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Aug 26, 2023

Business Profile: Pam’s Petals puts priority on quality and origin of its products

Aug 28, 2023 R. R. Branstrom | Daily PressAt Pam’s Petals in Escanaba on Friday, owner Pam Frossard trims the stems of some mini carnations before adding them to an arrangement. EDITOR NOTE: The Daily

Aug 28, 2023

R. R. Branstrom | Daily PressAt Pam’s Petals in Escanaba on Friday, owner Pam Frossard trims the stems of some mini carnations before adding them to an arrangement.

EDITOR NOTE: The Daily Press will be featuring a series of articles on local businesses, highlighting their history and what makes them unique. The series will run on a regular basis in the Daily Press.

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ESCANABA — When Pam Frossard brings products into her flower shop, quality and origin are at the top of her list of priorities.

Pam’s Petals may focus mainly on plants, but since people often send flowers as gifts, items in the store are suited to accompany a present and can be made into gift baskets or purchased individually. Most people who enter the shop at 1208 Ludington Street do so because they are seeking flowers, but some come specifically for the wind chimes.

Frossard says that the selection has grown. “We’ve always had vases on the shelf — vases and mugs and some, like, plush animals and chocolates and stuff, because people send that with flowers … There was a little bit of statuary and stepping stones.” While wind chimes have always been a feature, the manufacturer expands its line every year. Similar things are true of other suppliers, but as Pam has grown into the space, she has taken on completely new additions, as well.

Pam’s Petals opened in May of 2017. The site was formerly the home of Peoples Drug Store, and ghosts of the pharmacy’s labeling are still visible atop the original wooden shelves.

Frossard’s workload has grown, too, she reported. She began her own business after managing the floral department of Flinn’s, which used to be a garden center before downsizing to become solely a lawn and landscape company. While some elements of operating a business surprised her at first, Pam is now taking on more challenges.

“Last year, we started adding a little bit more extensive gift items,” Frossard said. “Now, we just picked up some candle lines and some soap and bath product lines.”

The inventory comes from a number of sources. Pam says she tries to select Michigan-made products, and many items reflect that. But also valued is a perceived level of quality, which Pam and her small staff (she has only one full-time and one part-time employee) assess themselves.

“We try everything out. And if I don’t like it, then we don’t get it anymore,” said Froussard bluntly but with a laugh. She recounted that one bath bomb left an oily residue on the tub, which informed her never to order said item again.

The bath products currently offered that did pass the test come from Midland and Rockford, Mich.

Alongside those qualifiers, Pam said she also likes to source from women-owned businesses where possible.

As far as the plants go, flowers are kept in coolers towards the back of the store and may be sold as they are or in custom arrangements, which people tend to order through the website. In the front are potted plants that are easy to care for because they’re what people know and ask after, but Pam’s Petals has the opportunity to buy from a truck every week, so more options are available than what is seen on the floor. “I have a lady that — I’m watching for a lipstick plant for her,” Frossard reported.

Sympathy and birthday bouquets are most popular, said Pam, but they have assembled centerpieces for formal events.

And sometimes, Pam relayed, people looking to brighten their day buy themselves flowers.

“It’s more common than I would have assumed,” she said.

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