Perennial favorite again blooms in Best of the Best contest
Little Rock-based florist Tipton & Hurst has attained a level of familiarity and customer loyalty that few companies in Arkansas can match. With nearly 140 years in business and thousands upon thousands of satisfied customers, Tipton & Hurst is one of the most recognized names in Arkansas retailing.
It is also among the most decorated, most recently awarded Best of the Best honors for Best Florist and Best Gift/Home Decor Shop by readers of the Arkansas DemocratGazette. These are the latest in a string of wins dating back to the first year of voting, said Howard Hurst, president.
“Tipton and Hurst has won ‘Best of’ every year that there’s been one, and I think that shows how everybody recognizes we do whatever we can to serve the customer,” he said. “Our whole staff has totally bought in to not only creating satisfied customers but to creating raving fans.”
Originally making its reputation on fresh flowers and creative arrangements that have graced Arkansas tables, foyers and special events for generations, the company is now equally regarded for its gifts and home-decor items. This diversity of products has helped the company face mounting competition and maintain a healthy clientele year-around.
“That combination makes us pretty unique, compared to almost anywhere in the country,” Hurst said. “Most florists just sell flowers, but we do a lot of other things well. That really sets us apart.”
Hurst has spent the entirety of his professional life in the family business, starting when he was just a teenager. As such, he has had a hand in the company’s expansion into four locations, including Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway and Pine Bluff. The company also serves an extended delivery area that allows it to reach many communities surrounding its retail locations. In recent years, the company has also beefed up its online presence to provide even more convenience for customers.
For all of that, Hurst is quick to hand the credit for the company’s longevity elsewhere.
“It all comes down to our people,” he said. “They are the ones that have made us who we are in the eyes of the customers. Our motto is ‘Guaranteed satisfaction since 1886,’ and that’s exactly what they deliver, every day. They don’t need to wait for approval to do the right thing. All our people can do whatever they need to do to make things right by the customer. We take care of our customers 100 percent.”