After-school job turns into ‘perennial’ career
Levengood’s Flowers employee celebrates 50th anniversary
AMITY TWP. » When Judy (Hausman) Leister was a sophomore at Boyertown Area High School in 1970, she didn’t really know what she planned to do in the future. She was taking business classes at school, and in the late summer that year — shewas looking for a part-time job.
A classmate — and now husband Paul Leister Jr.— suggested she apply at Levengood’s Flowers Inc. in Amity Township. He had previously worked for Earl and Mary Levengood — who owned Levengood’s Flowers Inc. at the time. Judy Leister took his advice and was quickly hired.
That was 50 years ago. Last month, Judy Leister celebrated her 50th anniversary with the company.
“We love her, and she knows it. She is a great part of our business,” current owner Donald Levengood said of Judy. “She has dedicated herself to our business.”
Leister said she never imagined at 15 that she wouldmake a career at Levengood’s, but said Mary Levengood had plans. At the time, Mary Levengood handled all of the floral designs, especially the bridal bouquets and funeral pieces.
“She started teaching me to design, to wrap corsages, make prombouquets and wedding flowers. She had been doing it all before,” Leister said. Levengood also taught her young protégé other skills, like canning — a skill she uses to this day.
“I still can, in fact, this summer I canned 300 jars,” Leister said with a ready laugh.
Today, Leister is manager and designer of the shop — and handles any job thatneeds to be done. She starts work at 8 every morning; Saturdays are typically days she delivers wedding flowers.
“I look through the orders and start making arrangements or casket sprays. I never know what they day will be like,” she said. “Flower deliveries come in the morning, so I check them over. The wedding items come in on Monday, so I check them out.” In addition, Leister answers the phone, takes orders and oversees the other employees.
Leister said over the years everything about the industry has changed. In the early years, Levengood’s used flowers grown on the family farm and by local growers.
“Now we’re able to get flowers from South America and California, so that we’re able to offer a wide selection all year long,” Leister said.
In addition, the 25 acre farm has gone from two greenhouses to 12 — soon to be 13.
As the industry has changed over the years, Levengood’s customers have been able to count on Leister.
“She is very patient with people, knows our product and has done a super job,” Donald Levengood said.
Leister said that she really likes interacting with customers.
“I am always making someone happy, I hope. People come in who are so sad. I sometimes end up crying. A lot of times it’s people I know. At the end you try to make them happy and most of the time I do. I like pleasing people.” She added that it is important to be a good listener.
The coronavirus pandemic has had an impact on the work of Leister and Levengood’s Flowers.
When the pandemic struck, it was at the peak of Levengood’s spring business — Easter flower sales, church services, Relay for Life events. Events, like weddings were cancelled. Levengood’s initially closed, but with its agriculture license the business was deemed essential and reopened.
The shop was closed to the public, Leister said, but staff still did funeral work and birthdays. They also set-up registers on the front porch, and in April launched an online service and curbside pickup.
Spring, she said, was very busy. “We sold more mulch than ever. We had 12 greenhouses full of items — that were emptied over and over.”
Leister said it wasn’t uncommon during the spring for staff to work 60 to 70 hour weeks. Fall, she added, is also a busy time.
Over a work history of 50 years, there have been many memories, but a couple stand out for Leister. One was a casket spray she did for a prominent Boyertown businessmanwho passed away several years ago.
“People still talk about it,” she said.
Two other memories she holds close are doing thewedding flowers for daughters Kelly and Becky.
Leister said 50 years “happened so fast.” Her husband Paul retired last year, but she isn’t really thinking about slowing down yet.
“I have had four months of weddings that have been postponed until next year,” she said. “I’m not ready to retire.”
Levengood’s Flowers, 7652 Boyertown Pike in Amity Township is a third generation family-owned business that grew out of a small produce stand at the Pottstown FarmersMarket ownedbyDonald Levengood’s grandparents in 1927. In 1959 Earl and Mary founded Levengood’s Flowers. Earl Levengood thought they could add flowers to expand thebusiness, according to Donald Levengood.
“He sent my mom to school in Philadelphia to learn how to arrange flowers. It evolved into what it is today,” he said.
Donald and his wife Diane Levengood, who took over in 1978. The business is managed by Levengood’s son, John Levengood.