My name is Mike Martinez and I co-own Ben White florist in Austin, Texas with my brother and dad.
In 1982 our dad had an office supply store next door to an existing flower shop and was approached by the owner who was looking to get out of the industry. We thought it would be a great opportunity for all three of us to own a business together so we pooled our money and bought it. The business has since moved to South Congress Avenue and we LOVE being part of the Keep Austin Weird community.
We pride ourselves on being a locally owned, family run, brick and mortar business with an "approachable" attitude. By that I mean we try to stress the fact that this business is run by real people, not a call center and looks forward to customers coming into the store, chatting with us and browsing our flowers.
We like to stay hands on with the surrounding community and have hosted several benefit flower sales where proceeds are donated to a charity. For example in 2005 we were able to raise $1500 for the Katrina victims through a Red Cross red rose sale.
I am hoping by being a member of this site I can gain knowledge on how to keep up with the ever changing floral industry. The need to inform the new consumer of what flowers can do is tiresome and demanding but necessary. The older consumer that was good with a gentle reminder around holidays have since moved on and been replaced by a new younger group that have to be sent a constant message. How do you keep that message going with fresh ideas while also trying to get into the new technological floral industry? I feel it is most important to keep the person to person contact and the guarantee that your flowers are being made by people who care for other people and not just 800# corporations sending out sub par product and bad customer service.
In 1982 our dad had an office supply store next door to an existing flower shop and was approached by the owner who was looking to get out of the industry. We thought it would be a great opportunity for all three of us to own a business together so we pooled our money and bought it. The business has since moved to South Congress Avenue and we LOVE being part of the Keep Austin Weird community.
We pride ourselves on being a locally owned, family run, brick and mortar business with an "approachable" attitude. By that I mean we try to stress the fact that this business is run by real people, not a call center and looks forward to customers coming into the store, chatting with us and browsing our flowers.
We like to stay hands on with the surrounding community and have hosted several benefit flower sales where proceeds are donated to a charity. For example in 2005 we were able to raise $1500 for the Katrina victims through a Red Cross red rose sale.
I am hoping by being a member of this site I can gain knowledge on how to keep up with the ever changing floral industry. The need to inform the new consumer of what flowers can do is tiresome and demanding but necessary. The older consumer that was good with a gentle reminder around holidays have since moved on and been replaced by a new younger group that have to be sent a constant message. How do you keep that message going with fresh ideas while also trying to get into the new technological floral industry? I feel it is most important to keep the person to person contact and the guarantee that your flowers are being made by people who care for other people and not just 800# corporations sending out sub par product and bad customer service.
