Floral business grows in the family

Ormond Beach Observer
Business

“It’s in your soul.”

That’s how Aletha Power describes the floral business after working in it for 44 years. It runs in the family; she remembers her grandmother’s yard was always full of flowers.

Now, the tradition continues. Power has joined her daughter, Erena Manis, in purchasing Best Wishes Flowers and Gifts, 349 W. Granada Blvd.

The family has owned Big Value Garden Center in Daytona Beach for 60 years, which was started as a curb market by Power’s parents. Power also runs Advantage Plant Design, which supplies flowers and plants for corporate events.

Manis, a social worker, helped in the family business all her life. She’s now decided to go into the floral business fulltime as manager of the shop while being assisted by her mother and Gina Ruth, a floral designer they’ve known for a long time.

When she found out the previous owners were selling the business for retirement, she said she couldn’t pass it up.

“I enjoy working with family,” she said.

They have decided to keep the name of the business, but Manis is making a few modern changes. For instance, she redesigned the website and made it ecommerce, so flowers can be purchased online. The shop has also been remodeled with an open design.

“People like being able to see where the designer is working,” Power said.

The floral business has changed over the years with big box stores and grocery stores selling flowers, but the small family business stays busy, concentrating on customer service.

“We consider ourselves an artisan floral boutique,” Manis said.

In addition to flowers, they also have plants and silk flowers. Manis said in the future they plan to offer gifts made by local crafters.

They say the floral business can be hard, physical work, especially around the holidays, but they continue to enjoy working with flowers.

“When I have a bad day, I make an arrangement,” Power said with smile.

Visit bestwishesflowersngifts.com.