By Sarah Mansheim
Beverly Boswell has owned and operated Wiseman’s Floral in Ronceverte for 11 years, and is hoping that her small shop can keep going. Tucked back into a space in the Lion’s Club building next to the post office, Boswell’s shop is full of fresh cut and silk flowers. Unfortunately, she says, it’s not full of customers.
With Mother’s Day this weekend, Boswell says she should be busier.
“I’ve been trying to downsize and do something different. I can’t compete with the giants in Fairlea,” she says.
Boswell’s last-ditch efforts to keep the business, open in Ronceverte since the early part of the 20th Century, includes getting rid of the wire service and most of her non-floral inventory – flags and greeting cards are marked down for quick sale. She says if she can just get some regular customers, she will be able to remain open.
With that in mind, Boswell has begun a Bouquet of the Month club, which gives subscribers a delivered arrangement once a month for $45. The fee includes tax and delivery in Ronceverte and Lewisburg, with a small delivery fee to other areas. She says if she can get between 20 and 30 monthly customers, she can continue with her business.
“I really want to keep going, and to have consistent, regular orders is to way to do it,” she says. Each bouquet will feature fresh flowers that Boswell has chosen and will be appropriate to the season.
For customers who are not content to receive just one arrangement a month, they can subscribe for more frequent deliveries: two bouquets for $85 a month or three bouquets for $125. Or, she says, they may opt for a weekly delivery. When the next delivery comes, old vases will be picked up from customers. If a customer wants a specialty order, there will be a $15 surcharge.
In addition to the Bouquet of the Month Club, Wiseman’s floral specializes in silk flowers and arrangements, dish gardens, cemetery pieces, plants, funeral flowers and wedding bouquets. She is an exclusive dealer of Trapp candles, a lovely candle line which she is keeping in stock.
“As far as I know, I’m the only local person doing flowers here,” she says. “I’d like for people to support the small-town florist.”
Wiseman’s Floral is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They can be reached at 304-647-4300.
