As we at South Road Market reflect back on the 2023 season, a number of things stand out.
Probably first and foremost is the excitement our fresh cut flower bouquets have generated among our customers. It has been heartwarming for us to see in our customers the joy associated with the fresh splashes of color brought by these flowers that brighten up and invigorate homes and office spaces. We are grateful to be able to serve our customers through these beautiful flower arrangements, and that our customers have been willing, especially in such uncertain economic times, to invest in the business when our bouquets, while nice to have, are not “life and death necessities”.
Another highlight for us was the “Tulip Workshop” we held in May, attended by 12 or so of our customers, and that included tips for tulip bouquet-making and the application of those to the arranging of actual bouquets that attendees took home.
Other favorite recollections of the 2023 season, arranged in no particular order, are as follows:
The amazing lengths of time that many customers spent poring over the flower arrangements, agonizing over which one to buy, because they all looked so good (take as much time as you’d like!).
All the interesting conversations we had with customers, flower-related and otherwise.
The Farmers Market experiences we had, through the North Chili and Scottsville markets.
The opportunity to create and deliver bouquets and table arrangements for a beautiful September wedding - featuring sunflowers, dahlias, statice, and amaranth.
The incredible “performance” of the flowers, with some of the standouts including, (in addition to the gorgeous Glads and Dahlias and the ever-reliable bouquet foundation Zinnias), Snapdragons (wonderful array of colors, and for so many months!), Amaranth (what a “filler”!), Celosia (“different”, in appearance AND in a great variety of colors), and Lisianthus (elegant, and rose-like).
As we look ahead to 2024, some of the things we’re planning are as follows:
Doing our store walls in “rough cut barn wood”.....we have loved the look of this in antique and country stores, and are very excited to incorporate this look ( and smell!) into “The Shed”
Growing and selling chrysanthemums
Selling our own homegrown garlic
Exploring the possibility of offering olive oil
Soliciting a lot of customer opinions on current and future offerings, flower and non-flower-related
Expanding the workshop concept
Growing our subscription customer base further (weekly bouquet for whole season, in exchange for amount paid upfront, at outset of season)
We’d appreciate customer feedback on anything you’d like us to hear, but would especially appreciate at this time your thoughts on the olive oil offering possibility, and your thoughts on other things you’d like to see us offer.
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