Fresh-cut flowers have been used to bring a smile to someone’s face, show love and appreciation, and brighten a room for a long time. In 1998, owner Derik Bakker saw the DIY movement taking off with Home Depot, Martha Stewart, Michaels and realized the community needed a place where cut flowers could be purchased for DIY projects. There were flower shops and grocery stores to purchase arrangements, but where does one go to make their own arrangements?
Fresh Ideas Flower Company offers grower-direct bulk flower sales, ready for pick up Monday-Saturday every week. Flowers are picked up from Watsonville and Salinas every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening. Flowers picked up on Monday are ready for sale on Tuesday and Wednesday; the ones not sold go in arrangements to be sold in their wholesale business to over three-hundred local retailers, including local super markets and drug stores like CVS and Walgreens.
“We are like two companies in one,” states Derik. “The wholesale side of the business is the arm that allows us to have low prices for the DIY projects. The DIY side allows us to have our storefront downtown.” Fresh Ideas Flower Co. offers custom arrangements for delivery to homes, hospitals, funerals, schools and offices.
Derik explains, “We want to bring back the local flower delivery and encourage people to shop local. Most people don’t realize that the big online stores that send flowers are (using local shops) but are keeping a large portion of the sale and actually hurting the local flower shops that are doing the work.” Fresh Ideas Flower Co. is currently delivering to all of Stanislaus County and the south end of San Joaquin County (Turlock to Manteca to Stockton). “We offer same-day delivery if ordered by 2 p.m.”
Shopping local is important to Derik, born and raised in Turlock. He serves on the board for the Turlock Gospel Mission, has been married to his wife, Leslie, since 1993 and has two daughters. Sarah recently graduated from Vanguard in So. Cal and is going to be an elementary school teacher and Emilie just graduated from Turlock Christian and is planning on attending Vanguard as well. Derik graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Agricultural Economics.
Next time you have a special occasion and flowers are the ticket, then think and shop local. Whether you need to order pre-arranged center pieces or want to save money for a wedding, Fresh Ideas Flower Co. is ready to serve.
Fresh Ideas Flower Company
FreshIdeasModesto.com
1302 9th St. Modesto
209.572.0287
Open Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. & Sat from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
