Davis Bowman used to fill his display windows to the brim so that people could see what he had to offer when they walked by, but passersby could not see inside his store. Now, the owner of The Flower Shoppe has a different strategy. He stocks his display windows so people can get a look inside the shop.
“When they’ve seen up front that you’ve changed, they’ll come in,” Bowman said of the effort. He noted that a handful of customers had already come in because of the change.
Customers see new décor inside. Bowman, with some help, changed the interior to better reflect the services he offers. A new floral and planting area was staged next to wedding and sympathy areas. He painted the walls and the aisle displays for gifts and other merchandise. The effect was to make the store look brighter and more spacious.
The changes are the first Bowman has made since buying The Flower Shoppe in September 2011.
“I didn’t change the phone number or the name,” he said. “It was successful. I didn’t change anything.”
The remodeling effort came in time for the busiest time of the year for florists – Mother’s Day.
“Most people would think the busiest time of year is Valentine’s Day, but it’s not,” Bowman said. “Because everyone has a mother, not everyone has a sweetheart.”
The Flower Shoppe made 102 deliveries during the week leading up to and including Mother’s Day. Bowman, who is a regular member of First United Methodist Church, said he was so busy on Mother’s Day weekend he could not make it to church Sunday morning.
But Mother’s Day is not the only time Bowman is busy. Valentine’s Day, Christmas and Thanksgiving mark other peak times. In between, he arranges flowers for any occasion.
“This is a job where I make people happy,” Bowman said. “Even in sympathy, people are happy to get flowers. I just love what I do.”
The store can receive and send flowers from all over the world. So far, Bowman said, he has worked with flowers from five continents.
His shop services all local funeral homes and those in Bloomington, Spencer, Martinsville and Bedford. Bowman does not mind long deliveries.
The Flower Shoppe is located at 113 N. Sale St. in downtown Ellettsville.
Originally published in Ellettsville Journal, 2013. Republished here for archival and portfolio purposes.