Chanda Mines co-owner, Bagoy's Florist.

• Author: Stomierowski, Peg
• Position: View from the Top

With several sites in Anchorage, Bagoy's Florist has sustained itself in an emotion-based business where trust, flexibility and quality matter. Chanda Mines, with her husband Randy, began managing the store in 1991, as her parents had done for a dozen years before them. The couple purchased it in 1994, and happily report that business has more than doubled in the years since they took ownership. Bagoy's began in the family home in 1922; memorably, it survived the devastation of the 1964 earthquake.

* Train, Train, Train

Bagoy's is the original florist in Alaska, and we have never stopped working hard to have a trustful business relationship with our neighbors. Our goal is to provide a high quality, beautifully designed, affordable product, with our reliable staff readily available and delivery offered seven days a week. Training makes the difference, and we concentrate on customer satisfaction and product quality, backed by our "best in the state" guarantee.

* Flower Daze

Valentine's, Mother's Day and Christmas top our sales charts. All are predictably hectic, and keeping good records helps. Flower sales have been recession-proof because people will continue in hard times to seek ways to feel good. During previous and current economic downturns, business does slow down, but life continues to have seasons both of celebration and of sorrow. Flowers are always beautiful, a perfect fit, appreciated by all.

* Competition

We don't try to compete with box stores--they offer a quick-grab product, and we love to see people enjoying flowers anywhere, even in the grocery store. Our focus is on providing full service for those who want to be represented in a heartfelt, lasting and professional way, with outstanding, artful designs. We also have monthly walk-in specials and Friday two-for-one deals.

* 24/7...