SEELEY LAKE - After working in day care and preschool for 30 years, Margaret Clark was ready for a career change. Her love of bright colors and artistic ability blossomed after becoming a certified florist in December 2020. In partnership with Good Times Gifts Owner Dena Turner, Clark opened Good Times Floral within Good Times Gifts to serve the community with quality floral arrangements at an affordable price.
Clark never considered herself an artist.
"All through high school I would dread going to art class," Clark said. "But I found myself liking to work with bright colors."
During her teaching career, Clark did art with the children, made bulletin boards and painted large windows for one of the centers. She got comfortable using a ruler for measurement and mixing colors.
In 2020, Clark was ready for a change.
"I always liked flowers and my husband offered to find me classes," Clark said.
Clark completed an intensive six-week floral design course taught by Lisa Belisle AIFD, CFD, CF, floral educator with Flora Elements in Wisconsin. Clark learned basic design and arrangements for weddings and funerals. Since the course was during COVID, the majority of her training was one-on-one.
"There were times Lisa and I would work into the night making designs," Clark said.
Clark received her Floral Design Certificate in December 2020, the same month she and her husband moved to Seeley Lake.
In January 2021, Clark started working at a local floral shop.
"I learned even more while I was working there," Clark said. "I found in the summer of 2022 it was time to move on."
In the summer of 2022, Clark became the manager of Good Times Gifts, located in the Filling Station Mall, 3189 Highway 83. While she loved her new job, "I found myself missing making flower arrangements."
In the more than 40 years Good Times Gifts has been open, Turner said they have never offered flowers.
"I think gifts and flowers go really well together I've just never had a certified florist," Turner said. "When Margaret said she didn't want that certificate to go to waste, I'm was like, why don't we just put a refrigerator in here and we will set you up with something."
Turner and Clark became business partners and opened Good Times Floral at the end of October 2022 within Good Times. It was officially announced at Good Times' Ladies Night Out in November.
"This is our own thing, this is our own idea and hopefully we can both make some money [by complimenting each other]," Turner said.
So far, shipping and weather have been the biggest challenge. However when her order was late, Clark was able to work with an area floral shop for help.
"I feel that networking with other floral shops and businesses will help with the growth of Good Times Floral," Clark said.
Good Times Floral offers custom designs, made to order and pre-made flower arrangements as well as helium latex and Mylar balloons. They also offer discount flowers to help move inventory without sacrificing quality. In addition to single orders, Clark is available for special events, funerals and weddings.
"She does such beautiful work," Turner said. "I'm happy that we've got her."
Walk-ins are welcome seven days at week from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the winter (10 a.m. - 6 p.m. in the summer). To pre-order call Good Times at 406-677-2140, after hours call Clark directly 406-544-8235 or email sales@goodtimesgifts.com. Good Times Floral delivers north to Condon and south to Ovando for a fee.
For more information and specials follow Good Times Gifts & Video LLC on Facebook and visit GoodTimesGifts.com.
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