My Biz: Solon floral shop owner decorates homes, travels for weddings

SOLON — If Elissa Lewis was given the choice between an eight-hour a day job at a desk or a 15-hour day at a floral shop, she definitely would choose the latter.

Lewis, owner of E's Florals in Solon, started work at 4:30 a.m. on a recent busy Friday.

'There was no point in laying in bed thinking about all the things I had to do,' she said. 'I figured I might as well get up and get going on them.'

E's Florals provides fresh cut flower arrangements for holidays, weddings, funerals, proms and so forth, and carries unique gift items.

Lewis has owned and operated the cozy floral/gift shop for 10 years. An intern from Kirkwood Community College helps during extra busy times, and the couple's two daughters provide occasional assistance. Her husband, John, does deliveries after he gets off work.

The shop's location is vital, Lewis said.

'Solon is a huge mixing pot of people,' she said, 'and Highway 1 brings a lot of people through town. People are going down to the University of Iowa or heading up to Mayo Clinic and they'll stop next door and get ice cream at the Dairy Queen, then walk through our shop, eat their ice cream and visit,' she said. 'I learn a lot from people coming in.'

Lewis said tne diversity in her customers' tastes challenges her to bring in different offerings.

Lewis also decorates customers' homes during the Christmas season, beginning as soon as the week before Thanksgiving.

'The holidays can get a little intense,' she laughed, 'but some of my clients go on vacation in December, so I can go into their homes at night after I close my shop and decorate for them.'

She incorporates the items her clients already own along with extras from her own stock, or other 'fluff and stuff' as she calls it.

'Anything is fair game. I do the mantels, Christmas trees, banisters, garlands over exterior doors, wreaths — even their pots outside,' she added.

She is willing to travel to weddings as well.

'Wherever people want me to go,' she said, 'I can go for them.'

Her willingness to accommodate one of her customers — 'they're like family' — took her across the ocean to Hawaii. Twice. 'I did both of their kids' weddings,' she said.

A New Year's Eve wedding in Mississippi for the niece of a former employer offered yet another opportunity.

'We even brought in trees for that one,' she said. 'It was an amazing event.'

Lewis said it takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears to run a small business like hers.

'You have to put your whole heart into it,' she said, 'but it's totally worth it in the end to see people happy about getting the product that they want, and knowing I was able to do that for them.'

AT A GLANCE

Managers: Elissa and John Lewis

Business: E's Florals

Address: 101 Prairie Rose Lane No. 3, Solon

Phone: (319) 624-3121

Website: www.esflorals.com

l Know a company in business for more than a year that would make an ideal My Biz? Contact Francie Williamson at francie.williamson@thegazette.com