Brenda's House of Flowers - Flowers in Woodstock, GA

Brenda's House of Flowers
9010 Main Street
Woodstock, GA 30188

(770) 926-3306

(800) 562-4297

customerservice@bhoflowers.com

How It All Began!

My wife, Lyn, was looking for something to do after moving to Atlanta from Phoenix, AZ. Lyn managed several departments at the Arizona Biltmore, a five star resort. When I asked her what she had liked the most at the Biltmore, she said she enjoyed managing the floral department best. In late 1996, we engaged a business broker to do a search based on certain criteria we had devised for a mid-range florist with potential for growth that we could obtain.

After several months of due diligence, I purchased Brenda's House of Flowers in Woodstock, Georgia as a Christmas present for Lyn. After Lyn was in the business for several months, I took a 90-day leave of absence from my position as CEO of a small Atlanta-based technology company to come in and install new technology, initiate marketing and sales programs and develop a business plan. To make a long story short, I never went back. We are now living the "American Dream". I go to work every morning with my best friend and wife, Lyn.

In order to best serve our customers, Lyn and I spent every waking minute learning everything we could about the floral industry. We were 18 months into the learning curve when our business plan started to show the fruits of our labor.

According to the Society of American Florist, the average florist in the USA produces approximately $257,000 in sales annually. Brenda's does this dollar volume every 2 months!!! Brenda's House of Flowers finished in the "Top 2%" in sales in the United States this past year having only one location. Brenda's has grown to be "One of America's Largest Award-Winning Florists" as a result of our great customer service, best value and freshest flowers!

In 1997, we were in the "Top 500" (459) senders for Teleflora, the floral industry's largest wire service. In 1998, we were in the "Top 100" (89) senders for Teleflora. In 1999, we were in the "Top 50" (29) senders for Teleflora.

In 2000, we were again in the "Top 50" (20) as a sender for Teleflora. In 2001, Teleflora added 9,000 new florist and we still finished in the "Top 50" (43) out of over 34,000 member florists nationally! In 2002, we were ranked 40th nationally! We just received confirmation we were named one of America's "Top 50 Retail Florist" for 2003. This is five consecutive years of excellence!

The Cherokee County of Chamber of Commerce named Brenda's House of Flowers its' "Small Business of the Year". We were voted "The Best of the Best" florists in Towne Lake by the TowneLaker Magazine 1998-2002. The Atlanta Journal Constitution voted us "The Best of the Best" florist in Cherokee County. We have received awards from the Etowah High School's Diversified Cooperative Training Program and PTSA for outstanding service to the community. Brenda's is a long time member of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, Society of American Florists, FTD, ETF Association & Teleflora. Lyn was named in the "Who's Who" National Directory of Top Women Executives in 1999. Recently, we became Arnold Mill Elementary's "Partner in Education".

Lyn received the Cobb County YWCA's "Women of Achievement Award" for the most outstanding businesswoman in Cherokee County presented in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce in all of Northwest Georgia for 2001.

Over the years, we have contributed our time, services and/or monetary donations to more than 125-150 non-profit organizations within Cherokee County and the surrounding areas.

We personally feel it is our civic duty and
responsibility to support the community in which we serve.

Skip & Lyn Shipman