Print |
E-mail to a friend
BUSINESS
Local florist makes showing someone you care even easier by going online
Whitley's Floral and Tanning located in Proctorville, Ohio, on Friday, November 7, 2008.
Purchase this photo
PROCTORVILLE, Ohio -- Shopping for flowers, whether to send locally or out of state, just got easier, after a Proctorville florist has gone online.
Whitley's Floral & Tanning, which opened in Proctorville in January, is now affiliated with FlowerShopNetwork.com, giving shoppers a chance to order flowers quickly from their offices, or at 2 a.m. while sitting at home in their pajamas.
It can be accessed at www.whitleysfloralandtanning.com.
"We needed a wider service," said Melissa Marcum, floral designer for the business. "People would call from out of town to send stuff here locally, or people wanted to send things out of town. This makes it easier, and we've had a good reaction."
Open since January and located on Route 243 near the Lawrence County Fairgrounds, Whitley's Floral & Tanning is owned by Lawrence County native Dean Whitley. But he credits Marcum, his girlfriend, as the mastermind behind the floral designs. She, too, is from Lawrence County and has 15 years of floral experience, having formerly worked for Big Bear.
He opened the business after being on disability for a while and realizing that he didn't want to spend the rest of his life working for other people.
However, "Without her, there wouldn't be a shop," Whitley said, pointing to Marcum.
It's been an interesting year so far.
"Valentine's Day, we practically lived up here," he said. "Some weeks, (this business) is the greatest thing we ever did, and some weeks, it's awful. Homecomings and some holidays, it's really busy."
He and his son, Marshall student Joe Whitley, do most of the delivery. The job is most gratifying when you make a delivery to a recipient who is especially touched, Dean Whitley said.
"Older people, when they know that someone is thinking of them they really appreciate it," he said.
The store offers free delivery to St. Mary's Medical Center, Cabell Huntington Hospital and all funeral homes within a five-mile radius. It also offers free home delivery within a five-mile radius as well.
The online service started a couple months ago. Whitley's offers flowers, plants and baskets and custom orders online, as well as information on local funeral homes and hospitals. The online shop has gotten orders from throughout the country and as far away as England since it started online service.
Items to choose from in the shop include flower arrangements (fresh and silk), green and blooming plants, dish gardens, fruit and gourmet baskets, gift baskets, baby gifts, candy and chocolates, gift sets, primitive gifts, monogrammed items, tanning lotions, scented candles, stuffed animals and balloons. It also helps plan on-site decorating for special occasions.
It recently bought out inventory from South Point Floral, whose owner retired, so it also has wedding decorations, such as an arch, candelabras and unity candles, for rent.
Whitley's can be reached by phone at 740-886-5000. The flower shop is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 to 5 p.m. Saturday and is closed on Sunday.
