I met Schatzi of Duvall Flowers & Gifts online many years ago, through my friend Brianna. I’d just started my photography business and needed to network. What better way to do that than with the town florist!

Schatzi is a joyful person, full of smiles and has the perfect personality for her job. Every smile reaches her eyes, genuine and full of mirth, so contagious you can’t help but grin along, not really caring that you weren’t in on the joke.

Schatzi took over Duvall Flowers & Gifts 12 years ago from its original owner when it was still above Tru Value. Today, it’s located right at 15702 in downtown Duvall, spreading color and cheer up and down Main Street. This building is over 100 years old, and used to house a market, the old Post Office and Duvall Automotive.

How did Schatzi get into flowers? She’d worked for many years in Arizona for a florist and when she and her family moved back to Washington, she took over the business. Coincidentally, Schatzi’s grandfather had been a florist in Bremerton. Perhaps it’s in the genes, she jokes.

Today, I spent the day with Schatzi and Celeste, one of her floral designers (who happens to be my next door neighbor – the perks of living in a small town!). It’s the beginning of Prom Week, which means corsages and boutonnieres, with lots of orders for this Saturday’s event. We started the day with some Main Street deliveries and I got to watch Celeste work her magic on some arrangements while the shop got busy decorating and taking calls. Betty, Schatzi’s other helper, dropped in to say hi, as well as Marco, Schatzi’s husband and her son Dash. I love how much of a family feel this business has, and this is why I love living in a small town.

When asked what she thinks is important for her business, Schatzi says it’s the challenge of persuading Duvallians to shop local. Everyone loves the quaint shopfronts on Main Street but she wishes more people would shop them as well. Everything in Schatzi’s shop is sourced locally, supporting the valley’s arts and handicrafts scene. Today, we hung up local artist Dan Cautrell’s prayer flags featuring his woodcuts in honor of yesterday’s tragedy in Nepal.

So the next time you need flowers – or really any kind of gift at all – step into  Duvall Flowers & Gifts and take a look!

Thanks for spending the day with me, Schatzi, Celeste and Marco! It was a fun day!