It's doing well...

[Jolly]

Something I thought would never go over in our rural community...About two months ago, we had a lady start a small florist shop in a shed by her home. She's decently talented, but what sets her apart is that she charges no delivery fees for our community. The florists in town charge $20 for a delivery, be it wedding flowers, funeral flowers, etc. Her regular prices are comparable to their regular prices, just no delivery fees.

So far, our community lady is doing quite a bit of work for the high school and for many of the local churches, besides individuals.  I'm glad she's doing well.

[Jolly]

Now, riffing off of the above...

I know a guy who buys imported silk flowers by the container load. If I had any talent - and any get up and go - I'd find where he's getting them from, or just offer to buy from him and maybe lower his cost through higher bulk buying. I had a business idea...

Most young people today are lazy. They'd rather pick up the cellphone and order whatever they want. In our country cemetaries, families have traditionally placed flowers on the grave at Easter, Christmas, etc. Wonder if the younger folks or some older ones who aren't physically able, would pay a modest sum for somebody to place small silk flower arrangements on their loved one's graves? Not expensive or fancy, just a small $20 of "nice".

I'm not gonna do it, but that might be a nice small money maker for our inflationary times. Or it might not. What do you think?

[themotherhen]

Jolly, that might just work! I'm 43 and the idea doesn't appeal to me but I could see it working for people in their 20's, maybe 30's. I have always enjoyed placing flowers and remembering the person but many people my age don't seem to.

[roadking]

I am not even sure where many of my family members are burried. I went to the funerals, nut not the burials. Hmmm...never thought of it until now. My dad (R.I.P.) would go every holiday to lay a wreath or flowers at my grandfather's and grandmother's grave...no clue where it is.

[rusty]

roadking, if you're interested in finding their grave theres a good chance you can find it at findagrave.com. There are people who roam cemeteries documenting the info on the headstones. Seems like a weird hobby to me but I've been able to find a few ancestors and fill in gaps in the family history.

[rusty]

Jolly , do you happen to know if this lady is a licensed florist? Yes thats really a thing in most states, and the existing florists will report the unlicensed ones if they cut into their business too much. Its a goofy business, usually you can sell flowers without a license as long as you don't "arrange" them.

And this is a total aside, but why does a high school buy flowers?

[wildhorseluvr]

Mar 21, 2022 16:30:19 GMT rusty said:

roadking , if you're interested in finding their grave theres a good chance you can find it at findagrave.com. There are people who roam cemeteries documenting the info on the headstones. Seems like a weird hobby to me but I've been able to find a few ancestors and fill in gaps in the family history.

Findagrave.com is very useful. My bio dad had always said his dad was buried in a certain town. Findagave proved otherwise, and provided a clue or two that helped me discover a few more missing family members. 

[roadking]

Thanks. But perhaps I'm a bit too jaded...I believe in RIP, and in my mind, best to leave them alone. Nice to know in case their grand children ever to make a visit.

Thank you for the info.

[joebill]

You can often find your own grave or that of folks still living....same name, different dude.

Emailed a guy a picture of his own grave stone where he died nearly 100 years ago....Joe

[woolybear]

Mar 21, 2022 16:35:20 GMT rusty said:

Jolly , do you happen to know if this lady is a licensed florist? Yes thats really a thing in most states, and the existing florists will report the unlicensed ones if they cut into their business too much. Its a goofy business, usually you can sell flowers without a license as long as you don't "arrange" them.

And this is a total aside, but why does a high school buy flowers?

rusty, Prom?  Homecoming?  Being a smart alec yep that's me

[Jolly]

Mar 21, 2022 16:35:20 GMT rusty said:

Jolly , do you happen to know if this lady is a licensed florist? Yes thats really a thing in most states, and the existing florists will report the unlicensed ones if they cut into their business too much. Its a goofy business, usually you can sell flowers without a license as long as you don't "arrange" them.

And this is a total aside, but why does a high school buy flowers?

AFAIK, she's licensed.

High school? Prom, homecoming, banquets, baccalaureate, graduation...any special advent....

[rusty]

Mar 21, 2022 19:54:57 GMT woolybear said:

Mar 21, 2022 16:35:20 GMT rusty said:

Jolly , do you happen to know if this lady is a licensed florist? Yes thats really a thing in most states, and the existing florists will report the unlicensed ones if they cut into their business too much. Its a goofy business, usually you can sell flowers without a license as long as you don't "arrange" them.

And this is a total aside, but why does a high school buy flowers?

rusty , Prom?  Homecoming?  Being a smart alec yep that's me

Ah, you got me, not much of a romantic here, I never noticed the flowers at those events!

[joebill]

Prob'ly not hard to get a local tradition going where folks send one another flowers on small occasions and large, and the shop does well from that.

Birthdays, anniversaries, births, deaths, innocent or not so innocent flirtations, etc. I once charmed Janet with "happy ground hog day" wishes If the lady keeps the prices reasonable, she could turn it into a local THING, and do very well, indeed.

Another old favorite small time money maker is painting addresses on curbs and buildings. VERY irritating that you can often drive 2 blocks without seeing an address and not everybody has turned their lives over to their phones.....Joe