Small Business: Byrum’s Florist has been helping people out of the doghouse for 54 years
Ever ordered “get out of the doghouse flowers” or a dead bouquet for a friend’s birthday?
Byrum’s Florist, a family-operated shop in Plaza Midwood, has been supplying arrangements like these for 54 years.
In 1963, William Byrum opened Byrum’s Florist in a small strip mall on the corner of Eastway Drive and The Plaza. In 1974, he bought a 2,000-square-foot building on The Plaza and moved the business there. Byrum retired in 1987, and his sons Ron and Greg took over the shop. Ron, being the older brother by nine years, mentored Greg, preparing him to take over the business.
Now Greg, 58, operates the florist shop with help from his daughters and other extended family members. His daughter, Stephanie Cichocki, 33, is poised to take over the shop when her father retires.
The shop sells fresh flowers, seasonal bouquets, balloon bouquets, teddy bears, chocolates, fruit and gourmet baskets, candy baskets and lotion baskets. Product prices range from $10-$150, depending on size of bouquet or basket.
Most of Byrum’s Florist’s business come from direct online orders or through services such as FTD, Teleflora and Flowershop Network. They supply flowers for special events, weddings and church altar arrangements.
And they do a large business in helping spouses get out of the doghouse.
Greg Byrum and Stephanie Cichocki answered CharlotteFive’s questions for the small business series:
How have you adapted the business to a changing market?
Stephanie: “When they [her family] first started the business, they had about five different types of arrangements that they would do. They had the pictures on the wall. People would come in or call in and they’d describe arrangements.
“Now we have thousands of arrangements that people choose from. For weddings, people come in with their phones and pull up Pinterest and show me exactly what they want and I price it out.”
How do you handle conflict in a family business?
Greg: “My brother and I ran the business together and then he went into the mission field. We did deal with some conflict, but we were able to talk it out, work it out.
“I was in my younger years, I was trying to find my place in the business.”
What’s your best customer story?
Stephanie: “There was a man who came here after his wife died and got his funeral flowers. He came back the next week and wanted a flower, a rose, for her urn. So, he took it and then came back every Monday to get a flower for her urn. He said the only thing he wishes is that he had given her more flowers when she was alive.
“If he couldn’t make it, he’d send someone else. At some point, he couldn’t drive and he’d have someone drive him. He was here every single week for six or seven years. We always had a rose ready for him. His name was Mr. Baker.”
Have you received unusual flower requests?
Greg: “It’s always awkward when someone calls in and wants us to send dead flowers for a 40th birthday. We’ll do it, but we won’t send our name on it. It’s a joke.
“I’ve even gone so far as to send a funeral arrangement. We’ve rarely done it, but people have asked us to do it.”
What’s your favorite flower arrangement?
Stephanie: “I know what he’s [Greg’s] going to say, Fashionista Blooms. It’s one of my favorites as well. It has a special ribbon detail on the vase. It has hydrangeas and roses and a lot of colors. Really pretty arrangement.”
Byrum’s Florist Inc., 2329 The Plaza
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.; Closed Sunday
Photos: Vanessa Infanzon, Courtesy of Byrum’s Florist
Family history and my own fascination with people and their motivations prompted me to begin this series about Charlotte’s small business owners. Industry, situation and questions will vary. Have a suggestion for a small business owner or entrepreneur to interview? Email it to vanessainfanzon@gmail.com with the subject line “Small Business Series.”
This story was originally published October 2, 2017 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Small Business: Byrum’s Florist has been helping people out of the doghouse for 54 years."