Among the Marketplace vendors at the fourth Westchester Women’s Summit, held March 15 in Sonesta Downtown White Plains, was Joseph Richard Florals, ensconced in a room that was a profusion of blooms and blossoming branches.
But the true measure of this Armonk business revealed itself at the summit’s end as the florist’s staffers made sure that everyone who wanted a bouquet got one, to the very last person on the line – me.
It was an extraordinary gesture, made all the sweeter by the freshness and staying power of the violet-colored and green botanicals. Recently, co-owner Joseph Pugni Jr. – a monument artisan as well whose family also owns Grayrock Memorials and Cemetery Services in Valhalla — took time to talk with us about the floral business and trends in that evergreen industry. (According to Metrobi, “From $49.8 billion in 2022, the global floriculture market is estimated to grow to $106.1 billion by 2033, fueled by the increasing popularity of flowers as gifts and advancements in commercial floriculture.”)
Tell us a bit about Joseph Richard Florals.
“It’s a full-service florist, operated by myself and my sister, Christine Madonia, which accommodates arrangements for all occasions. This includes, but is not limited to, weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, bridal showers, birthday parties and even everyday floral deliveries to your home.
“Joseph Richard Florals has been in business since 2012 and continues to grow more and more each year. In our 12 years of experience, we have become a preferred vendor at the following local country clubs – Indian Harbor Yacht Club and The Stanwich Club, both in Greenwich; and Whippoorwill Club in Armonk. In addition to the country clubs we service, we have an A list of celebrity clients we assist. We also have corporate accounts as well that we deliver flowers to on a weekly basis, like Tourneau Bucherer at The Westchester and Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla.
“Joseph Richard Florals, approximately 1,500 square feet, is located at 418 Main St. We have between six and eight employees on staff, depending on events.”
What trends are you seeing now?
“Bold and bright florals are in right now. Couples are opting for bright blooms for their special day as opposed to a traditional white palette.
“Our most popular arrangement is the cylinder. This compact arrangement gives a timeless feel to the design. Most of our clients will call and ask for a compact arrangement and let the designer choose what florals to use. And those are, of course, our favorite.
“Our plant best seller currently is our custom-designed orchid plant. We put together beautiful orchids in a unique container perfect for any occasion.
Were you always fascinated by florals?
“I went to college (State University of New York at Farmingdale) for horticulture and majored in landscape design. When I graduated, I became an employee for my family’s construction business. Shortly after, an opportunity came up to acquire a floral/memorial business in Valhalla, which combines my background in horticulture and construction. In the years following, I realized how the floral business and memorial business worked hand in hand and complemented each other. Grayrock Memorials and Cemetery Services has now been in business for more than 30 years.
“We are located at the upper entrances to both Gate of Heaven Cemetery and Kensico Cemetery. Our cemetery monument division also provides services for the other cemeteries in the metro area, including Kensico’s Sharon Gardens, Mount Calvary Cemetery, Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Mount Eden Cemetery, Mount Hope Cemetery and White Plains Rural Cemetery.
“I decided to open Joseph Richard Florals…to expand into the event business.”
What’s next for your floral business?
“We are currently looking to expand our business further and possibly find a warehouse soon to continue our growing event business.”
For more, visit https://jrfshop.com/.
