- Funding for Working Capital is provided by the Friends of KTWU, Raymond C and Marguerite Gibson Foundation and Kansas Department of Commerce.

Imagine 1965, the heart of the Golden Rock and Roll era.

You turn 16, your parents give you the keys to the car and then say, deliver these flowers.

What would you do?

Stick around.

You're watching Working Capital.

Today we're at one of Northeast Kansas, premier floral destinations, Porterfield's here in Topeka, Kansas.

And we're here with that youngster from 1965 whose parents tossed him the keys and said, Hey, can you start delivering flowers for us?

So David Porterfield, thank you for being on the show today.

- Thank you for asking me, Jay.

It's a pleasure to be with you.

- Now David won't remember me much, but I remember all faces from when I was little and growing up in the mortuary here in Topeka, he was one of the faces I'd see on occasion bring flowers.

And also he's been a, i I can verify he is a, a nice gentleman when he knows no one's looking.

So he great, great guy.

I've seen your arrangements for years award.

- I I've doubt him for - Years.

Award-winning.

But, but you got into this with your parents, so, so, so let, let, take me back.

- My dad started the business.

You know, my folks lived in New York after the war, after World War ii.

He had, my dad had been in the Air Force, and that's how I met my mom.

He was a stationed at Forbes.

She was working here, a girl from Eskridge.

And so they, they met and married and they decided that they were gonna live in the big city.

And so they moved to New York and they loved it until it came time to think about children.

And they decided no, dad was really creative.

He, he was going to fashion design school in New York.

Oh wow.

And so on the GI Bill.

And then, but mom's best friend in school had been a, a gal who married Jim Owens.

And he, they lived in Lawrence and he had Owens Flower Shop, which is still in business over there and offered my dad a job.

And that's how my dad got into the flower business.

He went to work for Jim Owens, and he was there for, oh, several years.

I, I can't remember how many, but he was commuting from Topeka to Lawrence and, and didn't care for that much.

And That was long before the turnpike or decent cars.

So he, he got a job in Topeka at Sachs Florist.

And that was the oldest florist in Topeka at the time.

And it had started in, I think it was 1887.

And the store is still there at 10th.

And Oakley that really pretty white colonial house with the little, that was originally a florist.

And it had greenhouses behind the little shop there next door to the big house.

And at any rate, he worked there for about oh seven or eight years.

But he decided that he wanted to start his own store.

So he, he, we opened a little shop on 21st Street in what was then University Village at 21st and Medford.

And we had this little shop in this small strip mall there, which was, you know, we were, he was really cautious with the money as everybody should be when they're starting a new business.

So they started it.

And they always said that they started it with me in mind because they knew that, that I just had - Great, you were showing the creative streaks like your father and mother, so, I mean - Exactly.

You were - Gonna do something creative.

- Something creative.

And dad just thought that it, it would really be good for me.

So that's what they opened it, and there I was, and I, I I've loved it ever since.

- I mean, and your dad really took to it, you know, going from, from apparel design and, and, and thinking that route, - Which is yes, - Very creative, but you know, it is not necessarily as quick to the end creation and kind of seeing the joy on people's faces.

So was that a big part of it, just seeing the joy from the flowers going - Out?

It is a big part of it.

But, you know, the other big part of it for me was that I had really bad a DD and I, I don't know, I might know a little bit about that.

Okay.

I thought you might, it's sort of rec, you know, creatives kind of.

Exactly.

You recognize it in other people, which means that this is really a, a kind of a perfect fit for my personality because it, it's something that you can do rather quickly.

You get immediate gratification from it, and it doesn't stay with you for the rest of your - Life.

Nope.

There's a - Routine to - It, but yet the - Routine varies a lot.

Exactly.

- And, and the e No, that's - Exactly, and, and, you know, and, but it, it makes hugely beautiful spaces, but they aren't permanent.

- Yeah.

- You know, and so that, that, that, that part of it really fit what I, the way that I have always lived.

So - This is just, we'll get a little more into the, in depth of the actual, you know, making bouquets and all.

But we, we always talk visuals, of course.

Me growing up, one of the biggest thing is the scent of the flowers.

The scent of everything.

Absolutely.

How much does that play into what you are designing?

Or is that a secondary thought?

Depending on what, you know, the intent for the, the - Bouquets, what happens?

It's, it's like your home, you know, everybody's home seems to have its own kind of fragrance.

Yeah.

But you don't smell your own.

Yeah.

And I can't smell flowers anymore.

That's just the norm.

It's just the norm.

And it's so funny 'cause people tell me that I smell like a flower shop.

Yeah.

But I can't smell it when I'm in the flower shop.

So, you know, and it, you're right.

It, it, it just becomes part of who you are.

- Well, let's go back.

So your parents, your parents saw in you the creativity - Exactly.

- The openness shop.

So you're at the little shop near Medford.

Yes.

And 21st.

21st in Medford.

With those years with your parents, how was the growth in Topeka?

You know, that that's pre for all you youngsters out there that that's pre-internet.

You know, you're, you're walking into a flower shop.

You may be calling the local flower shop and asking for something.

But - Tell me - How, how it - Changed, think about it.

It was so different at that time.

The whole, so many businesses worked on a whole different business model.

We, at that time, there were 24, I think, retail florists in Topeka when we opened.

Wow.

And now there are only like five maybe.

And so it makes a, you know, I mean, that's a real difference.

It was before we had grocery store Floris, it's before we had Walmart, it's before we had Sam's, it's before we had all, and before we had the internet that you could order stuff, you know, and get it, you know, delivered to your door.

So, you know, we had to change our business model to stay in business.

And we're one to, you know, I, I mean, it's amazing.

I'm, I'm so thrilled that we have been able to stay in business and move.

But we, we modeled the store at that time.

I remember my folks were friends with other florists.

There was, there was networking that was done with, with all the florists in the, in the area and in the country, you know, that we, we had the wire services and conventions and meetings and stuff.

So all florists got together and, you know, traded ideas and business models and that sort of thing.

But as we, you know, so they, as they, the business slowly developed, then we, we just learned from other, other guys that had done it before.

And we were mentored by, there was a, a beautiful shop in Kansas City, really several that we sort of patterned this store off off of.

And one was at Ranch View, which was at 95th and Nall and in the Ranch Mark Shopping Center.

And that was a beautiful store.

It's both of these are gone now.

And the other one was Lease Fells on the Plaza, which was, you know, that was the really, really beautiful florist at that time.

- Kind of the, the top dog in Kansas - City.

That was the top dog.

Yeah.

They did all of the debutante balls Yeah.

And all that stuff.

It was really a beautiful store.

Okay.

- But they're, well, well, you're there with your parents and it's probably year 13 or 14 and, and you're thinking about taking over the whole business.

But, but how, how do you decide to move the business to this lovely space?

And, and as we were talking beforehand, you know, you, you were, you were telling me how this is the oldest shopping center in Topeka.

- Exactly.

- And it's beautiful.

It really does have its own rapport.

So - What - Caused that jump?

- I had always loved this building.

And it had it at that time when, when we were, when we moved, it had been Paul's records.

It had been, it was built as a drug store and a grocery store.

We have two storefronts here.

And they had had both gone outta business, obviously.

And this part had been a liquor store.

And then the, the drug store on the corner building had been, it had gone through several different, different businesses after the drug store closed.

And it had been a, oh, a ice cream parlor and a fabric store.

And I can't remember all of them, but it, you know, three or four businesses in just a few years.

And I came up to Paul's records, which was the last iteration of the store.

And it, I, I came up to, because I wanted to get some new music to play in on the, on the cassette tapes that we played at the back as background music in the shop.

So I, and I was sick listening to the ones that were playing.

So I just got in the car and came up here and there was a sign on the door that they were outta business.

And I knew that this building was in a trust at First National Bank.

And I was on the phone to the bank that day.

And we were, I think, first in line for it, which was lucky because we've been here ever since.

That was in the early eighties.

- Did your parents share the initial vision or was it something you had to sell them all?

- Oh, no, nothing.

I, you know, I had, I can't remember if I bought the business from them at before that time, or it was around that time.

And I can't remember if it was shortly before or shortly after we moved.

But yeah, I, my, my mother, particular Laura was not too bold about such things.

And she's, oh, it's so big.

We're gonna be, - They probably had their financials order.

They know, they kind of ebb and flow.

'cause this is a business where you're Oh, it's seasonal, so I mean, it's, - Oh, exactly.

- You know, you gotta, you gotta keep stuff.

- We opened in 1965 on Mother's Day, which of course that was a, a big deal.

And then, you know, we had Memorial Day and some June weddings.

Well, it wound up that, you know, that summer mom had to bring her ironing from home to have something to do with Flower Shop, which is, you know, it is a kind of a, a warning for all new business owners is that you can't expect, you know, to, to, you - Had a plan for the downtime.

- You have downtimes, you do have downtimes.

And you know, fortunately for us, we don't have those so much anymore.

But at that time, we really did.

You know, it just practically stopped in the summer.

So no more.

But I'm glad of that.

- It's an amazing beginning.

Stick around when we get back, we're gonna talk about where Porterfield is at and where they see themselves heading in the future.

You've been watching Working Capital - Every year.

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- Welcome back.

Okay.

David, you're in the new shop.

- Yes.

- You've learned a little bit from your parents, you know, how to the ebb and flow of the business, the, you know, you have your Valentine's Day, your Mother's Day, the, the big seasonal stuff, but then comes along, let's say the 1-800-FLOWERS, the places where you can all of a sudden pick up the phone and get your flowers from who knows where - Exactly.

- Who knows what did it and, and who knows how it's gonna be when it gets here.

- Exactly.

- And then leading up to the internet and all this.

So how did you ride those waves?

You know, in a market, this, this, it's big, it's Topeka, but it's still, it's, it's a very small, big city.

- It is a Yes, it is.

And you know, at that time we had some, some dependable clients that were affiliated with institutions that we don't have anymore, such as Menninger or Payless or you, those kinds of, of big entities that employ a lot of well-paid people are kind of our customer base.

And so, you know, it was, it was difficult losing those.

But when we moved here, you know, the store, I, I thought it was so pretty and I thought we'd done it just right.

You know, as we didn't have a lot of money to invest in the, the remodeling of the store.

But I had a neighbor out in the country, we lived out on West Union Road at that time, and who was a carpenter and his son was a metal worker.

And we, I just designed what I wanted and I had pictures of what I wanted.

I'd taken pictures of other businesses around the region that I liked, and we, so we remodeled the inside of the store kind of piece by piece and did it pretty much ourselves.

You know, - Were you kind of on the forefront of the shabby chic movement?

Yeah.

What they wanna call it.

You know, it's beautiful, but, you know, all those, all those textures and styles mixing together.

- That's right.

- It does take an eye.

- This side of the, the business came later, of course, but it, I, I like it.

I I, it sort of has a Tuscan flavor, I think.

And that's, I had visited Italy and I was just so taken with it that I, I tried to sort of get a little bit of that flavor in it.

And it, it does, I think you, I like it.

But yeah, at the, at that, at that time, you know, I thought the store looked so pretty, but we just couldn't get the floor traffic.

You know, we couldn't get people in on a regular basis and they weren't really familiar with it, you know, I mean, it's not something that you would think about just running to see Yeah.

A flower shop, you know.

But, - And, and at that point, I mean, you moved away from the Boulevard, which was the big traffic, you know?

Yeah.

So, yeah, it was a little bit of a, a risk for a very good location.

- That's right.

And so what I, one morning in the shower where we all get some of our best ideas, it hit me that if we could sell flowers reasonably cash and carry that people would come and buy him.

And so I, I had a friend that had a flower shop in Little Rock.

It was called Friday's Flowers.

And it was a real beautiful store, and it's still in business, I believe.

And they had a deal where they would sell a bundle of daisies for like two or $3 on Friday.

And I thought, well, that's a good idea.

And so I, but I didn't, I'm an English major, so I knew that alliteration is the, the best, most mineral style of, you know, speech that we have.

And so that's when I was thinking, well, what could we do?

Then we got Friday Flowers.

That's good.

And then I thought, Hmm.

So that's when I came up with five Buck Friday flowers.

So that's why it still is five bucks too.

It sounds as good yet.

Six Buck Friday Flowers doesn't sound dear.

- Six bucks Saturdays.

- Yeah.

Come in day later.

Exactly.

So Rate, we did that and I, I decided that any advertising or promotional money that we use is gonna be all directed at Friday Flowers.

That's all we're gonna advertise.

And that's all we did advertise for about three years.

And it really worked.

It really worked.

We, one Friday, this is crazy, but it's true.

This has been years ago when we, we could buy things a lot more reasonably in larger quantities.

I think it was in August.

But we were able to sell a dozen long stem red roses for $5.

We sold 50,000 roses in one day.

And that is no joke.

We advertise.

I know, I - Know.

And that's one of the things you can't plan for isn't in this business, is all of a sudden, kinda like a bakery, all of a sudden your stock is - Gone.

Well, it's exactly, well, that, that's when we had a local wholesaler here in Topeka - Too.

So, okay.

So you had a little bit more access.

So - We had a little bit, but we just, oh, we had people lined up out the str out the door to, you know, out down 12th or Hunting Street.

So Yeah.

It, it was, it was crazy.

But, but, but yeah, I mean, it, it showed me too that there really was a, a how to manage two, two ends of the spectrum of floral marketing.

Yeah.

Which is what we were doing in the same space and still are, you know, I, I always said I wanted to have stuff that appealed to everyone, something that everyone could have and enjoy.

And, and that has filled that, - And it has really, for Topeka.

'cause a lot of people think of flowers as kind of a premium thing then it can't always go get a fresh bouquet, but - Well, - Your, your $5 Fridays made fresh flowers available for pretty much everybody.

It was special occasion.

Anything else, you know, if it's a Friday, you can go get a very good deal and some very good flowers for whether you got in trouble or someone's birthday or - Whatnot.

The Friday before Valentine's Day, I had people that had oh, had bought like our loads of flowers.

Are people reselling - Your stuff?

- I No, no.

They're giving it away.

They were, I'm sure.

I hope.

I hope.

But at any rate, yeah, we, we sold a bunch and we, and that, you know, but it has, it's broadened our appeal.

It's, it's made our, I mean, and, and what it's done too is the people that by Friday flowers, well, they're as much our customers as the people that buy the $250 bouquets.

You know, - Because they're also word of mouth gonna tell people, you should go check out Porter Kids.

This is where I get my $5 flowers.

Exactly.

I walk in there.

Exactly.

Right.

It's so beautiful.

- So it helps.

And we've got every price range, you know, but for all kinds of stuff.

But the, the secret is that it's all pretty, it's all beautiful stuff, whatever you get.

And - So, yeah.

You, you guys don't skimp on on the quality just to get more - In.

No, no.

I, and I, I would rather lose the lose money than send out something that's not good.

So, - So you're, you're, you're, you're, you know, 20 years into this 25, 30 and then internet hits.

How did that affect business to begin with?

Did that, did that create a little bit of a downturn?

You're like, how are we gonna make it through?

- I don't know, to tell you the truth, I don't think that it gave us a big hit.

But it, it definitely, since we've kind of hooked into it, it has, it's been the opposite.

It is been a real boon to us.

We get a lot of, and, and it's just really in the last few years that we've been able to sell online, you know, 'cause we, I just thought, you know, it's expensive and, you know, you have to do all this stuff to make it happen, which, you know, and I just didn't have the time to really mess with it.

So, but then when we finally did, this company came along that really helped us and got, got us through it all.

That wasn't prohibitively expensive to do, and they set it all up so that we could sell online.

And it has made a fantastic difference.

You know, it was, it's, it's not unusual to have, you know, 17 or 18 orders a day through 'em.

- And that's great to find another company you trust like that because as a small business, as we all, as we've learned on this show and, and through our friends and family that do this, yeah.

You can't do every single job.

At least not to the level.

No.

You probably need it for your own business.

So, - Although I, I can do every single job and I do do every single job, but not all the time.

Yeah.

Not all the time.

But you know, I think for, for somebody in the ownership or management position, you have to be able to do every single job because you can't expect somebody else to scrub the floors if you're not willing to scrub the floors, you know, and at, at at least and feel worthy, you know, and you want your employee, and that's, that, that's the the most difficult thing I think of any business is keeping your employees on track and happy.

- Yeah.

- Because if, if, if people get down, if they're not happy working with you, it's gonna show, it's gonna show on everything they do.

And you're gonna be sending out ugly stuff.

And, and so fortunately for us, we've, we've been very fortunate to have a great staff.

I do.

- Well, let's talk a bit about the staff and just a little bit about the future here.

Yeah.

We just have a few minutes left.

But it's one of those businesses where I think it's a lot of mentorship and learning that Exactly.

You know, I, I don't, I don't personally know of where you can go at least close to, I'm gonna go to flower school and here's an in intensive course, and after six months, I'm ready to go do all these arrangements.

- Yeah.

Those, you know, I think that those days are kind of over there.

There were flower schools when I was young, and I did go to one in Denver for, for a while.

I, it was, you know, I, I got a scholarship, so I thought, well, I'll go.

And so it was, you know, that was interesting and a fun part of my life.

But, you know, pretty much we train all of our designers here now.

And we, in fact, we just, last week, one of the young man that I graduated from high school was going to Johnson County Junior College, left us to go to school.

And they were all just almost in tears to see him go.

But you know, he is already got a job with a, with a really nice florist in Kansas City.

So he's on his way, and I'm very, very excited and I was proud to be able to help him.

And, but we've got a, the, the staff that we have, you know, we've got like five designers and oh, drivers and salespeople and, and you know, office workers and everything.

You know, our business just takes all of that.

And even a little flower shop like us, you know, you've gotta have a good staff.

And we've, we've really got it.

And I think that, you know, I'm, I'm to the point where everybody is surprised that I'm still here.

You - Well, the, the, the a d you know, that the, the hyper activity kind of, you don't wanna stop working.

I you do what you love.

Otherwise why would you be doing - It?

I do what I love, but, you know, but I have, but the store is set up so that, you know, it can pretty much run independently.

- It, it's its own living thing at this point.

- It, it's its own living thing at this point.

And it's got, got really talented people in the right places.

And, and all of them are, you know, brilliantly creative and dedicated to the success of the business.

So what else can you ask for, - David?

That, that pretty much says all.

So thank you for bringing so much beauty to Topeka, you and your parents in passing this down and forward to all of us.

- You know, it is been a pleasure.

It's been, you know, it's, it's wonderful to get to be with people through the moment periods of their life, whether it's birth or a marriage or, you know, birthday or, or a funeral.

- You know, you're bringing a little beauty to some, some sad spots.

- You know, we really just we're, you just get close to people.

It really is.

It's, it's a wonderful way to live.

It's a wonderful age to live and I'm very fortunate to have been able to do it.

And Topeka's been very supportive and I, I love this town.

- Well, if you get in trouble or you have a good celebration, don't forget Porterfield.

And you know, this $5 front it is.

I probably can't beat beat, so.

- That's right.

- That's right.

All right, well join us next time for Working Capital to catch up on previous episodes of Working Capital.

Scan the QR code with your phone or go to www.watch.kw.org.

Funding for Working capital is provided by the friends of KTW, Raymond C and Marguerite Gibson Foundation and Kansas Department of Commerce.