Births. Proms. Weddings. Anniversaries. Funerals.
Such occasions bring together family and friends, and for Carroll County residents, chances are that Dutterer?s Florists has been there, too.
“Being in this business give us the opportunity to be everything to everyone,” said Eileen Dutterer Gist, who, with her daughters, Lori Graham and Jalna Brown, owns the Westminster business officially known as Stewart N. Dutterer Flower Shop Inc.
In 1919, Stewart Dutterer and his wife, Edna, launched what has become Westminster?s most iconic floral design business.
Though competition was sparse through the 1950s, today Dutterer?s often vies against large national firms with no storefronts ? companies that are only reachable by phone or on the Internet.
“We have noticed a change in the business, but we try to stay progressive in marketing and in the community,” Gist said.
Dutterer?s is a member of FTD (Florists Transworld Delivery) and Teleflora, and its quality floral designs have earned it wide recognition through the years.
Dutterer?s was included in the design team sponsored by the Society of American Florists for the past four presidential inaugurations. Gist has served on the marketing committee for FTD, overseeing the final stages in the construction of its float in the 1993 Tournament of Roses Parade.
“But ultimately we owe our success to the community and our employees,” Graham said.
The community?s confidence in Dutterer?s service is reflected in its outstanding top 200 volume ranking among FTD affiliates in sending flowers outside of its home region.
And the company?s commitment to the community was evident when it sold the land where the greenhouses once stood to Westminster for use as a public park, Dutterer Family Park.
Choosing to sell to the city and not private developers “is the best thing I have ever done in my life,” Gist said. “It meets the needs of residents of all ages, from school games to seniors walking the track.”
Stewart N. Dutterer Flower Shop
» 114 Pennsylvania Ave., Westminster
» Toll Free: 800-800-9350
» Local: 410-848-9350
» Employees: 19
