Open season: a holiday open house is just one of the many ways this shop charms its way to success

摘要

Thanksgiving business was slipping at Ford Flower Co. until owner. Bert Ford found the solution: a Christmas open house. That was in 1988, when it was still relatively rare for a florist to hold a holiday open house as early as the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. Nonetheless, Ford's first annual event drew quite a crowd to the Salem, N.H. shop. Over four hours on a Sunday afternoon, visitors were treated to music and food, mistletoe and sleigh bells--and displays of Thanksgiving arrangements. When itwas over, the store's cash registers had rung up impressive sales totals.