Risk Diary: Sometimes, the unexpected can turn into a blessing
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Andy Starnes/Post-GazetteKenneth Milko owns the Flowers in the Attic store on Northern Pike in Monroeville.It wiped out a new patio and $70,000 worth of goods but actually ended up generating more business for his establishment, which now employs 10 and includes a flower shop, gift store and cafe.
How did the flood help business? One of my best friends saw me on television and felt sorry for me. She's the manager of the gift shop at Shadyside Hospital, and she started giving me business from their account. She's taught me a lot about the gift business, and she took me to Atlanta for shows. That's why I'm doing such a phenomenal business in gifts.
Where did the Flowers in the Attic name come from? I wanted something to combine flowers and antiques together. We do estate buyouts and auctions, and we have a lot of antique furniture and collectibles. Everybody says it's like coming into grandma's house. I knew about the book, "Flowers in the Attic," by V.C. Andrews, and that's where the name came from.
What motivated you to start your business? I was a person who had a hard time working for other people. I wanted my own business. I was always motivated even as a kid. I even sold Kool-Aid on the corner. Of course, I put flowers on the table with the Kool-Aid. Hey, I didn't know I would become a florist later on, but I had flowers on the stand. I knew I would be an entrepreneur.
What risks did you take getting your business under way? I started with $5,000 in 1989. My sister helped me out a lot--a lot of it was her money, and I also used money my parents had given me. I didn't have paychecks for at least two years, and I supported myself through my family and friends. We started turning profits somewhere back in the 1990s. It wasn't a ton, but I just kept reinvesting whatever I made back into the store. Now, we have our own property and we grow flowers on the property, and that's really neat, and we also grow the herbs here that are used in the cafe.
You have a wedding and event business, a cafe, a flower shop, antiques and a gift business. Aren't there risks to doing so much at once? Well, the biggest risk was finding good employees to cover everything. That was the hardest part. [But] it seems that the businesses all play off of each other really well, and they work really well together. People come in for lunch -- which is so busy now that you have to make reservations -- and they see all the gifts are all sitting around them while they are eating. Then they see all the flowers going out of the shop, so that helps for them to remember us when it's time to get flowers.
What tips would you give somebody who is planning an operation such as yours? Plan on not having a life for about four years until it gets off the ground. Really, what you need is love. You have to have love to do what you do. If you don't, it won't happen. To be honest with you, everything just fell into place.
How important are family and friends to your success? The support of family and friends is very important. That's because of the long hours, and having help available to you when you need it. They usually understand when you put in those long hours, too. I'm almost never home. My best friend is my manager, Michael Whitlinger. He's the biggest help I have, and I couldn't do this without him.
The way you started the cafe seems to a happy mix of timing and being ready for the unexpected. I just backed into it. I never even depended on opening a cafe. What happened was that I had gotten a cappuccino machine, and had desserts available from all over the country. People kept asking me, 'Do you have any food?' So our menu started with just a few items and now we've got about 15 items including crab cake and homemade chicken salad.
Now how did you get into the flower business? I started out as a driver for a flower shop, and I never really intended to go into the business for myself. But I learned what to do and what not to do. It's funny how it all happened. I did silk flowers for family and friends. There was a flower shop closing in Plum and I went to see if they had any supplies. I ended up talking to the owner of the business and before you know it, I signed a lease and I had a shop -- with no pick machine. Now, the owner of the business is my office manager. She's still with me.
First Published August 14, 2003 12:00 am
