Today we’d like to introduce you to David Brown.
Thanks for sharing your story with us David. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I always had a love for design. I went to college and graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from Texas Tech University then went on to be the first (and only) student to start the Graduate Degree program in architecture at The University of Texas in Austin. After several years working for several large architectural firms I decided that this profession would never be fulfilling. I NEEDED to use and create with my hands. Having always loved nature from as early as I can remember I naturally gravitated to the plant world buying a small existing orchid and plant shop in Montrose in the mid 1970’s. Over the years this just naturally evolved from plants to cut flowers, floral design and carefully curated table top items. Living in Houston through the past forty-six years I learned early on the importance of being flexible, or fluid, as my natural instincts guided me through the ups and downs of this once oil-driven economy – expanding during the good times and contracting during the lean years. I am blessed with the ability to not only be a very creative designer in my field but also I am comfortable in running the business side as well.
My business is approaching 42 years old and during that time I have had the 5-year itch: I would move my store and reinvent myself and look. This is part of the excitement of owning a business. Currently I am in my 9th and hopefully final location in the heart of River Oaks. This is by far my best location because of its convenience to my client base as well as the accessibility to freeways and major streets.
The current shop is really a “work studio” and less a retail store. Half the space is a showroom and half the work room but all 2000 square feet work as a studio. Over the years we have abbreviated the store to be a florist shop in the most traditional way. We only sell fresh and permanent flowers. Our only tabletop items are vases or things that must hold flowers. The only plants we sell are live orchid plants. Period. We rarely do weddings but this is not something we market to and we no longer do the galas. I’ve spent so much of my career doing that and I no longer have a need to. Over the years we are fortunate to have developed a very wonderful and loyal clientele to whom we give our fullest. And our strongest attribute is that we only bring in the finest, top grade of flowers and the most unusual and, at times, the most expensive flowers to be found from the world’s offering. Our clients understand our product and expect the best as many of them are world travelers and are very educated on what’s happening in flowers around the world. This allows us to do exceptionally high design utilizing exquisite products. And this makes it a joy to come to work each day.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Only one time during the 1980’s oil bust. I had just expanded to my largest location on Kirby Drive where West Ave is now. That was very tough but I had a great landlord who worked with me. When I took an early exit to down size, someone else took over my space and tried to do an upscale flower shop. It lasted maybe 20 months.
David Brown Flowers – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I have already addressed this in the prior paragraphs. But some of my proudest memories come from early in my career when I was clearly 25 years ahead of my peers. In particular when I did a Reunion Dinner of the Yellow Rose of Texas Ball that a local socialite had hosted for Princess Grace in Monaco several years prior I invented centerpieces made of spheres of only yellow roses. That was nearly 40 years ago. Now spheres of flowers have been au courrant a dozen years or more. Not saying I created the look exclusively, but no one else was doing it at the time. I love being an innovator and leader in my field. And the time I “flew” centerpieces on the stage of the Wortham Theater for a rehearsal dinner. Yes, the flowers actually flew on stage between cocktail hour and seated dinner! Guest were seated on stage in a theater…so why not take advantage of everything available including the ability to fly the centerpieces.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Still being a viable and successful proprietor in a business that is actually in decline across the nation. I still want to be that leader and innovator. But I am very practical: It’s easy to make something unusual, but to make something creative, that makes sense, fulfills a need and then to make a living doing it is really something I am very proud of.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3637 W. Alabama Street
Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77027 - Website: david@davidbrownflowers.com
- Phone: 713-664-0466
Image Credit:
Jeff Myers Photography
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