Behind the Biz: Sun Valley Florist

Ramona’s first-ever flower shop still sits on Main Street, contributing the sweet smell of fresh-cut flowers to the clean, country air.

Sun Valley Florist, located at 758 Main St., has been a part of the town for almost 20 years, and is now owned by veteran florist Frankie Berkley Newberg.

Newberg, who has been designing arrangements for 40 years, runs her business on faith—not dollar signs. She says her relationship with God drives not only her life, but her shop as well.

The florist's love for Ramona and desire to perfect every order is exactly what drove Newberg to purchase the shop in 2011. Despite the financial uncertainty of the slow seasons, the recently widowed flower lover strives to support small businesses and charities by shopping locally and participating in fundraisers.

So slow down, smell the roses and see what’s in store at Sun Valley Florist.

Patch: When did you open your business and why did you choose this community?

Frankie Berkley Newberg: I purchased Sun Valley Florist from Sandy Gillespie in June of 2011. I chose Ramona because no matter where I lived or traveled throughout the US, I always felt Ramona as being my home.

Patch: What are some of the challenges you've faced? What have you learned from them? 

FBN: Flower shops go through seasons. Summer is a somewhat downtime. I have learned to build up a good bank account to get me through the slow times.

Patch: What distinguishes your business from others in the same industry?

FBN: Small town mindset is not necessarily a small budget mindset. I try in every way I can to support the local community. Sometimes it is a tough decision to spend the money on local fundraisers all the time knowing that it might cut into my budget for running the shop. Every time I take that chance, it has always come back to me ten fold.

My business is prayer-based. All I have is from God. He watches over me and all the decisions I make. Right down to ordering the correct flowers for an unknown week of business. My husband passed away a year ago. Now, running the business alone shows me how much I am being watched over and blessed. 

I run my business in a unique town. Ramona has been incredibly supportive of my endeavors. 

Patch: What's the best business advice you've been given, and what's your favorite advice to share?

FBN: I have never been very good at taking advice. I do know one very important fact: love others. I just try to love everyone and everything with my talents and means.

When designing, I do not think about the dollar amount, but instead about the person and the occasion the flowers were ordered for. If the design does not look complete and all the money has been put into it, I just add more until it is finished and is representing our shop to the fullest. It works for me.

Patch: What changes, if any, would you like to see in the local business community?

FBN: I think this community is putting on their very best to keep Ramona alive. Shopping locally is so very important. I would like to hear feedback from the residents on why they do not shop local. 

Using the info from the feedback, retailers then would work on making their products something that keeps the consumers shopping in Ramona. A few of my business friends and I are working on that very idea.