Back in bloom
New owner of Thoms Flowers adds wedding decorating services
When Patricia Hillis took over a Glace Bay business, she had no intention of changing the name.
Hillis purchased Thoms Flowers Feb. 1 and its name remains the same.
“Hey I’m not going to fiddle with fate, fiddle with 53 years,” she said. “There’s a reason it has been such a long-time business in the community.”
But the business does have a new look. She has combined it with her wedding decorating company, Kreative Korners, which she has owned since 2013.
Hillis said they carry everything Thoms Flowers did but they have also gotten into some new aspects such as holiday baskets, stuffed balloons and even have an embroidery machine to personalize tablecloths and other items.
The shop has unique giftware, plants, artwork and many other items. She said in the near future she will also be getting into selling ceramic greenware.
“We’d also love to hear from the public about what they’d like to see.”
She said the idea to purchase this business came as a result of her other one.
“I was working out of my house and my garage. I was trying to find a place to house everything because it was getting out of control.”
One day she went into Thoms Flowers to purchase baby’s breath for a centerpiece.
She talked to a family member of Thoms Flowers who was working in the shop. Hillis mentioned she was looking for a spot for her wedding supplies.
“The woman said, ‘What about this building? I know the owner wants to sell it as he wants to retire.’”
The owner wanted to sell it as a flower company. Hillis thought it couldn’t be a better fit.
“That was fine by me because I wanted to start a flower shop anyway.”
The business at one time was a bakery but for the past 53 years it has been a flower shop. The previous owners Rose and Dan Murrin owned it for seven years before retiring.
Hillis says former florist Tracey Cooke has stayed on with her.
“I also have family and friends who come in to help. I have one friend, Margie McNeil, who practically lives here but she’s not on the payroll. She’s a local artist and loves to piddle around here.”
Although she looks after the business herself she admits her husband Sheldon has put more than his share of his heart into it too. He even traded his beloved
jeep to purchase a delivery van for her.
“I didn’t think he would ever do it. He even had the Call of Duty special edition. However
he let it go to get a van for me.”
Hillis was a long haul transport truck driver for 13 years for Clarke Road in Halifax, and her husband still does that kind of work.
They are inviting the public to come to their grand opening April 29, 12 noon – 4 p.m.