eclectic jewelry to Christmas ornaments.
Owner Karen Handel has owned and operated the business for 20 years, starting first with a store in Radford and then expanding to Blacksburg in 1993. With the success from the current Tech Village Center location, Handel closed the shop in Radford to concentrate
on growing her business in Blacksburg.
“I got into the flower business immediately after graduation and began moving my way up,” Handel said.
A North Dakota State graduate, it was her horticulture degree that helped bring about her floral business. She worked for a florist there for 10 years, and it was her husband, a Virginia Tech professor, whose job brought her to Blacksburg.
Handel’s business card names her as a “Wedding Specialist and Floral Designer.” Best Wishes usually makes arrangements for over 100 weddings a year. While this makes up for a significant amount of business, the busiest day by far is Valentine’s Day. On top of traditional roses, the store also offers multiple gourmet
gift baskets and original arrangements.
From the beginning, Best Wishes has been both a flower and gift shop.
“I always knew it would be a good combination,” Handel said. She picks out everything in the store rather than relying on a buyer.
The shop has always been family-owned and operated, which allows Handel and her employees to give personal attention to each patron.
Acknowledging that many customers come in without knowing what they want, employees ask questions to get a better idea of what people are looking for.
“There’s no cookie-cutter answer to what someone should get,” Handel said. “We walk each person through the experience.”
However, Handel always offers a few infallible recommendations. For someone new to flower-buying wishing to impress a new interest, she has one recommendation: “Stay away from roses.”
Look instead for something more lively and non-committal, like a bright seasonal arrangement.
In another common scenario, rather than risk visiting a special friend who is quarantined because of the rampant swine flu, a polite flower arrangement might be a safer option.
“For someone who’s ill,” Handel said, “choose an arrangement with bright, primary colors.”
Senior and building construction major Ross Miles, head of alumni relations for Sigma Chi, recalls a time he especially depended on Best Wishes. When one of the chapter’s sweethearts passed away, Miles was in charge of ordering multiple white rose arrangements.
“I only had two days until I needed everything, and it was all taken care of,” Miles said. “We even
had a lady there pinning the boutonnieres.”
Best Wishes Flowers & Gifts is located at 210 Prices Fork Road and serves Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Radford.