Rodgers Flowers celebrates 70 years

PHOTO BY JACOB GURNEY Tom Rodgers shows off flowers that were given away during the Downtown Tiffin Pumpkin Stroll at Tom Rodgers Flowers Saturday. The business is now owned by his stepson, Brian Ferguson. PHOTO BY JACOB GURNEY Brian Ferguson (left), owner of Tom Rodgers Flowers, talks with Ginger Yandura (center) and Mollie Luidhardt, both of Tiffin, during the Downtown Tiffin Pumpkin Stroll Saturday. One local business is celebrating a major milestone. During Saturday's Downtown Tiffin Pumpkin Stroll, Tom Rodgers Flowers Inc. marked its 70th anniversary. Owner Brian Ferguson said they had lots of cake and several give-a-ways with prizes such as T-shirts, gift cards and flowers. Former owner Tom Rodgers said his father started the business in 1947. Rodgers said his father lived in Detroit and was a writer for the The Florist Review and saw an ad in the paper for a flower shop in Tiffin. "He visited it and liked it so he bought it," Rodgers said. "He had it for 30 years, until I bought it and took it over after he retired." Rodgers said while he thought the business could endure, he wasn't sure what was going to happen when he decided to retire. "I was really surprised and very happy Brian wanted the business and wanted to carry the name on," he said. "I was excited about that and he's done a fantastic job." Ferguson said he always wanted to have his own business and while he had one when he lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he thought it was time to move back to Tiffin. "The downtown feel is nice and it's nice to be able to continue the family business," Ferguson said. Rodgers said he enjoyed doing what he did for so long and even though he lives in Florida 10 months out of the year, he greatly enjoys returning to Tiffin in the summer and seeing his friends. "The people of Tiffin have been so great to me. I've made a lot of friends and totally love it here," he said. "I'm just so thankful for everyone who supported me. I'll never forget it." "I always wanted to be a 'big city guy,' but after living in Tiffin so long, I'm glad I chose a small city. You get to know everybody and whether you're at a restaurant or at a show, there's always somebody to talk to. … It's a community that sticks to you and it's hard to forget it," Rodgers said. Rodgers said when it comes to running a business, if you're likable, deliver a great product and provide great service, you can't help but be a winner. "I hope the city treats Brian as well as they've treated me, because I'll tell you, he is a hard worker," Rodgers said. Rodgers and Ferguson said the business has evolved since it first opened. "The business has changed a lot in 70 years," Rodgers said. "The new products and ways of doing things are different. The things that can be made now are so artistically unbelievable." "The market is definitely always changing," Ferguson said. "It changed a lot when Tom owned it and it's even changed quite a bit since I've taken over." Regarding the future of the shop, both agreed it is optimistic. Ferguson said in addition to flowers and arrangements, the shop offers other items such as chocolates, candles, wind chimes and personalized pictures. He also said they have a lot of locally- and Ohio-made products "You have to be able to acknowledge changes or niches in the market. You just have to be able to change with the times. Some things work and some things don't," Ferguson said. "We've hired artists that are key people in making this place successful," he added. "We're doing really well." "The way he's doing now, there's no doubt in my mind he will continue to do well," Rodgers said. "He's broken numbers I never thought would be broken. He has great workers and if he continues to provide great quality and service, I think he will continue to blaze his own trail." Tom Rodgers Flowers, 245 S. Washington St., is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. For information or to place an order, call (419) 447-1125 or email tomrodgersflowers@yahoo.com.