Today we’d like to introduce you to Mindi Hixson. They and their team shared their story with us below:
GeNell’s Flowers has been expertly serving Piqua, Ohio, and its local communities since 1949. As a full-service florist, GeNell’s Flowers carries fresh flowers, plants, silk floral designs, and keepsake items for all occasions. Daily delivery areas include (but are not limited to) Piqua, Troy, Tipp City, Sidney, Covington, Fletcher, Bradford, Houston, and St. Paris. Additionally, GeNell’s provides exquisite flowers for weddings and events throughout the greater Miami Valley.
GeNell’s Flowers was founded in 1949 by GeNell Horner. In 1982, Mark Casto purchased the business from Ms. Horner. Shortly thereafter, Kim Hampshire joined the business. As Mark’s focus shifted more to his landscaping business, Kim’s focus remained on the flower shop. As owner, she continued to lead and manage the shop for nearly 40 years until she retired in 2021. You will see her often at the shop as she still enjoys working there part-time.
Mark and Kim’s daughter, Casey (Casto) Virgallito, began working at the shop in 2014. Growing up in and around the flower shop instilled a passion for floral design and helping customers from a young age. After completing her education, she returned to the family business to pour her education and experience into the shop and became owner in 2021, taking the reins when Kim retired.
Mindi (Eernisse) Hixson, cousin to Casey, tells the story of how her Aunt Kim would encourage her to choose a flower from the walk-in cooler when she visited a shop as a little girl and how these visits blossomed into a love for flowers. Mindi completed her education and worked full-time in finance and human resources while living out-of-state, working intermittently at flower shops (including GeNell’s when she returned to Ohio) to stay connected with her passion. In 2024, Mindi and Casey became equal partners in GeNell’s Flowers.
In 2024, GeNell’s Flowers celebrates its 75th year in business. Casey and Mindi and their talented staff are excited to carry on the amazing legacy of GeNell’s Flowers. Thrilled to continue providing beautiful, inspired designs and exceptional customer service, recognizing and fulfilling the needs of customers and families of every generation.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our business has, for many years, not only been steady with repeat customers time and again – we are growing! We love that we have worked with generations of families to make their special occasions beautiful, to convey their feelings in the flowers they send their friends and loved ones, and to also help them to select memorial or sympathy flowers in times of sadness. However, the Covid-19 pandemic was tough for everyone. Customers could not visit our shop to choose flowers. This was especially difficult for families ordering memorial flowers. But, what the GeNell’s team realized is that because people could not see each other in person, sending flowers became even more important – a very personal way to connect with their friends and loved ones whom they missed so very much. We often say that we’re “in the business of emotion.” It is so true. We deeply understand that our job is to translate our customer’s feelings into flowers so that they accurately and beautifully convey what they’re saying to them through their floral gifts (or to say to their community/friends/family/co-
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about GeNell’s Flowers?
We work to ensure that every flower/gift that leaves our shop is beautiful and of the highest quality possible. Additionally, nearly all florals that leave our shop are custom GeNell’s Flowers designs. This is significant because so many online and even brick-and-mortar shops use designs from floral networks like Teleflora and FTD. In contrast, we offer new and fresh GeNell’s Flowers designs seasonally with curated looks and flowers. It’s how we keep our customers coming back! And, while we are members of the Teleflora network for the convenience of our local customers who want to send flowers out of our local area and can always create a Teleflora arrangement if needed, our primary offerings are GeNell’s Flowers originals. They are artfully crafted with flowers specifically selected from not only our larger flower partners, but increasingly from our local flower farmers. We are celebrating 75 years in business this year in 2024, of which over 40 years have been in our own family. Our business is personal, special – it has been 75 years in the making, and we hope to continue to build upon our incredible reputation for exceptional service and design for the next 75 years.
Alright, so before we go, can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
We simply ask folks to shop small! We are a small business serving Miami County, Ohio (and beyond for weddings and events), and we’re here for you and will always endeavor to ensure your flower experience is personal and exceptional.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.genellsflowers.
com - Instagram: genellsflowers
- Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/GeNellsFlowers/
Image Credits
Katie Blauser Photography
Brauns Photography
Meghan Marie Studio Photography
GeNell’s Flowers
