Della Guidry
February 12, 2008
Robert Mike
February 14, 2008
Feb. 1 marked the one-year anniversary of the day when longtime floral designer Nancye Payne decided to retire and turn over her florist shop to her young protégé, Ashley Poe.
The Crystal Vase Limited Florist & Gift Shop operated from its Mystic Boulevard site, off St. Charles Street in Houma, for 24 years.
“The business is one month older than I am,” Poe said, chuckling. “We grew up together.”
The 24-year-old Houma native, in her first official act as owner of The Crystal Vase, relocated the business to Corporate Drive, one of the city’s fastest-growing commercial areas. The move was precipitated after Poe’s landlord raised the rent at the Mystic Boulevard site.
“I went from 2,400 square feet to 1,200 square feet,” she said. What hasn’t changed, however, is the flower and gift shop’s attention to detail and commitment to providing customers a diverse selection.
Poe began working at the florist nearly five years ago; she was originally hired to help during the Christmas holiday crunch.
“Mrs. Nancye recognized her work ethic and creativity and decided to keep her on full time,” said Poe’s mother, Patti Perry. “Mrs. Nancye trained her to make the flowers, then (Ashley) earned her certification as a licensed florist.”
For a long time, Poe didn’t know what she wanted to do for a living. She tried college but eventually decided it was not for her. She recalls telling her father, “I guess I am going to have to work for the rest of my life.”
For a long time, Poe waited tables at local restaurants before joining The Crystal Vase staff and eventually becoming a licensed florist.
“The business has made me more responsible,” she said. “I had to learn how to manage my time. I never thought in a million years that I would be in the position of making my own decisions about my own business,” Poe said, although she admits her mother still provides a sufficient amount of help and guidance.
Poe’s mother Patti runs the bookkeeping side of the business, while Poe and 30-year floral veteran Connie Scott helps with the floral arrangement and designs.
“Mrs. Nancye and Ms. Connie have been a blessing to me,” Poe said. “Mrs. Nancye taught me how to deal with customers and the paperwork behind running a business, and Ms. Connie taught me everything I know. Ms. Connie decided to stick around to give me a hand after I took over.”
Poe took over the floral business during last year’s Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras rush, two popular spring seasons. Nancye Payne had just suffered a fall and was out of commission during that busy stretch.
“After Mrs. Nancye fell and broke her hip, she was out and I had to run the business along with Ms. Connie. Then Mrs. Nancye started talking about not coming back to work and just selling the business,” Poe said.
That’s when the ownership transition was made.
Poe quickly realized that learning how to make floral arrangements was a lot easier than running a business.
Her mother said, “Like the old saying goes, ‘Jump in the water and see if you can swim.'”
In Poe’s case, it was a matter of jumping into hot water and treading waves. “We didn’t have Mrs. Nancye around to ask questions because she was in the hospital,” Perry said.
But Poe quickly honed her craft. According to her mother, Poe has a knack for the business because she is creative and imaginative.
“It didn’t take her long to pick up on it,” Perry said of her daughter.
“I just sort of learned by watching Mrs. Nancye and Ms. Connie,” Poe added.
The shop’s customer base has not changed much since the move a year ago. “We gained some new ones and we lost some old ones because of the move because people didn’t know where we are,” she said.
One year later, Poe is settling in to her role as owner. She’s survived the busiest seasons: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Mardi Gras, and is geared up for Valentine’s Day.
The Crystal Vase continues to specialize in the basics: floral designs for all occasions, including weddings and party arrangements; home décor and gifts, like the Texas-based Tyler Candle Collection.
Poe said the Tyler candles are a hit locally. The top-selling candle flavor is “Glamour Wash,” and the hottest-selling fragrance is “Diva.”
Ashley Poe, owner of The Crystal Vase Limited Florist & Gift Shop in Houma, adjusts an arrangement at her Corporate Drive site. The shop offers floral designs for all occasions as well as home décor and gift items. * Photo by SOPHIA RUFFIN
