My sister and I have an opportunity to buy a local flower shop at a really good price.
Wow. I'm so excited. After 6 months of begging people to give me a job that never comes, I now have an opportunity to make my own job.
There's almost an air of destiny about this. Back last May, before we even got out of floral school, we spotted this guy opening up his shop in our neighborhood, and went and befriended him and talked to him before he was really even open for business. We have been very good customers of his, and now that he wants to return to South America, he wants to sell the shop to us. He could actually get more money for it from some of the other local florists and growers, but he wants to sell to somebody that will keep his business going and not just buy it to plow it under and get rid of the competition.
This is a classic case of getting a job through networking. We pulled up in front of his place and showed him the great bouquets we made in class that day. He was impressed. And now, he will sell the business to us, and stay on for a month to show us the ropes, and then return to South America, where he will join his family's flower brokerage, and we will be his first big account. And I know we are going to make some money for him and us. We have a lot of contacts in the floral industry here now through school which he doesn't have, and he knows it. That's why he wants to sell to us.
The coolest part is that, at the price he wants, we can finance it out of our own funds and don't need to take out a small business loan. And our parents are on board, have offered to help us financially. (I think they're just so relieved we finally have a PROJECT, you know? hahaha)
When the time is right, I will publish the name of the place here, and I hope all Twin Cities Kossacks will visit us. We will have beautiful roses at a VERY reasonable price. Believe me, if there's one thing I know about retail in these times, it's like, don't make your prices out of sight for the average person. It's a lot better to sell a little cheaper and get a loyal customer than it is to sell at some ridiculous price and have somebody never come back.
We will have a kid-friendly and pet-friendly shop. Bring your children and pooties and woozles, ALL are welcome. I only wish we could have a shop cat, like a lot of greenhouses, but this storefront faces a very busy street, so I guess we couldn't do that. I would hate to have a pootie escape artist that would run out of the place and get run over.
I hope to see a lot of you guys in my place when we can finally open the doors under new management.
This will be in NE Mpls, I would love to see a lot of Kossacks there. I will give you all some really good deals on fresh and dried flowers.
UPDATED: OK I know according to the new rules we're not supposed to gush about being on the rec list. But I really am thrilled and grateful. And I think that the reason I am is because people are just so hungry for good news re economy and jobs. And believe me if my business ever takes off to the point where I can afford it, I will hire Kossacks. Thanks guys.