Hesitations about finding the perfect bouquet have always dominated my flower shopping experience. I know you’re usually not supposed to buy roses. That’s tacky, overdone, too sappy. You must be really passionate, especially if purchasing red. Lilies are too closely associated with death and funerals, so that’s not right either. Sunflowers are too silly of a plant. And people possess a strong aversion to orchids. I still don’t understand how one could ever hate a flower.
Carrien Davis, owner of Any Occasion Creation, Chapel Street’s newest flower shop, is tired of our preconceived notions about flowers. She’s adamant about changing the mind of each and every customer she greets. “If you’re talking to me, you’re going to see my teeth,” Davis joked while explaining how often she smiles when interacting with her clientele.
Davis’s love for floral arrangement stems from her sister’s wedding. After watching a professional arrange silk flower bouquets for the ceremony, she thought to herself, “I could do that.” Initially, she designed catalogs of her arrangements and showed them to her coworkers at her last job, as a travel agent. After saving for many years, Davis was able to turn her passion into a small business.
Any Occasion Creations currently lists seventeen different occasions on its website for which they recommend flowers. Options include Holiday, Get Well, Winter, I’m Sorry, Thank You, and my personal favorite—Just Because. I wouldn’t mind receiving flowers just because.
Chapel Street is not Any Occasion Creation’s first iteration. The storefront used to be in Westville, and then on Howe Street. Like many small-business owners, “location is everything” to Davis. This new storefront in the heart of downtown has allowed her to connect with more customers than ever before. This prime storefront, located next to popular coffee shops and restaurants, allows her to catch the eye of passersby who are unfamiliar with her business.
Davis’s store is also a family-run business. Currently, all of her employees are her family members. Her devotion to both her craft and her family allows her to cultivate a welcoming environment for the local community. With the help of her family, she offers same-day delivery and provides wedding services. Her website features many successful testimonials.
Early on in our conversation, I explained that I feel as though everyone else has received a floral etiquette education that I have not. Each flower seems to have a secret meaning. No option is safe, and it is still unclear to me which flower is appropriate for which occasion. My anxiety climaxed when I once tried to buy a bouquet as a thank you gift for my boyfriend’s mother. I debated with myself, fixating over which arrangement would convey my gratitude and appreciation. But by the time I decided on a satisfactory bouquet, it came three weeks late. Oops.
Davis joked that we (myself included) need to let go of these rigid associations. “They’re just flowers! You should buy whatever you want.” In particular, Davis thinks we’re overthinking roses way too much. “There’s love in all of our relationships, right? Why would we not give flowers to our mother or our sister then?” Davis’s warmth and conviction are sure to help any customer rethink their floral fallacies.
Davis maintains her patience even for the most anxious shoppers. She’s used to advising customers on what to buy but likes to provide them with multiple options so they have an opportunity to choose for themselves. Her care is evident in every aspect of her business. One testimony from BloomNation, a flower review site, reads, “I was elated when my call was answered by the owner, Ms. Carrien Davis. Listening as she spoke with such deep-seated passion, and hearing the immense pride in her craft, I immediately knew that this was a no-brainer. Ms. Davis promised perfection, and that is exactly what was delivered.”
Any Occasion Creation even has a solution for broke college students. Davis’s “flower buffet” offers cheaper, individual flower stems you can construct into a larger bouquet; this “make-your-own” option appeals to those for whom a $65 arrangement might be too expensive.
As we wrapped up our conversation, Davis thanked me for stopping by. I did not walk out empty-handed, either. She offered me a bouquet of dried flowers, free of charge, which she offers to everyone who stops in. I’m eager to visit again soon when one of my friends presents me with an occasion. And if you’re thinking of sending me a gift, just because, don’t worry, I’m not picky.
