by Miranda G. McLeod
Staff Writer
Andy Graham doesn’t give his wife flowers for Valentine’s Day — this year he’s taking her to New Mexico for vacation instead. But Graham says she understands. “We met here, so she kind of knows what it’s like this time of year,” he said.
Graham is the operating manger of Kuhn Flowers, one of the largest retail florists in the country. He’s been working for the florist since 1989 and says many employees have been here longer than that. Some leave, but most return, said Graham. “It grows on you — no pun intended.”
More than 100 employees at the florist stay busy this time of year.
Andy’s father, Harry, who owns the four-chain operation, said there was an old rule in the floral industry: “The down times are the ‘J’ months — January, June and July.” Valentine’s Day is one of Kuhn’s busiest times of year, along with Easter, Secretary’s Week and Mother’s Day, according to Harry.
More than 3,000 deliveries were made in the first two days of this week; 5,000 bouquets and arrangements will be delivered by more than 50 Kuhn drivers by week’s end.
Kuhn Flowers is headquartered on Beach Boulevard, with three satellite stores in Ortega, St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach. The company was started in Jacksonville by Bob and Nancy Kuhn who opened the the first store in 1947, shortly after Mr. Kuhn returned from serving in World War II. The store was sold in 1984 and again in 1999. Harry Graham bought it in 2001 and his son Rick was incorporated later. Rick, a former Washington, D.C. executive, was brought in to pull the company up by the bootstraps and re-organize the shops, which had run on the “good-ol’ boy mentality.”
“It really is important we operate as a team,” said Rick. “Some people didn’t know what their role was. My job was to fix that. We have really good people that keep it going.” Previously, managers didn’t have input on the daily operations, now they do, he added.
The workshop at the florist is massive in comparison to others and production happens before a customer’s eyes. Kuhn’s staff depends on the season (this time of year the place is an efficient madhouse) and working together to produce Kuhn’s both elaborate and simple bouquets is the objective.
“Efficiency is our goal,” said Andy.