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Flower
shop opens under new management
[APRIL
3, 2000] Flowers
by Tibbs, Weddings by Crystal, at 125 Sangamon St. in Lincoln, has
reopened under the management of its new owners, Steve Elkins of
Lincoln and Marsha Miller of Middletown. The new owners plan to keep
the former name of the business for the time being, but the flower
shop will eventually become "Creative Designs and
Weddings." |
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Elkins
said he has always been interested in floral design and wanted to
own a flower shop. He’s had his eye on the shop owned by Crystal
and Tom Tibbs for some time and bought the business when they
decided to retire. He believes the location of the shop is its
greatest asset and thinks the reopening of the Depot Restaurant
will help attract customers to his business.
The
shop will continue to carry live plants and flowers, artificial
arrangements, silk flowers and helium balloons, and it will eventually
expand the wedding business. Elkins plans for his business to
become a "one-stop shop" for weddings, offering
invitations, plates, napkins and all other paper goods along with
tuxedo rentals. When the expansion is completed over the summer,
lists of caterers, photographers and disc jockeys will be
available. "We will have everything but wedding
dresses," he said.
[Steve Elkins, owner of Flowers by Tibbs, Weddings
by Crystal; proudly welcomes customers to his store]
Although
the new shop will continue to provide traditional flower
arrangements, Elkins will expand design choices. "We are
doing our homework to become current with what’s going on
nationally and internationally in floral design so we can offer
new and unique ideas to our customers," Elkins added.
Kenna
(Pierce) Schafer, who has worked in Bloomington as a floral
designer, is full-time manager. Kay Hunter of Broadwell is the
assistant floral designer and wedding coordinator.
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A
special promotion each month will benefit charitable organizations
in Lincoln, Elkins said. From April 15 through May 31, the shop
will donate $2 of the proceeds from floral arrangements and
corsages to the Domestic Abuse and Violence prevention campaign. A
small blue ribbon on the arrangement will indicate that it
benefits the community organization.
[Store manager, Kenna Schafer and Steve Elkins will
continue to offer a variety of floral services
and are planning to create a full service bridal stop]
Each
month a different organization will benefit, and the arrangement
will carry a small ribbon of a different color. All recipients
will be Logan County organizations, such as the local Red Cross
and Lincoln Christian Church’s Harvest of Talents, Elkins
explained. "It is our way of giving back something to the
community," he said.
Elkins
said he will retire in two years from his job in Springfield as a
computer programmer for the Department on Aging and will work
full-time in the business. "It’s been here for 37 years. I
plan to keep it open for 20 more years, then retire and leave it
to my kids," he said.
Editor’s
note: A grand opening is set for April 29. Business hours are 8
a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday. Out-of-town customers may call collect to place orders.
Elkins also plans to develop a way for customers to order on the
Internet.
[Joan
Crabb]
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