Charleigh Lennox was making flower arrangements and doing other jobs in her new business – Flower & Co. in downtown Moline – this week as she prepares for what could be a very busy Mother’s Day weekend.
“This is the calm before the storm,” said the 20-year-old florist and new business owner. Flower & Co. is a full-service floral shop at 1520 Sixth Ave., Moline.
Ms. Lennox’s small shop, which has been open about a month, is getting ready for what is traditionally the busiest holiday of the year for florists. It’s even busier than Valentine’s Day because everybody has a mother, she said.
“I hope it’s a big weekend… I don’t know what my sales will be,” she added.
During an interview Tuesday, May 9, with the QCBJ, the young business owner did not want to predict her business over the weekend, but did share some of the top-selling items at the floral shop. They include:
- A dozen wrapped roses for $25.
- A dozen roses in a vase for $35.
- Flower arrangements customers create on their own at the bouquet bar in the floral shop. Those arrangements, depending on the size, can go for $10, $20 or $30. (In addition to letting customers get creative at the bouquet bar, Ms. Lennox also teaches classes on making arrangements. Her latest class was Sunday morning, May 7.)
Since opening, Ms. Lennox said she has received a good response and good support from the community. While many people love seeing another business start in downtown Moline, many also point out that she might be the youngest business owner in the city at just 20 years old.
“I’m working on gaining people’s respect. … Some people say ‘I can’t believe you’re getting after it when you’re this young,’” she added.
While Ms. Lennox is young, she already has many years of experience in the floral business. She grew up in the business because her parents had a former florist shop in Pekin, Illinois.
Today, Flower & Co. is pretty much a one-woman shop. Ms. Lennox has no employees, but she gets help from family members and her boyfriend in the business. “I’m very lucky to have the support system I have,” she added.
When she’s not busy with the many jobs associated with her new shop, Ms. Lennox keeps busy with a second job at a cleaning business, and she loves spending time with her family.
In the future, she hopes to add more features and services (and maybe even some employees) as she gains a customer base.
But for the moment, she is taking the small business world one step at a time, and enjoying her dream of starting her business.
Her advice to other young people considering starting a business is – follow your dreams and get moving.
“Just do it. Everything is a risk. … If you have a dream, you better do it. What’s stopping you?”
The leader of a group that helps support downtown Moline businesses is happy to see Flower & Co. join the business community.
“From talking with Charleigh, it’s clear that growing up in her family’s floral shop not only developed her skills and fueled her creativity, but it has also given her the confidence to open her own shop at 20 years old.
“I am impressed by Charleigh’s true passion for the products she offers, the services she provides, and the personal touches she offers to her customers. She embodies what it means to be a small business owner, and I’m excited that she chose Moline Centre for Flower & Co.,” said Kirk Marske, manager of the Moline Centre.
The Moline Centre is administered by Renew Moline Inc. in coordination with the City of Moline to support the downtown business community.
Flowers & Co. is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 5 p.m. For more information, call (309) 265-7990 or email [email protected].
