The storefront had been shuttered at Harlem's oldest floral shop for the past few months and a reader mentioned that Carolina Too has now officially moved on. Carolina Flower shop had been a family owned business for over seven decades and even had an official day named for them this past February:
LINK. Unfortunately the business that reportedly supplied Billie Holiday with gardenias had had recent financial issues that now has apparently closed the shop at ACP/7th and 117th Street. As new better businesses open in the neighborhoods uptown, it seems a lot of the older ones are losing their clientele but for other reasons since the customer bases are different. What can these older businesses do to stay current in a changing Harlem?
I think the older businesses operate from a significantly different business model than the newer ones. They (the old school businesses) see things differently and are, in my opinion, reluctant to adopt the new strategies in business. These older ones come from a time of "greasing of palms" and "winks" and "gentlemen's agreements" and that just doesn't go over very well today. Also, many of our businesses today in Harlem are run by young people who are 'academically' more prepared to run a business either solo or as a group. It takes significantly more than just desire to open & run a business today.
ReplyDeleteIn this economy the customer is most assuredly "always right" and the older businesses don't seem to get it. Also, the whole digital age and tech necessary adaptations seem to just fly over their heads. It takes only the energy required to point & click to tell numbers of people about poor customer service from a particular enterprise and that alone could result in a significant decrease in sales. Good customer service is key in today's market but the older business model doesn't seem to want to embrace that.
I actually think this probably has more to do with the changing nature of the flower business, along with changing tastes.
ReplyDeleteI am wondering where there old time customers are? Why did they leave? Did they move on the the other shops or out of Harlem...maybe to Carolina?
ReplyDeleteThis particular shop had one of the most uninviting shop windows going. I never knew if it were open or closed or what they had on offer.
ReplyDeleteAll of my experiences in this shop were positive and their prices beat anything else around. Sad to see it go.
ReplyDeleteCurb appeal for starters. Anyone who has had a lucrative business for that long but has not bothered to upgrade should not be in business. I do not even bother to go inside businesses that do not catch my eye. The curb appeal to one's business should be just as important as it is to one's home. Unfortunately, one of their neighbors will probably go soon, also.
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