Abloom is a small locally owned floral studio, specializing in modern and unique fresh floral displays. All of their arrangements are artfully designed to match each individual’s needs. Everyday designs as well as weddings, events and sympathy are available.
How long have you been in Lincoln?
We are the third owners, abloom has been operating in Lincoln since 1994.
What do you think makes you different from other companies similar to yours?
We strive to bring our customers something different, using fresh locally grown products as well as unique cut stems from around the world. You should always be able to tell when an arrangement has come from abloom. It’s also about the attention to detail, everything from choosing the container to the enclosure cards, we always have an eye towards unique design.
What do you like about doing business in Lincoln?
I love the downtown community, everyone is friendly and always willing to help out their neighbors.
What changes have you seen in the industry and your company in the past few years?
As we look to the internet for more sales, it seems like order gathering sites are on the rise. These are misleading floral service marketers, not real floral shops, that send the orders on to he actual florists in that area. They may offer low pricing, promises of items not in stock and specific delivery times that are unavailable, all while charging extra fees then not passing that money along to the actual florist. Many orders are transferred to local florists with vague descriptions and/or instructions stating ‘fill as similar as possible’ – leaving both a disappointed sender and recipient. It’s always better to call and make sure the shop you’re ordering from is real and in the same city as your recipient.
What do you see happening with the business in the next five years?
Hopefully we can continue to grow our business and yet keep that feel of knowing all our customers by name. We have repeat customers who call the shop, and all they have to say is “This is Matt, I need some flowers sent to Kristin today. Thanks.” That’s the entire conversation. Some of our business customers skip the phone and website entirely, and just e-mail us directly with the order particulars. It takes several orders to build this relationship, and communication is important.
What is one of the biggest challenges that your company has faced?
I think that the first three years we owned the shop was hard. abloom’s reputation had been run into the ground a little from where it originally began. Rebuilding those relationships and expectations from our customers was difficult, but has proven to be so rewarding and really positive. I love hearing people call and say how much they enjoy their flowers.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
We love what we do and I think that shows in our work!
Where is your shop located?
Abloom of Lincoln is located at 1451 O Street, Lincoln, NE 68508. Call 402-435-6937 or visit us online at http://www.abloomlincoln.com or on Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/abloom/108618822511489