Jan. 6, 2005 – Everywhere Lorna Webster goes, the perfumed scent of roses lingers after her. She stands on a carpet of rose petals, calla lilies and ivy. The romantic working conditions are one of the fringe benefits of her new job as a full-time florist at her own shop, Blooming Things.
"This is my fun job; it's the most fun," she says.
Webster retired Dec. 31 from the Lt. Governor's office, where she was the director of Corporations and Trademarks for many years. "My directorship was the most amazing job, but this one is the most fun. It was learning something every day—this is too, it's just very different."
Webster began planning her retirement business five years ago, focusing on a flower shop because she's always liked blooming things. She began by building a Web site, putting an ad in Bride's magazine, taking courses in flower arranging, and poring over magazines to keep up with floral trends. Then two years ago Blooming Things opened—an innovative flower shop that receives its orders online. Business blossomed almost immediately.
"It was taking a shot in the dark, but it works for me," Webster says. Blooming Things is a full service flower shop, but weddings of day guests make up the bulk of the business.
Her sense of what's botanically in style has been honed over the years. Now Webster can anticipate what her brides will want almost before the orders come in. Right now the most popular thing going for brides is a white rose bouquet with an accent of stephanotis, tied with a white satin ribbon. It's called the Champagne Dreams Bouquet.
As she works on her latest creation—wedding bouquets she just received the order for the night before—Webster takes calls from anxious brides, checks on new orders and does a myriad of other things.
"Keep up with the industry and you'll stay on top of the industry."
Her location in Mandella Circle, right across from the cruise ship dock, makes it easy for day guests to do business with her.
"I had a wedding this morning, and the person walked right over and picked up the flowers. The ship docks and they walk right over."
While weddings are always big business, there are plenty of flowers to go around for parties and functions, birthdays, get well wishes, and every occasion that calls for a bunch of blooming things. And shopping is easy; all the arrangements are on the website, so you can choose what you want without leaving your home.
Because Blooming Things receives shipments almost every day, the floral creations are always made with the freshest flowers. Webster prefers a week's notice on weddings and other big orders. But even with a few hours notice Webster and her staff can work miracles, finding exotic flowers and working late hours to finish a job.
"We always have what they're looking for because we find it," she says. "We exhaust every avenue before we tell a customer 'no.'"
While she's working, doing the job in retirement that she's always wanted, Webster often looks at a message that is printed on her calendar. "You measure the size of the accomplishment by the obstacles you had to overcome to reach your goals."
"I keep that thought in mind always when I'm working here," she says. "I always liked flowers. Having a shop is something I always wanted to do so I just did it."
Blooming Things is a member of Teleflora and FTD and delivers worldwide. Visit the shop and place an order by logging onto www.blooming-things.com, or call 775-0373 or (888)-775-0373.
