Personal Touch Florist
Tracy Nayar
July 31, 2018
Blooming Towards Success
The Personal Touch Florist opened February 7, 2012. This proved to be successful for Tammy, since it was right before Valentine’s Day. Loyal and new customers sought The Personal Touch Florist for all their floral needs. The Personal Touch Florist’s sales were 60% higher than projected.
Tammy Sawyers came to the Blue Ridge Crossroads Small Business Development Center in April of 2011 to discuss opening her own floral shop. Tammy had over six years of experience as a florist, and she was currently working from her home, providing personalized arrangements as well as the majority of the floral work for a local funeral home.
The Blue Ridge Crossroads SBDC began working with Tammy on a business plan to apply for a business start-up loan. During the process we discovered Tammy had some credit challenges and lacked collateral. With the guidance of the local SBDC and People Incorporated Financial Services, Tammy spent the next six months building her business from her home, cleaning up her credit, and securing additional collateral.
In December of 2011, Tammy came back to our office, and we assisted in finalizing a business plan and loan package to be submitted to People Incorporated Financial Services. In January of 2012, Tammy was approved for a loan to get her business started. Tammy secured a prime location in downtown Galax, purchased used equipment, and traveled to get the lowest price possible for her start-up inventory. Tammy creates and designs every arrangement in her shop, inspiring her name as The Personal Touch Florist.
The Personal Touch Florist opened February 7, 2012. This proved to be successful for Tammy, since it was right before Valentine’s Day. Loyal and new customers sought The Personal Touch Florist for all their floral needs. The Personal Touch Florist’s sales were 60% higher than projected.
The Personal Touch Florist has not hired full time employees but does hire employees part-time staff as needed during peak seasons and for delivery assistance. The Personal Touch Florist plans to hire at least one full-time person to help with all aspects of the business by 2014.
Most importantly Tammy, a single mother to six children, is teaching her family about building something from the ground up. Her children range in age from 2 to 20, and many times you will find the older children helping in the shop. Although Tammy has missed many games and events, she knows she is teaching her children about the value of hard work.
The Personal Touch Florist looks forward to continual growth and servicing the Twin County Area for all their floral needs.
