Fab Florals
Find the Perfect Arrangement at Main Street Floral & Gifts
Writer / Lois Tomaszewski
Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
When your dream comes true, like Main Street Floral & Gifts Owner Jennifer Jordans has, you try to help others out with their dreams. Thats exactly what Jordan tries to do at her shop in North Judson, whether that dream is fulfilling a floral order or supporting other women-owned businesses.
Jordan has owned her floral shop since 2003. When she was in high school in North Judson, she knew she wanted to own a business one day, although she wasnt sure what type of business it would be. She thought she might be a fashion designer, but when she spent time working in floral design, she realized she had a talent for it.
Jordan says she does her best to listen and interpret what every customer is asking for. That personal touch has made her successful, and also accounts for the many returning customers for whom she has designed floral arrangements. That personal touch could include a favorite flower, a favorite color or a nod to a favorite hobby. These details are important, especially when it comes to floral arrangements for important life events like funerals and weddings.
I spend a lot of time with the customer so I can give it that personal touch, she says.
She also takes to heart what her father told her years ago about ensuring quality.
If I am not proud to say I made it, it wont come out of my shop, she says.
Jordan is versatile when it comes to satisfying her customers requests. She can add extra elements to an arrangement, from angel wings to balloons. She has also designed and installed flower walls at weddings, and even provided flowers to float down a creek.
Ive even hidden an engagement ring inside a rose, she says.
Valentines Day is the busiest day of the year at Main Street Floral. More than 200 Valentines Day flowers are typically ordered on that day. Roses are by far the most popular but mixed bouquets are also in demand.
Mothers Day is another busy time of the year, with sales lasting throughout the week before the second Sunday in May. In addition to the usual roses and floral arrangements filled with spring and summer flowers, hanging baskets are also a popular gift that Jordan stocks in her shop for that time of the year.
During other times of the year, Jordan is busy making holiday wreaths and simply providing her customers with thoughtful gifts for special occasions.
Ive been doing this for 34 years, she says. Flowers make people happy. A lot of people wont buy flowers for themselves and to get flowers from someone is a special gift. You cant mess up giving flowers. Flowers are happy.
But its not just flowers at Main Street Floral. The gift shop offers many unique products that can be purchased separately or added to a floral arrangement. Candles, baskets, ceramic angels, Afghans and chocolates, among other items, are provided by other local small-business owners, many of whom are women entrepreneurs like herself.
When flowers are given as a gift, Jordan has a few suggestions on how to keep that gift thriving longer.
Put fresh water into the vase every couple of days, she says. Crushed aspirin in the vase really does make the flowers last longer. Keep the flowers out of the sun. It causes them to die out quicker and open up faster.
When deciding on floral arrangements for a wedding, Jordan suggests making sure to work within a budget and know what to spend. Wedding colors and even a brides favorite flower should also be known before choosing the floral arrangements.
For a funeral arrangement, its important to think about what was important to the person being memorialized, Jordan says.
When you think of that person, consider what comes to mind first, she says.
Main Street Floral & Gifts is located at 119 North Main Street in North Judson. Call Jordan at 574-896-5797 or email her at mainstreetfloral119@gmail.com. Find out more by visiting northjudsonflowers.com, or find them on social media.
