Menu
Business grows in new location
SIKESTON - Since moving to its new location, you could say business at the Flower Patch has blossomed.
Michael Nickelson, owner, said the relocation in January to 510 N. Main to a building better known to long-time residents as the Stone House, was the right one for his business. Here there is lots of room to store, arrange and deliver flowers, display and expand his gift lines and meet and greet customers.
"This is a better location, more visible and accessible to customers and parking is no longer a problem," said Nickelson.
Part of what attracted him to the Main Street location was the building's history, he said. "The Stone House has been here a long, long time. Everyone knows where it is at."
And customer reaction is even better than expected. Since opening on Jan. 13 in his new building, Nickelson said his former customers are excited with the new look and new lines available. Others are finding the Flower Patch for the first time and stopping in.
The building provides more storage space with its basement. The back rooms in the building are set aside for flower processing and delivery preparation. The larger showroom has kept Nickelson and his staff busy as they expand the offerings of the Flower Patch to much more than flowers.
Now along with the variety of gift items, balloons and garden flags available, the Flower Patch has expanded its selection of candles to include Keeper of the Lights, novelty candles and pie candles, which look good enough to eat. The Angelic line of lotions, shower gels and bath oils are available at the Flower Patch, too.
In one corner of the showroom, Sikeston Bulldog fans will find stuffed bulldogs of every size and price range. These can be matched with special balloons or combined with gift baskets for fans, Nickelson said.
Across the showroom floor is the new home decor area, featuring lamps and tables along with floral arrangements and other accent pieces. "Here we moved for more room and we are already filling it up," said Nickelson with a laugh. "But we will be adding more. We want to keep a good variety of products."
But he doesn't intend to get away from the business which started it all - flowers. The Flower Patch specializes in fresh cut flowers, arranged in what Nickelson describes as the "wildflower" look.
"This is our calling card. We try to create something new, fun and pleasing to the eye. I like to be creative with flowers and our customers seem to like what we do," he said.
Fresh flowers arrive daily at the Flower Patch, providing Nickelson and his two other designers, Terry Ellison and Willa Gardner, with an ever-changing collection of blooms to create their arrangements for funerals, weddings and special bouquets.
He said the upcoming Valentine's Day should be a busy time for the business but promised that although the bouquets might be created by any of the three of the designers none leave until he has added his touch. This provides a bit of consistency, he explained, while giving each of them the opportunity to be creativity with their creations.
The holiday will also be a chance to be creative with their gift-basket offerings. Already they are looking at using the stuffed bulldogs to add to baskets for students along with candy and balloons or perhaps make up baskets with special scents from their bath and body lotions line.
To promote ordering early for Valentine's Day, the Flower Patch is offering free delivery and free balloons with any order placed by Feb. 11. Employee Kim Baker, who takes orders and greets customers, reminded that because the Sikeston Public Schools will be having teacher in-service on Feb. 14 and letting students out early, the Flower Patch will make their school deliveries on Feb. 13.
While much is already been done, Nickelson has more plans. He intends to turn the upstairs of the building into a wedding consultation area.
The Flower Patch offers free delivery within Sikeston. Also available is Teleflora and FTD for those wishing to send flowers.
The Flower Patch is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The telephone number is 472-2699.