Searcy, AR (LP) — With Spring arriving soon, it’s the most perfect time of the year to invest in beautiful, fresh bouquets! Carren’s Flowers & Gifts, located at 2200 W Beebe Capps Expy in Searcy, AR, offers a wide selection of flowers and arrangements that can be personally customized to brighten an entire room. Carren’s Flowers & Gifts is open Monday through Friday at 9 AM–5 PM and Saturdays at 10 AM–12 PM. They offer a calling service to place an order prior for pickup, and a delivery service, which are features that I believe can be a real time saver for customers with a busy schedule.
Alaina Brewster’s story of becoming an entrepreneur is one that is truly inspiring, painting a picture of hope. It all started when Brewster was 17, typical retail jobs seemed to dampen her creativity and she wanted to work for a small business instead of a big chain. Therefore, she decided to look elsewhere for employment. She then entered Carren’s Flowers & Gifts where she requested an interview, mentioning her past experience teaching art lessons at her High School. She was then hired, and her boss at the time, Lisa Wray, said that her artistic experience would help tremendously when it came to flower making. This sparked interest within Brewster, “At first, I was under the impression that was just going to be doing secretarial work; but when offered the opportunity, I agreed to learn the ropes and ended up loving the craft of floral design,” she stated. When it was time for Wray to retire after 40 long years, she waited until Brewster completed College to pass down her legacy, treating it as Wray’s baby that she wants to keep alive and well in the new millennium.
She was able to have more creative control over the shop, mentioning “the bright electric blue walls that have been repainted to a calmer sage green color” as she put it, with it being one of her favorite details. The arrangements are aesthetically pleasing, and so is the interior decor of the shop. As you enter, the sage green walls draw attention to the bountiful bundles of colorful flowers that fill up the room. In one corner, which is my personal favorite, sits a dark brown bench with teddy bears resting on it, and above it, vines engulf the sign that reads “Fresh Cut Flowers”. Wicker baskets rest in the corner by the bench as well, providing a nostalgic and comfortable feeling shaped in the image that Brewster imagined. Another thing that adds more sentimental value was a sweet little message on a blue work bench, carved into it read “ With Carren’s being a local business instead of a big corporation, the ethicality of the products provides customers with longer lasting, better quality flowers. Not only are they getting an increase in quality but also, in thought. Since these are hand made by skilled artisans, “there’s a lot more detail that goes into these arrangements in comparison to getting them from a place where they are manufactured in a large factory,” Brewster said. Smaller businesses charge more due to the fact that this is more than just a purchase, it’s an exchange of someone’s time and their own personal profits that are included in the product.
Over the years, what started as a highschool job eventually developed into Brewster becoming a business leader. When Wray decided to retire, she wanted to ensure that the future of Carren’s Flowers & Gifts would thrive under a new owner; she demonstrated her trust in Brewster by waiting on her to complete her education in order to pass down the business. This marked a new chapter for both Brewster and the business, with it becoming more modernized and trendy as the years passed.
When asked if she had any advice for the youth at Searcy High, she stated “improving their communication skills is important for making connections and creating a more welcoming and open atmosphere.” She alluded that putting yourself out there more can open so many doors that can lead to great opportunities.
You can contact the members at Carren’s via their website: https://www.carrensflowers.com/.
