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| By Debbie Gardner PRIME Editor EAST LONGMEADOW To most small businesses, another shop offering a similar product or service represents competition for the customer's dollars. Here in town, however, three independent florists have turned that idea on its head. These three shops House of Flowers of East Longmeadow, Flowers by Dee and Bardelli's Florist have forged a relationship that keeps all three shops working and serving their customer's needs. "I've been in town for 37 years and I think it was the original owner of [Flowers by] Dee and I that started this," Lois DeVoie, owner of the House of Flowers of East Longmeadow on Shaker Road told Reminder Publications. "We had a good working relationship and when Nancy [Carabetta] took over, I said 'If there's anything you need, call'." Carabetta, the current owner of Flowers by Dee, also on Shaker Road, said the working relationship now just seems a given to her. "If I have a customer that comes in looking for a certain color rose and I don't have it, [House of Flowers] is right down the street and I send the business to them," Carabetta said. "They don't have wire service, so when Lois gets someone in her shop that has an out of town order, she sends them to me." "Some people think it's weird," Carabetta continued. "I think it's great." DeVoie said she feels there's plenty of business to keep her shop, Dee's and the newest florist in town, Bardelli's Florist on North Main Street, busy. "When they first came in I wanted them to know they were welcome," DeVoie said of the owners of Dee's and Bardelli's. They have every right to open up a business as much as I do, and I wanted them to know that if there was anything they needed, I was willing to help." From DeVoie's point of view, it's not these two other independent florists who are competition for customers as much as the "grocery stores, Costco and Home Depot .especially the grocery stores because they're local." And now, as the delivery charge from floral suppliers -- as well as the cost of gas for their own deliveries -- continues to climb, all three women said this working relationship is helping them ensure they can give their customers the best service possible. "We raid each other's coolers [and] pick up things for each other at the wholesalers to save delivery charges," said Debbie Bardelli, owner of Bardelli's Florist. "I have a driver," said Carabetta. "Sometimes, if Lois isn't in, instead of [her daughter] Mary closing the shop to make a delivery, my driver will take something if he's going that way for me." DeVoie said the business relationship between the three women has grown to the point where they're "like family." "We really love each other," she said. "I would be sad if one of them went out of business." |