Flower store celebrates one year germinating

Chris McKean brings to fruition a life long dream

By Gabrielle Lampert
Diamond Gateway Signature

Ever dreamed of a goal and woke up years later having attained it by working hard to get it?

Chris McKean has been working in a flower shop since she was in high school and now she gets to celebrate the very first anniversary of her own flower shop, sweet posies in the Scripps Ranch Market Place on Scripps Poway Parkway.

"I wanted to own a store by the age of 30. That was my silent goal to myself, and when I was 28, I purchased an existing business, so I met that goal. I've always wanted to do it, and I've just had a passion and a dream for it. I never wanted to live my life saying, 'I wish I could have done that,' so I went ahead and did it!"

Interestingly, McKean is not the only entrepreneur in her family. Her parents own coffee carts "International Coffee," in three Scripps hospitals, for the last 14 years. Her grandfather opened a liquor store on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, and her great grandparents owned one of the first Levi Strauss clothing stores in Pasadena.

Sweet Posies offers a variety of flower arrangements for all occasions, including weddings, corporate gifts, birthdays and get well bouquets.

Sweet Posies has a diverse clientele, including local businesses, corporations, families, and singles. But what makes Sweet Posies unique is their customer service, "Everybody tells us how much they love it, and they're grateful for the people that help them," says McKean.

"We really take the time to follow up on each order and make sure that not only the customer, but also the recipient is pleased and satisfied."

The inspiration for these exceptional flower arrangements comes from many different sources.

"We go to design courses and conferences and look through magazines just to stay competitive," says McKean. We also study nature to see what colors work well together. We constantly try to improve our designs so our customers are really satisfied with their purchases."

Sweet Posies also offers specialty services such as: custom silk and dried floral arrangements, gourmet fruit and gift baskets. "Every arrangement is unique and different," says McKean.

"There is no mass merchandising here and we're proud of that."

McKean is very happy and beaming like a sunflower to be celebrating the first anniversary of Sweet Posies. She hopes to grow the business as well as get to know her community.

For more information visit: www.sweetposies.com or call (858) 566-9797, or for the Diamond Gateway Signature, please visit http://www.diamondgatewaysignature.com