Collegeville’s new flower shop creates their fresh flower and fruit arrangements right here in the Borough.
Collegeville Flowers
- Jamie Andrews, Owner
- 201 Second Ave. (Marketplace Shopping Center) (Map it)
- 610 983 9700
- Website/Order online
These days when you order flowers online, it can be hard to know if you are actually buying your gifts directly from a local shop or through a big conglomerate who subcontracts your order out. One of Collegeville’s newest businesses, Collegeville Flowers, employs 23 local part-time employees and contractors. They create your fresh flower and fruit arrangements right here in Collegeville.
Located in-between Redner’s Supermarket and Aavya Indian Cuisine, owner Jamie Andrews’ staff receives and fulfills the on-line and phone orders, creates flower and fruit arrangements from scratch, and then makes the deliveries.
Business Outgrows the Space
Customers can stop by their shop or order online. They deliver not only locally, but as far away as Allentown, Lancaster, and Wilmington, DE.
Owner Jamie Andrews is an entrepreneur who started his first business providing golf packages throughout the US. With that success behind him, he looked into buying a franchise, such as operating an Edible Arrangements store. But he quickly realized that he already had the business, financial and marketing skills needed to run a business without the help of a franchise. So in 2012 he started FruitCreation.com in an 800 square foot shop across from Phoenixville Hospital.
Then he added flower arrangements to the fruit.
After four years, he outgrew that space and moved to a bigger store in Phoenixville. His business continued to grow, and after six years he was on the search for more space again. So In May of this year he opened in half of the former state store space next to Render’s.
Jamie selected Collegeville for his new store because it was in the middle of his customer area as well as a convenient location for both his current employees and himself.
What Makes Collegeville Flowers Special
Jamie sources his flowers through a wholesale vendor with access to flowers from literally all over the world. “Most of our globally sourced flowers enter the US through Miami and are then shipped directly to Collegeville,” he says. “For example, most of our roses come from Ecuador where there is lots of sunlight. The different varieties of flowers come from all over the world where there are the best growing conditions.” Jamie estimates that the entire shipping process takes from three to four days.
“If the stems of flowers are cut and processed correctly, they can last a week,” Jamie explains.
Collegeville Flowers offers flower arrangements for all occasions, as well as plants and gifts, balloons, corporate gift baskets, plush animals and fruit baskets and chocolate. Customers will find that there’s a large array of gifts for every special occasion and every season on collegevilleflowers.com. When orders are placed on the website, the date is noted, and an e-mail is sent to the customer at the same time the next year to remind them that they may want to place an order again.
Although they have a fast turnaround, Jamie and his staff encourage procrastinating customers to order a minimum of a day ahead of a holiday or special event. But they can deliver the same day if the order is placed before 11 a.m. They also have considerable experience in conveying sympathy through arrangements and work closely with funeral homes.
“With flowers and fruit, what motivates customers to come back to our business over and over comes down to the presentation and the taste,” says Jamie. “We work on selling the most attractive arrangements that will last the longest. With fruit and chocolate, we work to ensure that customers will enjoy the best tasting products.”
“But what has been the most important factor for the growth of my business is the hard work and dedication of my employees, Jamie adds. “They are the reason that Collegeville Flowers is successful. It is their work and attention to detail on the front line making sure that the arrangements are beautiful and delivered on time, and I owe them my gratitude every single day.”
Jamie and his family live in King of Prussia with their two children, aged 9 and 6, and their two rescue dogs, Tucker and Riley He tries to keep his weekends and holidays free to spend time with his family.