Business Is Blooming At Maher's Florist

By Rochelle Karina

It’s a family affair at Maher’s Florist. Winnie Maher opened the business in 1977 after working at her sister’s floral shop for many years. Winnie’s daughter Kim started working part time during college, and stuck around because she loved it so much. Winnie and Skip Maher grew up in Pine Grove Village and have lived in and around the area their entire lives. Kim, now Kim Wharton, has gone from just working in the shops to managing the entire business.

 “I think our customer service is what sets us apart,” explains Kim, continuing, “Winnie’s motto has always been to say we treat our customers the way we would like to be treated.”

In the shop, customers will find a wide range of floral arrangement choices, from simple bouquets to full-service arranging, as well as live plants and a variety of novelty gift items, lotions, potions and enough to make them a one-stop shop for gift giving.

The family stays involved in the local community, Skip is a past president of the PBA, Winnie is a past board member and Kim is currently chair for the PBA education committee. “We expect to continue growing,” says Kim. “To continue serving and being a part of the local community.”

“This area is important to me,” Kim continued, “because my parents grew up here and I am raising my children here. If I was going to put my business expertise to use anywhere, I would want it to be here.”

This family business truly is a family. When Kim’s daughter Nikki was born and Kim needed to come in to help out with the busy Christmas season, she brought the baby into the shop and she and Winnie took turns designing floral arrangements while bouncing the baby. That wasn’t the end of Nikki’s exposure to the floral business; at 18 months, she was named FTD’s youngest designer because Winnie sent the floral company a photo of the toddler sitting in her play pen in the midst of the design room. Nikki Kirby is now a 22-year-old student of cyber technology at UMBC and working at the Department of Defense.

“We treat our staff as family as well,” Winnie explained.

Designer Joanne Baker worked with Maher’s for a few years in the ‘80s, then took a break, returning to work in 2004. She has been with them ever since. “Joanne is a big part of our creative team,” said Kim.

Maher’s can be found online at www.mahersflorist.com, or call 410-255-6120. The shop is located at 8095 Edwin Raynor Boulevard in Pasadena.