One word that resonated throughout a recent conversation with Deer Run Florist owner Kim Hodges Hersh was “family.” The florist recently celebrated its 25thanniversary, and Hersh credits much of its success to the bonds of family – her parents, the community, Deer Run’s customers and employees, and last but not least, the family of God.
“The 25 years did go by fast,” Hersh commented during a brief pause while she gathered her thoughts on the florist’s history. “Our motto right now is ‘grateful and blessed to be your hometown florist for 25 years.’”
The blessing comes from helping people celebrate the highs and lows of their lives while making the celebration personal and beautiful to them, she explained.
“From birth to death, we are truly honored to help them at these important times in their lives,” Hersh said. “It’s amazing who God sends through that door – widows and widowers, whether old or young, new parents, birthdays, illnesses, anniversaries, brides – they are like an extended family. We’re the Deer Run family for a purpose because we’re their family. We’re a florist, but also we’re a ministry to this community.”
Hersh’s parents, Ken and Louise Hodges, lived in Griffin for many years and operated a florist there. Her father had a degree from the University of Georgia in architecture and design, and her mom was a schoolteacher. In 1997, they retired and moved back to their hometown of Eatonton to help care for family. They immediately saw a need for a florist and started Deer Run.
“My dad was a cool guy; everybody called them ‘Mr. Ken’ and ‘Miss Louise,’” she said. “Customers truly loved my dad. They still come in now and say they loved him. They could always see the love that mama and daddy shared,” she added.
Her father cared for her mother, who suffered Alzheimer’s for years, while he continued working Deer Run’s floral business. Hersh describes Mr. Ken’s floral arrangements as “phenomenal.” She said he had “an eye” for making them unique and beautiful, most likely from his training as an architect. At that time, the florist was operated at the Deer Run Farm property on State Route 16. It later moved to Harmony Crossing, and then as they outgrew that space, moved to the current Old Phoenix Road location.
Hersh’s mother died about eight years ago, and her father died a couple of years later. Sometime earlier, Hersh became director of operations. She was quick to note that she didn’t “just step into that role” because she was family, but she did a lot of work, including scrubbing floors and toilets, to learn the many aspects and responsibilities of the business.
Hersh grew up in the family’s floral business in Griffin, she went to school in England and also got her degree at the Benz School of Floral Design at Texas A&M University. But like her mother, Hersh taught school for 20 years in Spalding County before she retired and moved to her parents’ hometown to help them.
“I am truly grateful to God for allowing us to be here,” she noted.
Hersh said her parents may have started the business by themselves, but the employees are a big part of Deer Run’s success. She and the employees all support one another and fill in when they have other personal obligations, she said.
“We try to put God first here, families next, and then everything else will just work out in the job,” she explained.
A total of 10 people work at Deer Run Florist, but that number fluctuates during holidays that are high-demand occasions for flowers such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Christmas and they bring in temporary helpers. Hersh proudly told of a deliverer who had been with them for more than 20 years and a designer who’d been there nine years.
“Our team is dedicated to the exceptional quality that makes up Deer Run,” she said. “Our customers say our flowers last so long and that’s because we use best practices and have contacts with both international and local farms to source flowers and products. Customer satisfaction is important to us. Our goal is to meet and exceed expectations.”
In addition to individual flower arrangements, Deer Run also serves big events such as corporate events and dinners, weddings, and large parties. Hersh said they work closely with customers to ensure the flowers truly represent each customer and their event.
In recent years, the florist expanded its offerings to include a variety of gift items and a gourmet food selection.
“If we have our name on it, that means we have tasted it and we love it,” Hersh said. “We wouldn’t sell it if we didn’t love it. Out store continues to evolve to better serve our customers.”
Another recently added program is the Petal Points Rewards program in which customers’ purchases earn them points for store credit or free arrangements. Lara Plocha, who designed the program, emphasized that Petal Points Rewards is a private program, and all of the customers’ information stays at Deer Run and is never sold or provided to anyone else.
“We are truly a customer-first business,” she said.
Now that June’s month-long 25th Anniversary celebration is behind them, Hersh and Plocha said they are focused on continuing to exceed their customers’ expectations while increasing Deer Run’s Georgia-made, Georgia-grown products and getting ready for Christmas.
Deer Run Florist is located at 646 Old Phoenix Road, Suite G, Eatonton; the phone number is 706-484-0999, and website www.deerrunflorist.com.
Scan this QR code to see a “how-to” video from a 2021 issue of Lakelife of a Deer Run flower arrangement being created.