Before the pandemic, Bonny Gregory traveled across the country selling her artwork and other items at Renaissance festivals. When that came to a halt, she was home with her husband and children in Augusta and in need of a new source of income.
Opportunity soon arose.
“I took a leap of faith and purchased the McCrory Flower Shop, though I was completely green to the world of floristry,” she said. “I quickly fell in love with the creativity and design in the floral industry.”
Floristry blended her creative and business talents, providing an artistic outlet that was also lucrative. She became a certified Master Florist through the Arkansas Florists Association.
Center Opens Doors to Funding
In 2022, Gregory bought a second flower shop, Backstreet Florist in Wynne, and the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center was there to help.
Jack Poff Jr. of the Arkansas State University Mid-South ASBTDC told her about the East Arkansas Planning & Development District Revolving Loan Fund. The fund supports the startup, development, or purchase of area small businesses, especially by minorities and women.
“Being a woman-owned business has its own roadblocks in certain circles, but working with Jack and team made the experience such a relief. I tried working with local banks initially, but they had hesitations to work with me or see my vision for such a great local business,” said Bonny. “ASBTDC was amazing through the entire process and saw my business for the success it could be.”
Poff helped her complete the EAPDD funding requirements.
“Bonny had a clear vision and realistic expectations, having purchased a similar shop with a similar client base during the pandemic,” he said. “The issue was funding and taking time to capture her vision on paper in the form of a business plan and financial projections.”
Acquisition Expands Service Area
With shops in Woodruff and Cross counties, Gregory now serves Wynne, McCrory, Augusta, Bald Knob, Newport, Forrest City, and “everywhere in between.”
“I have loved learning with my new team in Wynne how I can best fit Backstreet as a sister store with the McCrory Flower Shop and how we can serve such a huge geographical footprint,” she said.
Founded in 1975, Backstreet Florist has a long history in the community.
Gregory describes the shop as an “iconic hidden gem with a team of experienced florists who are committed to making every floral or botanical arrangement unique and custom-designed and tailored to each customer’s needs.”
Mompreneur Finds Ally in ASBTDC
When Bonny is not creating floral designs, you can find her at her other businesses, the co-located Gregory Gourmet and Augusta Florist and Plant Shop. The busy mother of three also enjoys volunteering in Augusta and McCrory.
She lights up at the opportunity to share her entrepreneurial journey and her experience with ASBTDC.
“It was a huge relief to have someone on your team working towards finance and explore multiple options as we got our business funded and opened,” she said. “You do not have to figure out all the details totally on your own, and it made my experience so much easier.”
