A Touch of an Angel Florist

A Perfect Bloom
Valerie McMurray, Victoria Larock and Jean Hill

 

I was recently so enthralled with an enchanting little flower shop in Glens Falls that I just had to let my Lori’s Picks readers know about it. A Touch of an Angel is filled with exquisite flowers, beautiful floral arrangements, and whimsical gift items for all budgets. This is not your average florist. Proprietors Victoria Larock, Valerie McMurray, and Jean Hill have truly gone above and beyond to create a unique and special place. If you are planning your holiday décor, a wedding or event of any kind, I highly recommend you visit A Touch of an Angel. There is no doubt that their level of personal attention, creativity, and perfection far exceeds the norm.

 

Success Magazine: Have you always had this entrepreneurial spirit?
Victoria Larock: As a child, my dad would take me to a local florist to purchase flowers for my mom on special occasions. That is when I fell in love with flowers. Later on, I elected to take horticulture in school for two years. After graduating, I worked at several local flower shops learning design technique and attending floral shows and workshops. I later moved on to management, staying very involved with the design aspect, which has always been my passion. My goal has always been to own my own shop. The opportunity arose when the local florist I was working for— Touch of an Angel—became available for me to purchase. This was when I realized my dream was coming true. Since then, we have worked very hard to maintain the reputation of the “hometown” spirit.

 

SM: Why “A Touch of an Angel” as the shop’s name?
VL: The name of the business was “Touch of an Angel” when I purchased it. The only change I made when I took over was adding an “A” in front and “Florist” after it. Our logo is actually “A Touch of an Angel Florist – A Perfect Bloom.”

SM: When did you open A Touch of an Angel Florist?
VL: I took over the business and opened “A Touch of an Angel Florist” on September 1st, 2007. In October 2008 Val came on board as well as my mom, Jean, part-time.

 

SM: How long have you been in business?
VL: I have had twenty-five wonderful years in the floral industry, and hope to have many more years, I have been very fortunate to obtain the knowledge to run a successful flower shop. I feel the key to success is passion, ambition, knowledge and having a dedicated staff.

 

SM: What type of personal service do you offer?
VL: We are a full-service florist. We specialize in unique designs for everyday occasions, personalized sympathy tributes, and weddings designed for every bride’s needs. We also offer wedding packages and free consultations. We take time to sit down with our clients and discuss their special needs, inviting them to see the actual design for their approval before delivery is made. We have an array of beautiful dish gardens, plants and gifts such as garden angels, plush handcrafted gifts, greeting cards, and many other items. We offer every day cash and carry specials from $9.95 – ($19.95 for a dozen quality roses), which has been one of our best sellers. We also have a website (atouchofanangelflorist.com) that gives our customers the opportunity to view the shop and our various design options. Last but not least, we greet all of our customers with a generous smile and a friendly welcome.

 

SM: What do you hope for the future of your business?
VL: That the business continues to be successful and our customer base will grow as much as it has over the last two years. We would like to gain more corporate accounts as well. We hope that A Touch of an Angel will always be remembered as a shop that provides personal care and unique designs for everyone’s needs, no matter what they may be.

 

SM: Valerie, what kind of experience do you bring to the business?
VM: As previously noted, I have been in the floral industry for twenty-seven years. I worked in a few local shops before opening my own in 1994. As a former business owner, I not only bring the knowledge of design, but the “business” aspect as well. My motto for success has always been “Organization is the key to being productive and successful in anything you do.”

 

SM: Jean, how do you like being a part of A Touch of an Angel?
JH: Working in the floral industry is very rewarding and offers me a creative outlet. It’s always satisfying to see customers leaving the shop with smiles on their faces. Working with my daughter, Vicki, and Valerie is a lot of fun and every day is a learning experience.

 

SM: Vicki how would you describe your working relationships?
VL: First of all, we are the very best of friends. We have been working together for the last twenty-three years. We have always been compatible and our different styles complement one another nicely. I am fortunate to have both Val and my mom. I couldn’t do it without them. We have fun and enjoy laughing along the way. Isn’t that what life’s all about?