Business - Business News

POSTED: Monday, Jun. 29, 2009

Bellingham flower shop uses coupons to help online shoppers 'Surf Local'

Each week The Bellingham Herald takes a closer look at a business. This week: Johnson's Flower Shop.

What's new: Johnson's Flower Shop recently started a campaign called "Surf Local," which encourages online shoppers to buy flowers locally.

Owner Katie Caroline said the campaign was started because her store receives orders from flower shops outside of Whatcom County even though the customers come from Whatcom County.

When she sees those types of orders, Caroline said she sends that customer a $5 coupon to encourage him or her to shop at Johnson's for the next purchase. A commission goes to the flower shop where the order is placed, so the money that local residents are spending is not staying in the county; it's going elsewhere, Caroline said.

What it does: Johnson's Flower Shop is a full service florist which offers a wide variety of gourmet baskets, plants, tropical flowers roses and more.

Ownership: The owner of the store is Katie Caroline, but she's better known as "K.C."

Marketplace: Caroline said her store receives orders from all over the world. Through the store's Web site, she has received orders from as far away as Italy and Israel.

Employees: Johnson's Flower Shop has about seven employees in the summer and 12 during the holidays.

Claim to fame: Store employees are trained in Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement. "It's a great way to get something creative without spending a lot of money," she said.

The store also strives to carry the best-looking vases at the most reasonable prices. Caroline said she will take trips to Goodwill or Salvation Army and if she sees a vase from her store, then she stops selling it.

Caroline said she wants her store to sell vases that people want to keep and not give away. "I want to give you something that's got a little thought to it; something I'd put in my own house," she said.

JOHNSON'S FLOWER SHOP

121 W. Magnolia St.

Bellingham, WA 98225

733-6600