The images of a golf course the quality of Greystone Golf and Country Club where the Regions Tradition takes place usually feature amazing vistas, gorgeous fairways and meticulously manicured greens and fairways.
But focus in more, especially at the Regions Tradition, and you’ll see other lovely plants and flowers that are there to help add to the ambiance and experience that fans and golfers alike have of the award-winning course.
In 2024, those plants and flowers – from succulents on the tables, to the flowers that adorn the awards ceremony at the end of the tournament – came from one florist, whose shop is a few miles from the golf course.
“We started small, 27 years ago,” said Kelly Burley, owner/president of Main Street Florist.“We opened a shop in Columbiana, Alabama, and opened on Main Street. That’s why we named our shop ‘Main Street Florist.’ We grew and decided to open our current shop in Mt. Laurel, where we’ve been for 22 years.”
Being in the floral business isn’t all blooms, either. It’s hard work that requires lots of weekends, supply chain navigation and patience. For Burley, it’s a journey that began when she was in her early 20s, and she opened that first location with the help of her then-new husband and family.
“We love where we are,” she added. “We’ve been here since the community started, but our challenge now is space. During holidays, we run out of space and have to get creative.”
The Regions Tradition represents a unique opportunity for a small business like Main Street Florist. It is significant business itself, but it also represents a good bit more – a chance to show prospective clients what they can do and find new clients along the way.
“For our small business, [the tournament] provides lots of opportunity,” Burley said. “It’s more than the service we provide. It’s a networking opportunity to meet other people and earn more business down the road.”
Running any business can be a challenge; running one that has lasted 27 years is a testament not just to Burley’s passion and commitment, but also to some solid financial practices that have helped keep the business stable in good and bad times.
“We definitely try and save everything we can and put money back into our company,” Burley advised. “But you never know, this business is either feast of famine. You never know what the day may hold with orders.
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