What does 40 years in the flower industry look like?
May 11—From weddings to holidays, and even in moments of farewell, blooms whisper heartfelt messages. Jack Nichols, owner of Colonial Florist in Waynesville, is no stranger to the impact of a beautifully arranged bouquet.
"Most are very elated over getting fresh flowers. Makes a difference in your life," Nichols said.
Nichols, 83, has been in the flower industry for more than 40 years, making his florist shop one of the oldest in the county. His shop is one of three established florists in town and delivers to all of Haywood.
The florist shop was a part of a bed and breakfast he originally began in East Waynesville with family, which he operated at the same time that he worked at BB&T bank. During that period, he relied on his business partner, David Tyree to manage the florist and bakery business, and Nichols' sister, Barbara Rhoads, also helped in the bakery when not involved in her own banking career. After 40 years in banking, Nichols entered full-time into the florist business.
Nichols has seen the flower industry dramatically change through the years.
"Everything changes," he said. "Back then, grocery stores weren't involved with flowers. That had a lot to do with it, you can go in now, at holidays you'll see people get a little handful and take them and that's it. It's not an arrangement delivered, like we did."
The florist now resides in the old carriage house of Dr. J. Howell Way, a pivotal community leader who opened the first modern hospital in Waynesville. The old horse stalls now house three refrigerators, and the "tack" on the walls is now used for cutting and arranging assortments of flowers.
Cole Smathers works aside Nichols at the shop and attests to the shift in the floral business. During this digital age, more people have access to tutorials to do their own wedding arrangements and bouquets. And the act of giving flowers is also not as common as it once was.
"Now that generations have died off, you don't send flowers for funerals, you don't wear corsages anymore for Mother's Day, you don't really do prom flowers anymore. Funerals are so quick," Smathers said. "There will always be a need. How it changes, I don't know."
Nichols' customers range from family members sending over a nice sentiment to secret admirers expressing their love. Sometimes deliveries can get dicey.
Whenever a person asks the florist to supply the name of a secret sender, Nichols and Smathers have to go back to the wire service and explain what the customer wants to know. However, if the person doesn't wish to disclose a name, Nichols makes a quick fix.
"When I talk to people, they're usually very nice. I say 'Well, put on there, Love Jack.' (They say) 'Who is Jack?' I say, 'That's me.' And it works," Nichols said.
The same can be said for rare unwanted deliveries. During his career, Smathers said he has unsuspectedly delivered drop offs from an estranged husband wanting to make amends to an unreceptive wife, and from a stalker who sent flowers to the target of his attention.
"It wasn't a problem with us; she (the stalker's target) just called to tell us, 'Don't bring anymore flowers from him,' kind of a thing," Smathers said.
Nichols said 90% of the time, customers are over the moon to receive a surprise. The joy from the job comes from seeing people's reactions, he added.
"It's not the money, it's just making somebody happy. And 90% of the time, it is. Now sometimes we have people say, 'Well I don't want them flowers.' I say, 'Well, just shut up and keep 'em,'" Nichols quipped.
