Family-owned business celebrates 50 years | News

DANVILLE — For 50 years, Scott Edwards has been providing the Danville Area community with floral arrangements to celebrate life’s biggest moments.

At just 17 years old, Edwards began arranging flowers in his parents’ basement.

Today, with the help of his wife, Judy, and twin daughters, Holly Hoffman and Heather Marks, Edwards continues to own and operate a 15,000 square foot shop — Scott’s Floral, Gift & Greenhouses.

“I never thought I’d see the ‘big 50,’” Edwards said.

The florist discussed the struggles his family-run business faced over the years. The Edwards’ call them “the three f’s” — the fire, flood and flu.

Despite the struggles along the way, the business, first named “Flowers by Scott,” travelled from Edwards’ parents’ basement to their butcher shop to multiple locations across the Valley.

At one point, the Edwards family ran four stores at once. The business has held firm in its current location on Northumberland Street since 1980.

Even in the early years, the flower shop was a family affair.

“The kids would come to work with us. They always rode bike around here,” Judy Edwards said, referencing the shop.

Throughout their marriage, Judy Edwards said the only thing she and her husband fought about was the business, “He’s creative and I’m on the numbers end,” she said.

Now all grown up, two of the three Edwards’ daughters are set to take over the family business as their parents said they are bowing out little by little.

Edwards said he and his wife left the shop for three weeks this summer. “We’ve never done that in 50 years,” he said.

Hoffman and Marks certainly didn’t let their parents down. “They did really, really great,” Edwards said.

Hoffman said the shop “ran like a well-oiled machine” as she and Marks stepped in to continue their parents’ work.

Having spent 50 years in business in the community, Edwards said the people of Danville are kind of like family.

“We did their wedding, their kids’ weddings and their kids’ weddings. Three generations of weddings,” he said.

Judy Edwards said she and her family owe a lot of thanks to the community for their support over the years.

“I think why we’ve been successful is thanks to local people in the community,” she said. “It’s a great place to have a business.”

Scott Edwards admitted he is unsure whether he will ever fully retire. “It’s what I love to do,” he said.

As for what’s to come for the family business, Judy Edwards said it’s “up to the girls.”

Hoffman said she’d like to offer classes to the community, giving customers a chance to “make and take” something from the shop.

The twins would also like to work more with other businesses in the community and the Danville Business Alliance.

Hoffman and Marks agreed they’d make every effort to continue their parents’ legacy.

“It’s lots of hard work and dedication, but it’s a good reward,” Hoffman said.