Heather Tharp and Michelle Marvin: Leo's Flowers
How did a woman pursuing an elementary education degree come to own her own floral shop? According to Heather Tharp, it was truly a matter of being at the right place at the right time.
After graduating high school in the spring of 1997, Tharp, a Peoria native, began looking for a temporary job for the summer. “I wasn’t looking for anything permanent, but something I thought would be fun,” Tharp said. “I called every flower shop in town looking for work, but everyone wanted someone with experience.”
When the delivery driver position opened at Leo’s Flowers, Tharp was determined to get the job. She called the owners, Laurie Weaver and SuAnne Krick, and came into the shop every day until she got the job. She loved the position, even though it wasn’t as easy as she’d expected.
Tharp returned to school in 1997 but continued to work at Leo’s part time. With Tharp’s growing interest in the shop, she took a class at ICC in floral design and then attended a three-week intensive program at the American Floral Art School in Chicago. She learned the basics, received her certificate in floral design, and began working at Leo’s full time soon thereafter.
In 1999, a bookkeeping position at Leo’s became available. “I had a pretty good understanding of the ins and outs of the books, so I took that responsibility on, as well as design,” Tharp said. “I took a few accounting classes at ICC at the same time.”
Through working at Leo’s, Tharp has cemented a number of relationships both personally and professionally. In 1999, she met Jake Tharp, a delivery person for Robby Wholesale. The two wed in 2001, with Leo’s serving as the wedding florist of course. They had their first son, Ivan, in 2004.
Leo’s hired a new floral designer, Michelle Marvin, in 1997. Marvin’s prior experience at Geier Florist in West Peoria and Floral Expressions in downtown Peoria served her well when she took on the responsibility of wedding specialist.
Over the years, Tharp and Marvin became close friends. “We joked that if we were ever to leave, we were a package deal, and one couldn’t go without the other,” Tharp said. “We talked casually from time to time about owning our own flower shop someday, what things we’d do, and how we’d run the business. It was really just sharing a mutual dream.”
The women made their dream come true in 2004, when owners Weaver and Krick decided to sell the 58-year-old business. They had a few interested buyers when Tharp made a life-changing suggestion. “I casually mentioned to Michelle one day, ‘Would you ever be interested in buying Leo’s?’ She said yes, to my surprise.”
Neither of the women had owned her own business before, but they felt confident their work at Leo’s was enough to help ensure success. “I don’t think any school could have taught us the valuable things we’ve learned by working at Leo’s over the last nine years,” Tharp said.
She and Marvin purchased Leo’s Flowers on October 1, 2004. Since then, they’ve found a balance by creating their own unique division of labor. While both women handle aspects such as design and customer service, Tharp handles many of the business aspects such as payroll, accounts payable, and advertising, with Marvin dealing more with the creative side of the business, including the front displays of the store and much of the ordering. Marvin also handles all of the weddings and consultations.
After purchasing the business, one of their main priorities was keeping the Leo’s customer base by continuing the traditions and maintaining the atmosphere customers had been used to for so many years. They kept the same staff and designers, and also kept the $19.95 rose special the shop has offered for more than 25 years. “We didn’t want our customers to think this new ownership was going to change everything they know,” Tharp said. “We’ve kept many things the same: we buy from the same wholesalers and growers, so the customer is getting the same quality Leo Walsh instilled.”
One of the few changes has been made to the business is the location. After being at the current location on Knoxville Avenue for 53 years, Leo’s moved to the Metro Centre in July. Tharp and Martin hope this new location is more customer-friendly, with its ample parking and more convenient location.
Many people are familiar with Leo’s wide selection of fresh flowers and plants from around the world and their daily delivery services to Peoria and the surrounding area, including East Peoria, Morton, Washington, Bartonville, and Germantown Hills. What may not be as well known is Leo’s extensive line of gift items such as soaps, lotions, and personal products. They also make gourmet food baskets that can be stocked with chocolates, nuts, cookies, tea, coffee, and fresh fruit. With the move to the Metro Centre, the women are excited to have the farmers’ market nearby so they can make use of its large selection of fresh fruit for their gift baskets.
While both of the women love what they do, they said the flower business isn’t all play. “The flower business is much more complex than many people give it credit for,” Tharp said. “Many people say ‘Oh, you own a flower shop. That must be so fun!’—but it’s just like any other business. We deal with perishable items that must be taken care of carefully. Ordering is a very delicate business. You have to have enough stock on hand to choose from, but yet, if you order too many things and don’t sell them, they’ll go to waste, and your profits are flushed down the toilet.”
Even with their success in and love for their flower shop, Tharp and Marvin have experienced some personal heartache while running the business. Shortly after purchasing Leo’s, Tharp’s son was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. He had open-heart surgery in December 2004 to correct it, with subsequent surgeries in both 2005 and 2006.
Through the difficult times, Tharp had a lot of support from her partner and staff. “I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t have such a wonderful business partner,” she said. “She was truly a shining star during all of this. She operated the daily business while I was out taking care of my son, and she kept me updated on everything going on at the shop. Knowing you have a great business partner and staff really elevates any stress or anxiety one would have during a time like that.”
Tharp also has a great amount of support from her family while running her business. She works four days a week so she has time to spend with her son; her mother, mother-in-law, and husband divide child care duties when she isn’t available. “Without all of our family’s help, I don’t know if owning a business would be possible,” Tharp said. “At least, not without pulling my hair out.”
Around the same time of Ivan’s last surgery, Marvin’s father passed away after battling a brain tumor for many years. The two looked to each other for comfort. “It was one of the hardest times in our lives; we both relied on one another for support,” Tharp said. “We cried many times together, but I think it’s given us a renewed sense of being. It’s made us look at the bigger picture and move on.”
Moving on is definitely what the women have been doing in their move to the Metro Centre, and they look forward to many more years of business at Leo’s. “I don’t know what the future holds for Michelle and me at Leo’s Flowers,” Tharp said, “but five years ago, I certainly didn’t think I’d be where I am today.” tpw
After graduating high school in the spring of 1997, Tharp, a Peoria native, began looking for a temporary job for the summer. “I wasn’t looking for anything permanent, but something I thought would be fun,” Tharp said. “I called every flower shop in town looking for work, but everyone wanted someone with experience.”
When the delivery driver position opened at Leo’s Flowers, Tharp was determined to get the job. She called the owners, Laurie Weaver and SuAnne Krick, and came into the shop every day until she got the job. She loved the position, even though it wasn’t as easy as she’d expected.
Tharp returned to school in 1997 but continued to work at Leo’s part time. With Tharp’s growing interest in the shop, she took a class at ICC in floral design and then attended a three-week intensive program at the American Floral Art School in Chicago. She learned the basics, received her certificate in floral design, and began working at Leo’s full time soon thereafter.
In 1999, a bookkeeping position at Leo’s became available. “I had a pretty good understanding of the ins and outs of the books, so I took that responsibility on, as well as design,” Tharp said. “I took a few accounting classes at ICC at the same time.”
Through working at Leo’s, Tharp has cemented a number of relationships both personally and professionally. In 1999, she met Jake Tharp, a delivery person for Robby Wholesale. The two wed in 2001, with Leo’s serving as the wedding florist of course. They had their first son, Ivan, in 2004.
Leo’s hired a new floral designer, Michelle Marvin, in 1997. Marvin’s prior experience at Geier Florist in West Peoria and Floral Expressions in downtown Peoria served her well when she took on the responsibility of wedding specialist.
Over the years, Tharp and Marvin became close friends. “We joked that if we were ever to leave, we were a package deal, and one couldn’t go without the other,” Tharp said. “We talked casually from time to time about owning our own flower shop someday, what things we’d do, and how we’d run the business. It was really just sharing a mutual dream.”
The women made their dream come true in 2004, when owners Weaver and Krick decided to sell the 58-year-old business. They had a few interested buyers when Tharp made a life-changing suggestion. “I casually mentioned to Michelle one day, ‘Would you ever be interested in buying Leo’s?’ She said yes, to my surprise.”
Neither of the women had owned her own business before, but they felt confident their work at Leo’s was enough to help ensure success. “I don’t think any school could have taught us the valuable things we’ve learned by working at Leo’s over the last nine years,” Tharp said.
She and Marvin purchased Leo’s Flowers on October 1, 2004. Since then, they’ve found a balance by creating their own unique division of labor. While both women handle aspects such as design and customer service, Tharp handles many of the business aspects such as payroll, accounts payable, and advertising, with Marvin dealing more with the creative side of the business, including the front displays of the store and much of the ordering. Marvin also handles all of the weddings and consultations.
After purchasing the business, one of their main priorities was keeping the Leo’s customer base by continuing the traditions and maintaining the atmosphere customers had been used to for so many years. They kept the same staff and designers, and also kept the $19.95 rose special the shop has offered for more than 25 years. “We didn’t want our customers to think this new ownership was going to change everything they know,” Tharp said. “We’ve kept many things the same: we buy from the same wholesalers and growers, so the customer is getting the same quality Leo Walsh instilled.”
One of the few changes has been made to the business is the location. After being at the current location on Knoxville Avenue for 53 years, Leo’s moved to the Metro Centre in July. Tharp and Martin hope this new location is more customer-friendly, with its ample parking and more convenient location.
Many people are familiar with Leo’s wide selection of fresh flowers and plants from around the world and their daily delivery services to Peoria and the surrounding area, including East Peoria, Morton, Washington, Bartonville, and Germantown Hills. What may not be as well known is Leo’s extensive line of gift items such as soaps, lotions, and personal products. They also make gourmet food baskets that can be stocked with chocolates, nuts, cookies, tea, coffee, and fresh fruit. With the move to the Metro Centre, the women are excited to have the farmers’ market nearby so they can make use of its large selection of fresh fruit for their gift baskets.
While both of the women love what they do, they said the flower business isn’t all play. “The flower business is much more complex than many people give it credit for,” Tharp said. “Many people say ‘Oh, you own a flower shop. That must be so fun!’—but it’s just like any other business. We deal with perishable items that must be taken care of carefully. Ordering is a very delicate business. You have to have enough stock on hand to choose from, but yet, if you order too many things and don’t sell them, they’ll go to waste, and your profits are flushed down the toilet.”
Even with their success in and love for their flower shop, Tharp and Marvin have experienced some personal heartache while running the business. Shortly after purchasing Leo’s, Tharp’s son was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. He had open-heart surgery in December 2004 to correct it, with subsequent surgeries in both 2005 and 2006.
Through the difficult times, Tharp had a lot of support from her partner and staff. “I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t have such a wonderful business partner,” she said. “She was truly a shining star during all of this. She operated the daily business while I was out taking care of my son, and she kept me updated on everything going on at the shop. Knowing you have a great business partner and staff really elevates any stress or anxiety one would have during a time like that.”
Tharp also has a great amount of support from her family while running her business. She works four days a week so she has time to spend with her son; her mother, mother-in-law, and husband divide child care duties when she isn’t available. “Without all of our family’s help, I don’t know if owning a business would be possible,” Tharp said. “At least, not without pulling my hair out.”
Around the same time of Ivan’s last surgery, Marvin’s father passed away after battling a brain tumor for many years. The two looked to each other for comfort. “It was one of the hardest times in our lives; we both relied on one another for support,” Tharp said. “We cried many times together, but I think it’s given us a renewed sense of being. It’s made us look at the bigger picture and move on.”
Moving on is definitely what the women have been doing in their move to the Metro Centre, and they look forward to many more years of business at Leo’s. “I don’t know what the future holds for Michelle and me at Leo’s Flowers,” Tharp said, “but five years ago, I certainly didn’t think I’d be where I am today.” tpw