Century later, flower biz is still blooming

After 100 years in business, everything’s still coming up roses for Hatcher Florist.

The company celebrated its centennial anniversary in late 2009 with brothers Bob and Doug Hatcher at the helm.

“The secret of our success is customer service,” Bob says. “We pay attention to detail.”

The flower shop gets its goods through a company that imports plants from eco-conscious South American growers using environmentally friendly materials and recycling everything they can.

“About 90 percent of our flowers are eco-certified,” says Bob. “The other 10 percent we buy locally.”

That kind of investment in the community is part of the company philosophy.

Bob says that customers are treated like old friends while antique furnishings and photographs remind patrons of the rich history the Willowdale store is known for.

George Henry Hatcher founded Hatcher Florist in 1909, shortly after emigrating from England.

The original shop was located at Avenue Road and Dupont Street and eventually the family opened another midtown location before moving to North York in the 1950s.

The stores amalgamated in 1978 and the Hatchers have remained in North York ever since, passing the store down through the generations to family members including Bob and Doug’s parents.

Bob hopes the shop’s website and an environmentally friendly attitude will keep the business going well into the future.

But at the end of the day, the focus is still on the flowers.

“You know what they say,” Bob says. “You’re only as good as your last arrangement.”