ORANGE SLICES
Charles House of University Florist Chapel Hill.
A truism in the business of sales and marketing is this: A customer buys the person before they buy the product. And this makes perfect sense. There’s an innate pleasure in working with the people we like; buying the product itself is just the icing on the cake.
That’s one reason Charles House, of University Florist in downtown Chapel Hill, has had, since the 1980s, such a loyal following.
One of his downtown neighbors — Missy Julian Fox, of the famed clothing store, says of her friend: “Charles House has quietly, expertly and lovingly served our community for more than 50 years! Always “behind the scenes,” without fanfare, never wanting the spotlight on himself — but rather on the people, organization or cause he was working on. Charles’ steadfast commitment defines the soul of our community and the very best of Chapel Hill.”
A little history. University Florist was originally opened in the 1940s by Minnie Fields, who sold it in the late 1940s to James Davis, whose family ran it before selling to Charles. After renting the space for several years, Charles bought the building in the 80s, when both a bakery and bread shop that had shared the building with him closed. After they left, he expanded his shop.
Since then a lot has changed. Franklin Street has evolved the way so many downtowns in America have evolved. But University Florist has survived through a roller coaster economy, a worldwide pandemic, and a somewhat new vibe. His clientele returns again and again for what would appear to be a luxury: flowers. But they also came back for Charles.
How did they survive? It’s a business that has sustained itself on the power of the people — word of mouth. It’s staffed by folks who answers the phone, who shares a smile and shakes hands, remembers important dates in their customers lives, and shows up for those who helped make its success happen.
Charles has been a good manager of his team, part-time and full-time, a team that includes his son Henry, who, as a toddler, had the prestigious job of sweeping the shop’s floors.
Henry has always loved to help his dad at University Florist.
“I have become very good at sweeping. I hung out at the shop since I was a kid but there was never the expectation that I would go into the business. My father always encouraged me to follow my own path, to seize my dreams.”
But Henry’s dream turned out to be in the shop he grew up in.
After graduating from Chapel Hill High in 1995, Henry attended Appalachian State University, earning a degree in communications. “I have a passion for music and envisioned myself playing professionally,” says Henry. “While I was trying to figure it out, I hung around the shop and helped out in any way I could.
Henry went on to give the shop a significant presence on-line, in social media and digital strategies that are necessary in today’s economy.
“I surprised myself at how much I grew into a managerial role at the shop,” says Henry. “I took the creative skills I learned in college and applied them to today’s floral arrangements. I made some changes in the shop, but soon it became evident that walk-in visitors were no longer our key business driver. Our customers were on-line.”
Along with taking on this new role, Henry also met Molly Herboth, who would later become his wife. Today, they live in Chapel Hill with their two children.
Henry and Molly House with their children Hank and Catherine.
Says the now-retired Charles: “It gives me great pleasure and pride to see how well Henry has done with the business. It’s a different world today. And I enjoy watching it from a cruise ship, home, and the great places that retirement has taken me.”
Earlier this year, University Florist made the decision to sell their building downtown and move to 109 N. Roberson St., the house formerly owned by The Sun magazine, which has moved into a smaller house down the street. Recently they leveled the building to begin anew with a smart design for the future. The Sun Magazine, now located one building over, celebrated its 50th year of publishing last year and remains committed to publishing the magazine and helping their new neighbors get settled.
Sy Safransky started The Sun Magazine 50 years ago. The team looks forward to having University Florist as their neighbor. Photo of Sy by Rachel Elliot.
University Florist remains an important part of downtown: changing with the times, prepared for the future, saying a fond goodbye to the past. The earliest known flower arranging dates to ancient Egypt. Egyptians were decorating with flowers as early as 2,500 BCE. The business has evolved quite a bit since then, and University Florist has evolved with it. After all, to be in the flower business you have to keep it fresh.
Charles House and Henry House.
Laurie Paolicelli is executive director for the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, a position she has held since 2005. Laurie has worked in tourism and marketing for twenty-five years, having served in leadership roles in Houston and California convention and visitor bureaus. She is a native of the Twin Ports of Duluth, MN/Superior Wisconsin. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Communications from the University Wisconsin-Superior and graduate certification in Technology In Marketing from the UNC-Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media.
This reporter can be reached at Info@TheLocalReporter.press
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