Visions of flowers dance in her head
Jo Staats remembers sitting under the table making corsages from the cast-off flowers her grandmother, Lennie Matkins, threw to her. Little did she know then that would lead her into a career in the flower industry.
Although she earned her nursing license, Staats loves working with flowers and has been drawn back to that again and again. For more than 30 years, she worked as a floral designer. She’s a graduate of Bentonville High School and moved away for a time and worked in Oklahoma City. Staats’ sister, Debbie Spears, owned and operated the shop for several years before Family Florist bought it.
“It’s in her blood,” Jennifer DuFrene, owner of Family Florist, said of Staats whose grandmother and uncle were the original “Matkins” of Matkins Florist in Bentonville.
Clement and Jennifer DuFrene, owners of Family Florist in Fayetteville, recently purchased the Pea Ridge Florist shop and opened it with Staats as the designer.
“I love it,” Staats said of arranging flowers. She recalls a casket spray that incorporated a fishing pole. She has worked numerous weddings and enjoys making unique arrangements.
DuFrene said sometimes a customer will bring in a vase used in their wedding wanting a new arrangement in the same vase for a special anniversary.
“She has really put her heart and soul into it,” Jennifer DuFrene said of Staats. “I can’t think of anything I’ve not seen her be able to do. She’s a pillar. Her creativity is boundless.”
Staats’ creativity isn’t limited to flowers.
A visitor to Family Florist in Pea Ridge will notice the change immediately. The concrete floors are decorated with copper and brass paint “tiles” and the walls glow with copper color. The work bench is overflowing with flowers and arrangements; paint cans are on the shelf beneath. While preparing to open the shop and arranging flowers, she is also redecorating the interior of the shop.
The shop will carry gifts including stuffed animals, Godiva chocolates, “more upscale” items, according to DuFrene, who said there will be fruit and gourmet baskets available.
“We also have a reminder service,” Staats smiled, explaining that she is setting up various ways to remind people of special events for which they may need flowers — birthdays, anniversaries, etc. “We can call, e-mail or text.”
Delivery is available anywhere in the area with a discount to people in Pea Ridge and to anyone who says they read the article about the shop in the paper, DuFrene said.
The shop does Teleflora and FTD arrangements. They also plan to have a frequent buyer card, DuFrene said, giving special incentives to customers.