No,” he replies still standing in place expressionless.
Okay, so I learned my time working at the grocery store, while some people expect me to be a mind reader, I am in fact not one. It is imperative I ask questions to get a better idea of what he is seeking.