By Larry Austin
Island Dispatch Editor
The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year for Andi LaMar, owner and designer of Silk Florals.
It also happens to coincide with the one-year anniversary of her going into business. It was Nov. 15, 2016, when LaMar opened Silk Florals on Baseline Road, where she designed and sold her unique custom silk floral arrangements.
In less than a year, LaMar expanded her business by moving to the Grand Island Plaza at 2419 Grand Island Blvd.
"This is going to be the second Christmas" in business, LaMar pointed out. Silk Florals is the place "if you definitely want a wreath or a table arrangement or anything like that," she said Wednesday. Her "bow-toppers" for Christmas trees are also popular this time of year, but the new and improved and larger showroom will allow her to present some silk items year-round.
"This store is bigger now. I can keep everyday flowers out and arrangements," she said. For instance, she currently has her fall arrangements out without reducing her Christmas item space. And, she still has ample creative space to design new products. At her old location, she had to make room by renting a storage spot across the street.
The best part of the new location in the Grand Island Plaza is the business community there, she said, where Islanders can't find gifts without having to leave the Island.
"I love my neighbors," she said, mentioning Hair Envy and Pink Martini among the small businesses that populate the plaza. "It's kind of a one-stop shop, I guess. A one-stop plaza. And I love the view that I can see out the window."
(Photos by Larry Austin)