Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 11, 1991 TAG: 9104120427
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS CRISCIONE/ SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Still, something deep inside Bennett had always been attracted to flowers.
Bennett says that as a little girl she would pick flowers and arrange them. "I don't even remember what types of flowers they were - probably dandelions; they looked good to me."
Then she had a biology teacher who made the class memorize the names of 100 different flowers. "I guess it just stuck with me."
Six years ago, Bennett started tinkering with different types of floral designs. Since she's allergic to real flowers, she used silk ones. Friends and neighbors who saw her work suggested Bennett consider selling her arrangements. So, she took a course in floral design, earned a certification and Gen's Flowers was born.
Although Bennett continues in her full-time job as a licensed practical nurse at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem, her silk-flower business continues to grow. Relying mostly on word of mouth for advertising, Bennett gives her customers individualized attention.
Whether she's doing a centerpiece or planning the entire floral scheme for a wedding, Bennett's primary objective is to find out what her customers want and give them just that, she says.
"If someone comes to me for a wedding, I sit down with them and talk about their plans. We go over everything - how many people in the bridal party, what colors they'll be wearing, how simple or elaborate they want it."
Bennett says if the individual doesn't know what kind of flower she wants, then "I take all the other information they give me and try to come up with something that fits their needs."
Bennett says she tries to take as much pressure as possible off the bridal couple by not only designing the arrangements but also delivering them herself to make sure there are no last-minute mishaps.
"All my flowers are hot glued into place," she says. "If something should happen and the glue comes undone, I'm there to fix it. I don't want there to be any extra stress on the people getting married."
Though running her own business would seem to put tremendous demands on her time, Bennett weaves her work into her lifestyle. When she's traveling to visit her children and other relatives, Bennett is always looking for flowers to bring home. She says she finds different flowers in different areas of the country, adding that one of her biggest frustrations is trying to find a variety of flowers closer to home.
"Roanoke does not have a great selection of flowers unless you want to pay a lot of money," she says. "I look around a lot to try and find the best deal."
The cost of materials is one of the biggest obstacles Bennett says she's had to overcome. She has learned, through trial and error, that she needs to cover herself in case someone backs out of a job at the last minute.
Once she bought all the flowers for a wedding and "a couple of weeks before the wedding, the woman comes back to me and says `I'm not getting married,' and I'm sitting here with all the flowers."
Now, though, Bennett has customers sign consent agreements and put down a deposit before she starts a job. Still, she says, most jobs work without a hitch.
Eventually, Bennett says, she wants to concentrate on her floral arrangements full time and maybe even open a shop.
"I had never planned to be a nurse," she says. "I always thought I would go into business. I enjoy being a nurse, but I think I would like to do this. Working with flowers is very relaxing to me."
by CNB