They’ve got it all, from B to Z

Need a bouquet? Looking for a special gift for a special event? Behrz Bloomz is a shop for all occasions

BY MELISSA RUBALCABA RISKE FOR SAUK VALLEY MEDIA

From creating floral arrangements to brightening someone’s day to helping a customer find the perfect gift for a friend, every day is beautiful for Stephanie Dusing, owner of Behrz Bloomz.

“I love what I do,” Stephanie said.

Behrz Bloomz is a full-service flower shop that also offers a wide selection of items that make perfect gifts, including candles, wreaths and lanterns, foaming hand soaps and home décor. On the way to a friend’s for dinner? Make a quick stop at Behrz Bloomz for a small gift and the staff can even gift wrap for you.

Even with so much to pick from, the blooms at Bloomz have the spotlight. People love to buy flowers for any occasion — gifts for spouses, birthdays and anniversaries, centerpieces to celebrate a holiday, or just because. And with online shopping, that means someone in Texas can order flowers at 11 p.m. for their mother in Sterling and have it on her doorstep in time for a birthday or Mother’s Day, Stephanie said.

2503 N. Locust, Sterling 815-625-5116

Online: behrzbloomz.com and on Facebook

Her love of flowers started back in high school when she joined her mom in the small greenhouse her dad built in their backyard. By the time she completed her floral cultural class in high school, she was hooked. She loved working with flowers, picking and placing each one in just the right place in her arrangements, using nature’s rich palette of colors to paint a picture worth a thousand words.

She followed up with more classes at the Whiteside Area Career Center and a year-long intensive floral design class in Iowa.

Her classes and internships, and time spent working with local flower shops, helped her build her skills and understanding of the business. When she was given the opportunity to start her Sterling flower shop in 2016, she knew the time was right.

She loves the creativity of creating floral pieces, working with colors and varying stem lengths, helping bring her ideas to life. Weddings and special events are always tremendous work, Stephanie said, and fun. Whether the bride has a specific idea in mind or is seeking guidance, Stephanie and her team enjoy making each event unique and special.

Spring is a busy season, too, with Easter, Mother’s Day and proms filling their time, and vases.

For prom-goers, she advises stopping in early with their prom dress to help build a corsage that will accent the person’s dress and style. Stephanie said it’s important to see the dress to match the correct shades.

Stephanie attended one of the largest floral trade shows earlier this year, checking out trends and new items to bring back to the Sauk Valley. One of the trends that continues to grow is unique gifts to help families celebrate the memories of their loved ones. Going beyond the traditional floral arrangements, clients are selecting wind chimes, light boxes, steppingstones and small lanterns with thoughtful sayings to console someone during their time of loss and give them a beautiful way to remember someone.

Stephanie also recently hired her daughter Miranda to join her at the shop, adding another creative and talented addition to the staff. Stephanie said it is with the incredible support of her family and friends that she’s been able to see her business bloom.

Work keeps her pretty busy in the shop, but when a customer stops in to just say “Thanks!” or to let her know how a floral arrangement brightened their day, Stephanie can’t help but smile at how a few blossoms can truly make someone happy.

“That’s what really makes my day,” Stephanie said.