New Location, Same Heart

It is both exciting and bittersweet to announce that Lafayette Florist has relocated. Lafayette Florist has been in the same location with the same family for 75 years, making this decision for the business difficult yet an opportunity to look forward to the future and to continue to evolve.

Come see us at our new location at 3335 Arapahoe Rd #30 Erie, CO 80516.

We will be florist-focused with the same inviting atmosphere: a fresh flower walk-in cooler, open design area, flower delivery service, and gift shop. If you're a Lafayette Florist plant fanatic, we will still carry popular and easy-care bloomers, green plants, and succulents. We will be discontinuing our outdoor bedding plant area and primarily focusing on having a selection of the healthiest house plants available. 

Lafayette Florist is committed to giving our customers an “emotional experience”. The heart of our business has always been to offer the value of flowers to enhance everyday life and be a part of every celebration. Each milestone is recognized with flowers as the exclamation point. From welcoming a new baby to a final good-bye and celebration of life. A teen's first flower experience with prom and later in life at her wedding. Life is for acknowledging special events. Birthdays, anniversaries, and work achievements are complimented with flowers. Wishing someone well and letting them know you are thinking of them is done with flowers. One of the most surprising ways to send flowers is "just because..."

Visit us for self-care. Our fresh flower cooler is the perfect opportunity to make your own bouquet by selecting stems from a huge variety of individual cut flowers or pick up a premade bunch. According to behavioral research conducted at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, the presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, heightens feelings of life satisfaction, and affects social behavior in a positive manner.

Our History

It's hard to imagine that a small business can survive for over 70 years in the same location, with the same family. Lafayette Florist, Gift Shop and Garden Center has done just that. The passion of this family has been passed down for four generations. In 1949, Yasutaro and Kumiko "Kate" Yoshihara came to Lafayette after being released from a Japanese Relocation Camp in Southern Colorado. Saving money for years, they were able to purchase a two-acre lot in the heart of Lafayette. They set up a small fruit and vegetable stand, and farmed the land.

A decade later, the Yoshihara's oldest son Gene and his wife, Evelyn built a brick floral shop. Skip to the 70's and Gene built a large greenhouse facility where he grew and shipped Colorado branded carnations across the country.

The 80's saw a new generation come onto the scene as son-in-law Brian Wheat, AAF, PFCI took over the helm. Brian turned the carnation greenhouses into a garden center.

Today, you see a modern building and large greenhouses. The family continues to invest in the community that has supported them for decades. There are four family members including a 4th generation grandson, Tanner Wheat managing the Garden Center. Owners Brian J. Wheat, AAF, PFCI is the Chief Executive Officer and leads the company, Sandi Yoshihara-Sniff, AIFD, AAF, CPF runs the florist and the wedding and events segment and Lori Wheat, AAF heads financial operations, marketing and merchandising. All four are active in the floral industry and the community, and employ 30 local citizens. 

The family relies on a strong team of managers, including:  

Check Out Tanner Wheat’s Story

See the full article: https://voyagedenver.com/interview/check-out-tanner-wheats-story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanner Wheat.

Hi Tanner, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Lafayette Florist was established in 1949, I represent the 4th generation of this family business. I grew up working in the florist from a very early age, and in the local bike shop at the age of 14. I would go to high school, and as soon as i was done id either go to the florist or the local BMX shop, This continues throughout college as well. Worked/managed for some of the elite bike shops in boulder and have certifications in Bike Fitting, but when i was 26 I fully committed to the family floral business. Two years ago the family sold the massive property in Lafayette which specialized in bedding plants and nursery stock, and we down sized to a far more streamlined business focusing on our passion of floral design, gifts, and houseplants.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When we had the greenhouse and garden center property our largest hurdles were weather related. Its truly the type of business where you are at the mercy of the weather especially with the spring snow storms. Droughts and economy also affected sales with outdoor plants. The pandemic was a hurdle for everyone in retail including us.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I oversee day to day operations for the business, buying, merchandising, and just a handful of office work. My background with horticulture paired with my passion for retail makes my green plant job fun and i get to be creative daily. Getting to work with family is wonderful, we all share a common vision and can really rely on each other for support. I do have a political advocacy position within the floral industry. The Society of American florists is the voice for many of the retail, wholesale, and flower growers in our country and getting to represent Colorado floriculture while out in DC is something i am very proud of. My retired racing greyhound “Turbo” comes to work with me daily, customers know and love him. In a world where flowers can be purchased at grocery stores and chains, we specialize in artistry/quality/service. We dont have assembly lines, we have certified and trained floral artists. Our flowers are sourced responsibly from the best crops and most trusted growers. Flowers are our passion, we take no short cuts.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Networking is one of my strong suits. Don’t be afraid to talk with other business leaders in your community and never be above listening to advice. Organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and Society of American florists give us a community to exchange information and make connections. I was on the board of directors for the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce when i came into the business and it brought a lot of clarity that all of us have similar victories and struggles. I love hearing peoples stories. I read a quote when i was younger about how we have two ears and one mouth, we should always be listening twice as much as we talk and this advice has personally served me well in business and life.