[Photo: Joyce Bullard and Paula Oldham cut the ribbon Saturday on Oopsie Daisy Florist, with John Jordan of the Raeford City Council and Rick Sandy of the Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce. (Catharin Shepard photo)]

By Catharin Shepard • Editor • Joyce Bullard and Paula Oldham stood outside their new shop Saturday and carefully snipped the red ribbon, their smiles echoed by applause from supporters who gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Oopsie Daisy florist.

The florists at Oopsie Daisy have years of experience of working in flower shops, and the time was right to open their own.

“We decided to go out on our own and try it ourselves, so we just got started,” Oldham said. Her daughter and Bullard have a combined 20-plus years of experience in making silk and floral arrangements. Oopsie Daisy can accommodate just about any kind of customers’ floral needs.

“We do funeral work, we can do casket sprays, standing sprays, we do birthdays, we do anniversaries. Anything that goes into the floral gift side,” Oldham said. “We do custom pieces. If you have something you want, if you have a picture, we can usually duplicate it. We do a lot of custom work.”

The shop offers both live and silk arrangements, and has potted plants for sale. They’ll be getting more potted plants in for Mother’s Day gifts as the holiday approaches.

The business can also provide wedding arrangements and just about any other type of floral arrangement, Bullard said.

“We hope to stay in the community a really long time…any way we can serve and take care of people,” she said.

Rick Sandy offered words of welcome to the new business during the grand opening.

“On behalf of the Chamber I want to welcome this business. I hate to admit it but part of them I’ve known since they were babies,” he said. “I love doing business with people I know, and thank goodness there’s still some of that around in a town I love – Raeford. We still have some of that.”

“We wish you wealth and prosperity and good friendship,” Sandy said.

Raeford City Councilman John also greeted the new business owners on the special occasion.

“On behalf of the City Council I want to welcome you all. I’ve known Joyce and Paula forever. I appreciate that friendship and relationship and I know you’re going to do great,” he said. “If there’s ever anything we can do from the city’s standpoint, just let us know.”

Several members of the Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce attended the opening to support the new business.

Oopsie Daisy florist is located at 788 Harris Avenue. Right now the business is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call (910) 248-6017.