Some new, eye-grabbing store renovations and a new business partnership are just a couple of the highlights at the Broderick Garden Centre in Outlook these days.
The long-time Saskatchewan Avenue staple celebrated its grand reopening on Saturday, January 6 and almost from the get-go, the public definitely made its presence felt, filling the store virtually wall-to-wall at one point and taking in the refreshed look of the location while enjoying refreshments from two local vendors; donuts from the Outlook Bakery and coffee from Prairie Bean Roastery, as well as the chance to win some door prizes.
Store owner Kim Olson said the renovation plans had been in the works for months, and the idea was to put a bigger spotlight on the business鈥檚 bestselling items.
鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing really different about the store, except for the fact that we鈥檝e added the fresh-cut flowers,鈥� said Kim.聽 鈥淲e planned this renovation probably about three or four months ago.聽 It came as a discussion because general business practices tell you to devote a larger percentage of your floor space to the larger percentage of dollar value that鈥檚 generated.聽 So in here, the fabric and sewing end of it is a bigger business for us, and as I鈥檝e expanded it, we just ran out of room.聽 So it became, 鈥楬ow do we deal with that?鈥�, and this was the plan, so for the last few weeks, that鈥檚 what we鈥檝e been doing!鈥�
Perhaps most exciting for local flower fans is the new relationship forged between Kim and Laura Jones, who ran the Outlook Florist flower and gift shop for years.聽 Jones will be lending her skills to the shop, making floral arrangements and prepping orders as they come in.聽 The agreement allows for Laura to do something she鈥檚 always loved, while deferring the business side of things to Kim.
Olson says getting into the flower business was borne out of a question that she has received from time to time from the store鈥檚 customers.
鈥淭he biggest thing was that I have people coming into the store and asking for cut flowers on a somewhat periodic basis,鈥� said Kim.聽 鈥淩ight before Christmas, a really good friend and her family came in for flowers for her husband鈥檚 funeral, and the florist wasn鈥檛 open, so they came here looking for stuff.聽 I did what I could, and it was really hard, so I talked to Laura and just asked, 鈥榃hy did you get out of the business?鈥櫬� Her response was that she just didn鈥檛 like the business part of it.聽 She loves to do it, but just doesn鈥檛 love the business end.聽 I said, 鈥業f I did the business, I pay the bills, I take care of all the business end of it, and you come in here and make the beautiful arrangements, would you be interested?鈥欌��
鈥淎bsolutely,鈥� finished Laura.聽 鈥淲e鈥檙e a perfect fit.鈥�
Olson is happy to have Jones as part of the team at Broderick Garden Centre, even on a flexible schedule that works for all parties involved.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great because she can call her time her own, and I just let her know when something needs to be done,鈥� said Kim.聽 鈥淪he can do things whenever it works for her schedule, as she鈥檚 a busy girl as well, and I just take care of getting the product and paying for it.鈥�
On display during the grand reopening were a number of floral arrangements that were ready to go home with anyone who may have been looking to spruce up their home.
鈥淭oday, we have some beautiful fresh roses, alstroemeria, miniature carnations and daisies,鈥� said Laura.聽 鈥淚鈥檝e got a few nice arrangements done up and ready to go if anyone wanted to take any of them today.鈥�
Jones is excited to be back doing something that she鈥檚 always had a knack for, and she says she鈥檒l be sticking around as long as people are looking for flowers and arrangements.
鈥淭his week was only my first one getting started with this after Kim and Paul did the renovations, but I鈥檒l be here as much as I鈥檓 needed!鈥� said Laura.
Olson was glad to see such a busy turnout for the store鈥檚 grand reopening, and she says everyone at the Broderick Garden Centre is grateful for the support shown by the community.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been going excellent,鈥� said Kim.聽 鈥淚 wish I could track the amount of people who鈥檝e been through here today.聽 It鈥檚 just been a great turnout and we鈥檙e really happy with how things turned out.聽 We鈥檝e had great support from the community, and I feel like when you walk through, it鈥檚 almost like you鈥檙e walking into a Michaels store or something.聽 We鈥檙e all pretty excited about it!鈥�
