Anytime Florals and Gifts in Brownstown is set for its Christmas open house and grand reopening Friday and Saturday. Zach Spicer

BROWNSTOWN

Luke and Caitlin Nolting and Lonny and Jackie Gibson already were in the funeral home business.

Plus, the Noltings were in the process of planning to get married. They might as well add a new business to the mix. No big deal, right?

In February, the Noltings and Gibsons took ownership of Anytime Florals and Gifts in Brownstown. While that was one big step, it was another venture moving the business from Commerce Street to Woodside Court.

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Fortunately, it all came together, and the business has been booming and blooming.

“I think it’s really just our friendship that made us want to do something together and give it a try and see how it goes, and our first year has been really good,” Jackie said.

“It was a little crazy buying a business and getting married,” Luke said. “It has been a big year.”

As a way to thank everyone who has supported the business, a grand reopening and Christmas open house is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the shop, 270 Woodside Court.

There will door prizes, food and refreshments, 20% off Christmas decor and fresh Christmas centerpieces, arrangements, wreaths and door swags.

“We really haven’t even put it out there that we’re the new owners. People know, but we’ve never put anything in the paper or Facebook,” Luke said. “This is our first event that we’ve had since we bought it. We are really appreciative of everyone who has supported us after finding out that we were the new owners. The community has been really good to us.”

For those who haven’t been to the business, Jackie said it will be an opportunity to check it out.

“We want to show off what we have to offer, all of the new stuff, and just have a public event to welcome people in and see what we have,” she said.

Since 2012, the business had been in the former Dairy Queen building at 721 W. Commerce St.

Being in the funeral home business, Luke and Jackie often found themselves in the flower shop and others around the county.

“Luke and I didn’t know each other until a few years ago when he took over the business,” Jackie said.

“We got to become friends, so then after we became such good friends, we were like, ‘You know what? We would love to have a business together,'” said Jackie, who operates Johnson Funeral Home in Vallonia. “Of course, you’ve got funeral homes, but we just kind of thought it would be neat to try something.”

The former shop owners, Tom and Lisa Martin, kept mentioning to Luke and Jackie about buying the business.

In February, before the busiest time of year for flower shops — Valentine’s Day — the Noltings and Gibsons took over. At the time, the business was still on Commerce Street.

Fortunately, the Martins had ordered roses and other popular flowers based on the previous year’s sales, and Jackie said the phone rang off the hook in the days leading up to the holiday with people wanting to place orders.

Once that rush ended, it was time to move to the new location on Woodside Court, which is just south of town off of State Road 135.

They decided that was the best location because it offers better parking and access.

“I think being in town is nice, but it’s sometimes harder for people to get in and out of there,” Luke said of the previous location.

“It really hasn’t hurt us,” Jackie said. “We were afraid being off the beaten path a little bit would be like, ‘Oh gosh.’ We were really kind of nervous being down here, but we don’t even have a sign up, and it hasn’t hurt us. We don’t have anything on the road that says where we are.”

The new owners have been blessed, Luke said, because the community has supported them, and they have good employees. That includes two full-time people and three part-timers. One of them is Lisa Martin, who had experience in the floral business.

The couples decided what type of merchandise they envisioned and ordered it for the shop.

One room features sympathy items, including windchimes, Willow Tree angels, planters, monument caps and vases and throws.

They also offer fresh flowers, silk arrangements and wreaths and can do customized gifts for events like weddings, bridal parties and baby showers. Candy bouquets are popular, too, and can include candy, soda and other favorites of the recipient.

“We’re really open to having people walk in and customize their own gift,” Caitlin said.

Customers also will find a lot of home decor throughout the store. That will change based on the season.

“I feel like that’s something that we envisioned for the flower shop. We’re still trying to find new ideas,” Caitlin said.

“I would say that’s one thing that we brought is more home decor,” Jackie said. “Cait and I both like to decorate our homes. I don’t know that we really knew for sure what we wanted to do, but as we’ve gotten into it, we’ve seen things that there is (available to have in the shop).”

The shop also offers a delivery service to all of Jackson County.

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What: Grand reopening and Christmas open house

When: 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday

Where: Anytime Florals and Gifts, 270 Woodside Court, Brownstown

Details: Door prizes, food and refreshments, 20% off Christmas decor and fresh Christmas centerpieces, arrangements, wreaths and door swags

Information: 812-358-5680, anytimefloral.com, Anytime Florals and Gifts on Facebook

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