Petal is more than just a flower shop

Cari Anderson kicked off her lifelong dream this spring when she bought the storefront formerly known as Fairfield Flower and More. And in the months since, business has been blooming.

While the work is sincerely rewarding, there’s quite a lot of it to do. Flower arrangements are in demand for some of her customers’ most exciting moments like holidays and graduations, as much as they are for more somber moments of grief, like funerals. Both demand the utmost attention to every minute detail.

“I’m working a hundred hours a week right now, I’m here until midnight every night, at least,” Anderson said. “I would say it’s a lot busier than I ever expected it would be. And I get a lot of support from my former job, there are a thousand employees there, and so a lot of people come over and are supporting me by buying things.”

The florist worked as a business consultant for 16 years in Fairfield, and despite having graduated floral school about two decades ago, she only used those skills in part-time side gigs.

A shop of her own offered a chance to get creative, one that Anderson has pounced on. Petal — as the shop is now called — sells not only bouquets and arrangements, but also artisanal chocolates, jewelry made from real flowers, and a rotating cast of local vendors.

Asked what makes the store worth so much effort, Anderson’s answer came without hesitation.

“The people are what make it worth it,” she said. “I’m passionate about forming those relationships with customers where I can hopefully make a difference in their day. I’m passionate about providing that white-glove service that you hear about so much that seems lacking these days. That’s what separates us from other retailers.”