By CHRISTINA K. COSDON
Published December 22, 2003
LARGO - James Finch was just a school kid when he went looking for his first part-time job. The only person who would hire him was a family friend and neighbor - his hometown florist.
He cleaned flowers, emptied buckets, swept the floor and washed windows, but he also learned to make corsages. He had found his life's work.
Throughout his school years in Port Crane, N.Y., Finch continued to work, learning the flower business from the ground up.
After graduating from Syracuse University in New York with degrees in business and interior design, he worked in sales for a trucking company. When he had enough cash, he opened his own business - a florist shop.
"It was my goal all along," he said.
Now 55 and a grandfather, Finch came out of semi-retirement two months ago to buy back a business he first owned more than a decade ago.
In 1992, he bought Flowers by Georgia at 12788 Indian Rocks Road in Largo. After three years, he sold it to Hope Lockhart, who renamed it Flowers By Hope. Family matters required her to move to Ohio, and in October she sold the 1,400-square-foot business back to Finch.
Finch invested $75,000 in the business. During October, walls came down and and the shop was painted and remodeled.
"I wanted to make it completely different inside," he said. Even the ceiling sparkles - with five chandeliers. "I call them ceiling jewelry," he said.
Since he often worked part time at Flowers By Hope and other local florists during his semi-retirement, he already knows many of his customers now. Next month, he said, he plans to start advertising to bring in new customers.
He already put one of his marketing strategies into effect: a blue neon light that glows like a halo at night around shop's windows.
"I love this business - the imaginativeness of it," he said.
Fourteen years ago, Finch realized his second life's goal: to live in Florida.
"I can't stand cold weather," said Finch, who moved here in 1989. He sold his first florist shop, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y., to his designer. "It's still going," he said, "as James Flowers."
Finch said he doesn't have current plans to change the name of Flowers By Hope. His goal, he said, is to build his clientele. "We sell flowers," he said, "but our main business is service, and I have some of the best designers in town."
Flowers By Hope
12788 Indian Rocks Road, Largo
Full-service florist
"Any arrangement from them has been terrific. We're always pleased." - Pat White, president of the Better Business Bureau of West Florida, Clearwater.
"They bring us fresh flowers every Monday for our lobby. Everyone comments how lovely they look." - Michelle Szalwinski of All Cats Hospital, Largo
