Florist Stephanie Norris back doing what she loves
Stephanie Norris just couldn’t stay away from the florist business after she closed up her old shop in 2009. She’d been doing it for decades, after all.
Two years ago, she reopened with a new name and new location, and it was a smart move as North Fort Myers Florist, at 8190 Littleton Road, has been named the “Best of” for 2016.
“Somebody must have sent something in saying that we have good quality, good service and long-lasting flowers, which is what we want,” Norris said.
Despite knowing very little about flowers, Norris opened the original shop in 1982. She learned quickly, and ran it for the next 28 years, garnering recognition as “Best of” during that period as well.
“I had been a hairdresser and I had a client who owned a flower shop and I became interested from there,” Norris said. “I was self-taught.”
But when Hurricane Charley hit and the economy went in the tank, Norris closed up shop for five years before reopening, first, as Stephanie’s Florist before returning to the old name.
“I had gotten to the point where it wasn’t fun anymore. My mom had died and me and my sister had to care for my dad, so I ended up taking care of him,” Norris said.
Norris runs a full-service florist offering fresh flowers and plants, fruit and gourmet baskets, artificial arrangements, and she has a special that runs constantly where you can get a dozen roses for $14.95, cash and carry.
They deliver all over Lee County, particularly in the north and Norris is an FTD master florist because of her quality and the lack of complaints.
But Norris said things aren’t like they once were before the computer age.
“People order online now and many times they’re placing an order from someone that isn’t a flower shop. They’re call centers. FTD has a call center, but they send their order to a flower shop,” Norris said.
Norris said things are pretty quiet now, but tend to pick up once season arrives in October, with Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day being the busiest times of the year.
North Fort Myers Florist is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday until season, when they’re open until 5. They’re open Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon.
For more, call 997-1670 or go to northfortmyersflorist.com.