LITTLE CURRENT—Errant husbands rejoice! There’s a new florist in town and she means business.
Leigh Cranston has opened Friendleigh’s Flowers and Gifts on Water Street, just a door down from The Expositor office in the former The Collective location.
The shop is a full range florist, or will be once the artificial flowers arrive, then Ms. Cranston will hold a grand opening.
“As soon as it arrives, I’m going to do a grand opening,” she said. “I have everything here.” There are still a few pieces of furniture to arrive.”
But the flower arrangements are already flowing out the door. Ms. Cranston, deftly arranges a flower in a vase as she speaks. “It’s been busy the last couple of weeks,” she said.
The florist is no stranger to creating flower arrangements in Little Current. She worked for the late Steve Nunn and his wife Cathy when they ran Island Florists.
“I’ve always loved doing floral work,” she said. Most recently, she worked at E’s Flower’s and Gift Baskets in Mindemoya.
There are a host of details that need to be corralled when starting up any new business and a florist and gift shop is no exception. One of those details is being registered globally for people to order flowers.
As soon as she is connected to the internet, Ms. Cranston will be receiving orders from Bloom Nation. “Then, I can actually receive my orders through Bloom Nation,” she said.
As the name suggests, Friendleigh’s Flowers and Gifts does much more than just flower arrangements. In addition to an accompanying gift shop, the store sells Northwest Fudge, Manitoulin Jams and Jellies and, come the fall, Ms. Cranston plans to be making her own candles and soap. Which will work out really well with her gift basket selection.
She has been creating gift baskets from home for family and friends for several years now.
“I’ve had lots of requests already for the homemade candles,” said Ms. Cranston, “so, I’ll be getting that started as soon as I can, once everything’s set up and I have time.”
Ms. Cranston offers a monthly draw for a $50 store credit gift certificate that customers who make a purchase can enter. “They can decide how they want to spend it, be it fresh flowers or a gift basket,” she said.
Orders can currently be placed by calling 705-662-3930. Ms. Cranston will also be getting a local number and, with the internet, ordering online will become possible. Emails also work at friendleighsfandg@gmail.com.
