Meredith Abbett has been involved in some of the most emotional moments in Chugiak-Eagle River's recent history.
She's had her hand in countless first dates, engagements, weddings and even funerals. Just last week, she made prom special for Chugiak High School students and helped a husband tell his wife he loved her.
Abbett loves flowers so much that she committed her life to sharing her passion. The owner of Oopsie Daisy florist in Eagle River, she began selling flowers 10 years ago. Since then, her business has grown to become the only exclusive flower shop in the Chugiak-Eagle River area, something that is a point of pride for her.
“May 3, 1998, is when I started Oopsie Daisy,” she said “I hoped it would grow into what it is, but there were times I wasn't sure we'd make it. But we have managed to grow into a part of the community.”
The first challenge Abbett faced was coming up with a name. Unable to decide, she went to the entrance of Wal-Mart and conducted a survey. Oopsie Daisy was the people's choice over River's Edge Florist, Flower Power and Eagle River Florist.
“I was happy people didn't pick Flower Power as a name,” Abbett said. “Because my husband was pushing for us to buy a VW van for our delivery vehicle if they did. It would have been cute, but they don't come in four-wheel drive and making some of our deliveries would have been difficult.”
Besides, Oopsie Daisy was more fitting.
“Everyone said the name was more fun,” she said. That fun has carried over into her daily operations.
Abbett and her staff were busy Friday preparing flowers for the Chugiak High School prom.
“We're making a lot of corsages and boutonni¸res,” she said. “But we have a lot of fun doing it.”
Laughter and music filled the work area as Abbett and her staff labored over the details in each of their creations. But Abbett said it's hard to call it work.
“I think that is what I like so much about running this place,” she said. “We have a lot of fun. There is always music playing, and we just have a good time. What's happier than flowers? They always put a smile on your face.”
Before opening her shop, Abbett worked for six years at a flower shop in Anchorage.
“I reached a point where I decided I should be working for myself,” she said. “My first thought was to open a shop in Anchorage, but I didn't think that would be a fair thing to do to someone I consider a friend. So I opened in Eagle River.
“I've found that it was the best decision I've made, because the people out here are so friendly and loyal customers,” she said. “Even with 30,000-plus people, this community is still a small town and everyone knows everyone.”
Being the small-town florist hasn't been without some challenges, especially when dealing with repeat customers.
“We've got these two brothers who come in wanting us to be creative in making flowers look bad,” she said. “They take turns trying to one-up the other with how bad the flowers they send can look. We've broken vases and taped them together with duct tape, run over the flowers and even sent dead flowers. It's not the typical way I like the send flowers out the door, but it's what the customer wants.”
While dealing with the quirky customers and having fun with employees is the best part of doing business, Abbett said its also one of the most difficult thing to do.
“Handling all the issues that come with employees, payroll, workers comp and scheduling is probably the hardest thing to do,” she said. “I wish someone would wave a magic wand and make that easier, especially now that I am raising twin 3-year-olds and a newborn.”
Ten years ago when she started, her husband agreed she could run the business if it paid for itself, which it did.
Then he said it should make enough to pay Abbett some money, which it did.
“Now he expects it to turn a profit,” she said. “Which it has been doing.”
There's more than just flowers to Oopsie Daisy.
“I enjoy doing the baskets that we make almost as much as flowers,” said floral designer Sasha Ruesch. “We've made some for bachelor and bachelorette parties that have been pretty fun. We've also made baskets for fisherman, hunters and even students. They are fun to make because we can be creative.”
The store also does balloon bouquets, special events decoration and gift baskets.
Deliveries to Anchorage, Chugiak and Eagle River are available.
Reach the reporter at darrell.breese@alaskastar.com.
