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Cole's Flowers Celebrates 75 Years

photo by Mike Cameron

Tuesday November 13, 2012

By Mike Cameron

   A local fixture in Middlebury now going on 76 years, the name Cole's has become synonymous with flowers and floral design for all occasions.

    The business began in 1937 under the direction of Clarence G. Cole on North Pleasant Street.  eventually they moved to a larger building on South Pleasant Street. It was then  taken over by Bernard Cole in 1961. After working in the florist, greenhouse and photography business, Richard Cole, known to most of us as Rick, took over the business in 1986, and now the business is being run by the fourth generation.  

   Paula Cole, Rick’s daughter, has been operating the business since 2005 as Cole's Flowers has continued to thrive  as a busy local, full-service florist at MacIntyre Lane in Middlebury.  “The business and customer's needs have changed over the years,” Paula pointed out to the Voice during an interview this past week.  

    She went on to give us some insight into what the business is about and her vision for the future of her store.  Being introduced to the business through the family, she was able to learn literally the In's and Out's of the florist and greenhouse business just about every day of the week from 1998 on.  Design school and plenty of on the job training  have given her a wealth of experience.

    “I want to give the best customer service possible and offer a wide range of quality, long-lasting flowers.  It's also rewarding to do business with many of the same people that I grew up with here in town,” she pointed out.

    We also discussed today's marketplace and the role of digital technology and the web.  “The web is very important to us.  Our website colesmiddleburyflowers.com allows convenient shopping on line and allows people to see completed arrangements before ordering.  Naturally we love to see people in person here in the retail store but if that's not possible we can help with the website and Facebook ordering.”

    Paula also had some interesting observations and advice for floral shoppers unfamiliar with the inner workings of the business.  “It's always a good idea to send flowers to someone through a local florist and not through what are called “Order Gatherers,” she began to explain.  “Order Gatherers”, are web based companies that will not give you the personal service that you desire.”

    Cole's Flowers belongs to an organization called “Florists For Change”.  It is a grass-roots coalition of local floral businesses that are doing what they can to put the “Local Focus” back in the florist business  .We will continue this effort to educate our customers so that they can feel confident buying quality arrangements in their home towns and get their money's worth.”

    Another area of concern for the florist industry nationally has been the notion that weddings can be arranged with little or no floral arrangements and that funerals and wakes can be held with donations made to a favorite organization “in lieu of flowers.”  We asked Paula about this.
“We try to be as professional as we can and work with families to arrange something appropriate and within their budget.  The idea that flowers be left out completely and having it promoted that way, seems arbitrary to those of us who are more than willing to work with families for either occasion.”

    Celebrating Cole's 75th gives shoppers a chance to win a special Thanksgiving center piece and some other prizes so don't forget to stop in and register.  Congratulations are in order as a local landmark business in Middlebury moves towards a centennial celebration.

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