| A blooming business: Her growing success got its start in a single greenhouse
When Amy Pauley-Fleming graduated from Washington State University with an accounting finance degree, it didn't take long for her to discover that a desk job wasn't her style. Customers won't see high maintenance green grass at Flowers to the Brim. She wanted low maintenance and low water consumption, so she planned to use xeriscaping techniques, featuring commercial grade weedblock covered with rock and carefully selected plants that are well suited to the desert-like summers. She installed an efficient drip system for watering all of her landscaping plants. Amy also developed a plan to manage water runoff on the site. Local businesses are excited to work with Flowers to the Brim, too. Flowers to the Brim features one line of unique gifts not found at any big box store — iron work gifts for the garden by Hillbilly Yart on consignment. Flowers to the Brim is also active in the community. "I wear five different hats, but where I like to be is out there growing," said Amy, who eventually bought out her partners. Greenhouse temperatures are managed manually, and are not allowed to dip below 50 to 55 degrees at night, dependant upon the plants in a particular greenhouse. Corcoran contracted with Flowers to the Brim several years ago to spruce up the park for the AppleSox season. "It has been awesome doing business with Amy from Flowers to the Brim for a long time," said Charlotte Mayo, general manager of the Holiday Inn Express on North Wenatchee Ave. Sun-loving plants are planted next, followed by shade-loving plants and bedding plants. That was eight years ago, and Clarke has been with the business ever since. "They add color and a unique, vibrant character to the ballpark, and we get continuous compliments from our fans," Corcoran said. "We're on track this year for production," she said. Weary travelers can expect to be cheerfully greeted again this year. It has also partnered with Jim Corcoran, owner of the Wenatchee AppleSox. "We lease Paul Thomas Sr. "We built this retail space from the ground up," Amy said. "We stood gazing out the window of the newly finished garden center," said Gae Re Clarke, Amy's personal assistant. "I turned to Amy and said, 'Oh, my gosh, Amy, how does it feel to be standing in the middle of your dream?' " Clarke said. Staffing requirements for the business fluctuate all year long. The approaching spring brings a rush of work to get thingsplanted in the greenhouses. Timing is everything when it comes to planting, and different plants must be planted at different times, with the goal of being ready to sell at the appropriate time in the spring. The following year the new garden center was completed and was being full of products. I can explain to her what I want our landscaping to look like and she can make it happen. The weather is out of Amy's control, but deciding what to sell in the store is completely up to her and her staff. On the south side of the lot, Amy has built an area she uses for different purposes all through the year. It's really a big hit with families, Amy said. Her father grows the pumpkins on his farm near Pasco and trucks them up in the fall. Amy began planting in her greenhouses the second week of February. It very much impacts the consumer — whether they want to be out working in the yard or not. "We're trying to find more unique gifts suited to gardeners you can't find anywhere else," she said. A blooming business: Her growing success got its start in a single greenhouse |
Wednesday 4 April 2012
A blooming business: Her growing success got its start in a single greenhouse
