Upon entering Mum's Flower shop, you are not greeted with low buckets of water holding carnations wrapped in cheap cellophane: no, rather an intricately detailed interior design that is playful, eccentric and chic. Songbirds silently speak to you from their branches above the main display, as exotic floor plants come to life like venus fly trap. The décor inside this quaint flower shop is country-chic with a splash of vintage sophistication.
Cara Finch, new owner, is a vibrant young woman with a vision. her attention to quirky details is phenomenal and her aura is inviting and strong. She took ownership of Mum's Flowers on March 15th, just a week prior to our meeting and she is already bustling with new ideas. When I arrived at her store a new shipment of flowers had arrived and it was a frantic dash to cut them and get them into water so they could breath, drink and grow a little. The back wall of the shop is laiden with antique barn wood, lightly painted in pastel colors forming a perfect
background for climbing vines and delicate fresh cut flowers. Mum's Flowers has been in business for over 50 years and has changed hands three times. What keeps people coming back to Mum's Flowers is their commitment to the community and above all, relationships. I couldn't think of a better new owner than Cara Finch; her addicting warmth and kind spirit are so refreshing.
Cara, a Whitefish native, moved to California for school and has lived in San Diego, LA and Italy, places known for vibrant culture. She is a confident, individualist with a knack for style and presentation. Her designer, Leslie, has been at Mum's Flowers for some time now and is the mastermind behind the fantastic arrangements coming out of the store. She has been a floriculturist for 33 years. The previous owner, Cathy, has agreed to stay on for some time to help Cara and her customers ease the transition. Cara graduated with a Business Degree from Point Loma and considered Law School and possibly getting an MBA. But she was drawn back to her roots in Whitefish and eventually heard about the selling of Mum's Flowers through a friend at a real estate company. |
"I have always been interested in owning my own business. I thought it would happen later in my life, but then I saw this offer and I though, why not? I am young, I have energy and most importantly, I have ideas," says Cara.
Among the difficulties in aquiring a new business, Cara had to do a lot of research into what she was actually buying. "The flower business is interesting. You are essentially buying reputation and experience since flowers are a perishable inventory."
Upon buying Mum's, Cara and ger team travlled to Spokane, WA for a large flower show featuring the designer, Rene Van Rems Aifd. "He has all the great ideas for the future. His style is bold and fresh," adds Cara, "he knows what is 'in', and I get to bring that to my store!" All of the flowers in the store are bought from wholesalers and Cara maintains a special relationship with them to ensure great quality in her products.
Cara and the previous owner share a similar style so future changes will not be drastic. Among the new plants in the store, Cara hopes to add more orchids. "They are my favorite flower, I want to bring more to the store." Along with the orchid expansion, Mum's will feature more exotic botanicals with fanciful character. Whatever the change is, expect to be awed by the variety and quality of the plants that fill the whimsical walls of Mum's Flowers.
Whatever the occasion, I strongly suggest stopping into Mum's Flowers, located on Spokane Ave in Whitefish, for a store experience that will awaken, rejuvenate and ignite a creative spark you didn't know you had. Cara and Leslie are bold women and are taking Mum's to a new level of charm and sophistication.
Visit Mum's Flowers today at 711 Spokane Ave. Suite 6, Whitefish or call at (406) 862-2757 |
