Village Squire, 1977-12, Page 7because when the Christmas rush sets in. there's little time to
do such details.
Christmas means a busy period behind the scenes but it's
complicated by the fact it's also very busy out front in the flower
shop with more than the usual amount of customers. It's hard,
Jo -Anne says, to keep on top of both ends c i the business. Still,
she says, it's a nice place to work at Christmas. During this
season, she says, people are a little "higher" than normal.
She likes the retail business, she says. She likes being
associated with people, talking to them. She's free with advice
for those coming in to ask questions about caring for plants and
says she often learns tips from her customers too. Cards are
provided with plants sold with tips on what kind of care the plant
should have.
Although she took a three-week course in Chicago, Jo -Anne
feels the best way to learn the business is the way she did, by
practical experience. She likes to train her own employees and
she likes to start them in the busy periods of the year (Christmas
and Mothers' Day) because they have to learn to get along on
their own then. She's still learning every day about how to care
for plants by reading and by asking growers when she runs into a
specific problem. She learned a lot by giving plant parties for two
years.
At one time, most small town flower shops had their own
greenhouses but today fewer and fewer supply their own
flowers. The reason, Jo -Anne says is that there are peak seasons
when a certain flower is in demand. Someone trying to grow his
own supply might find the bed of flowers didn't bloom in time: it
might be past its prime. meaning it's worthless, or might be
late, meaning the flowers bloom a week late. when nobody wants
them.
So the common flowers come from greenhouses throughout
southern Ontario in places like Leamington the rare things are
shipped in: exotics from the southern U.S., greenery from
British Columbia. etc. Besides, she says. with the cost of fuel
these days, greenhouses are expensive propositions.
In addition. the growers have a wider variety than an
A GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS
& ALL YEAR
RINGS &
GOLD JEWELLERY
LARGE SELECTION
OF CLOCKS
(CARAVELLE & BULOVA)
SEIKO WATCHES
LARRY LACROIX
JEWELLER
131-1. 271-0521
Sri W ELLINGTON S1
STRATFORD
OVERNIGHT
SENSATIONS
?` Easy sew -it -tonight,
wear -it -tomorrow quickies!
FROM
BUTTERICK
McCALL
& SIMPLICITY
clAtics
k
Wit
61 HAMILTON ST. GODERICH
524-7260
TH F
WAXWORKS
WINGHAM
Gifts and Decorative
Accessories from the
skilled hands of Artisans
from Canada and
The Markets of the World.
PRE CHRISTMAS HOURS:
Monday thru Sat. 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday till 9:00 p.m.
SPECIAL EVENING HOURS:
Dec. 19 to 23 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
VILLAGE SQUIRE/DECEMBER 1977, S.