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A Look Inside: March 2006
Smith/McKay Florist & Stoney Creek Flower Shop |
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Written by Anja Sonnenberg
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Smith/McKay Florists & Stoney Creek Flower Shop
A Successful Fusion of Extinct Flower Shops
The cold Canadian winter may be raging, but inside
Smith/McKay Florists & Stoney Creek Flower Shop in Hamilton,
Ontario the cozy fireplace is blazing with warmth and delight. Exposed
wooden beams, lush green foliage and large picturesque windows create
an inviting setting for staff and customers alike. What was once an
open porch has now become an enclosed sunroom with a rustic table and
wrought iron chairs, creating a charming place to hold consultation
appointments.
 The fireplace, which was added to solve the heating dilemma of the newly renovated porch, is an inviting spot for husbands to lounge in the comfy armchair, while their wives browse and shop.
“It’s functional, but it’s there for a purpose,” Marie Robbins, president and owner of Smith/McKay Florists says. “It adds to the ambiance of the shop. We’ve even had a few customers fall asleep by the fire,” Robbins giggles.
Frank B. Smith Company Limited was established in 1919 and was operated by the second generation of the Smith Family. When Warren and Mable Smith decided to sell the shop, Robbins purchased the business. In 1978, Robbins bought McKay and Company Florists (Hamilton’s oldest flower shop established in 1906), which she then combined with Frank B. Smith Company Limited to create Smith/McKay Florists.
During the next three decades of owning Smith/McKay Florists, Robbins has acquired 13 additional flower shops (including Stoney Creek Flower Shop, Alma Lou Florist, Mostly Roses, Flowers by Sears, Hatherly’s, Jensen’s, Max Shirley, and Flower Fantastix), which have been amalgamated into her own business.
Smith/McKay’s Hamilton/Stoney Creek store is located on a busy main-street with a Tim Hortons next door, which is being renovated to accommodate a drive-thru. “They’re expecting 700 cars a day,” Robbins says. “We haven’t decided whether we’re going to do a drive-thru florist window or if we’re just going to reach across the driveway for coffee,” Robbins jokes.
Smith/McKay’s second store is located in downtown Hamilton at Jackson Square Mall. “Our Jackson Square store is entirely walk-in traffic. It’s busy Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” Robbins says. Offices and business, whose employees stop in during their lunch break, surround the mall.
As a business Smith/McKay is very active in giving back to the community.
“We do a couple of things with the flower shop. As with any other business, we get asked for donations on a daily basis, but I feel it’s important to give back to the community,” Robbins says. “We pick two organizations a year to help, normally a sport-oriented organization and a cultural-oriented organization.”
Smith/McKay Florists chose to support The Hamilton Bulldogs, an American Hockey League team, and in turn the flower shop gets publicity. Robbins decided to use the Rio Rose program offered through Westbrook Floral Ltd. to create awareness with Bulldog fans.
“We gave away 500 Rio Roses at each game, and attached to each rose was a coupon for a complimentary Rio Rose,” Robbins says. “I don’t think that florists are a coupon-oriented business, but the Rio Rose coupon was a different scenario.” The program promotes a strong cooperation between growers, suppliers, and retailers.
“I think working together on all levels of the industry is important,” says Robbins. When dealing with competition, Smith/McKay Florists took a different approach than most florists in Canada – anyone can be a good customer.
“Wal-Mart is a very good customer of ours,” Robbins says. “When one of their employees has a baby or is getting married, they’ll call us to send flowers. A new Wal-Mart is being built nearby, and even though they haven’t opened yet, they’ve opened an account with us. Home Depot is another excellent customer of ours. I believe you have to differentiate yourself from the competition, but you also need try to work with them.”
Smith/McKay will be celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. Although they have numerous milestones coming up in the near future, Robbins feels she should pay tribute to each one. With so many shops amalgamated into the one store, Smith/McKay is a business filled with history and memories of the floral industry in Hamilton. To make sure the legacy continues into the future, Robbins is an advocate for change. “Life and the industry change so quickly – you need to keep your eyes wide open and evolve with the changes to succeed.”
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