ShawneeDispatch.com

A Rose for You has to come straight from the heart.

This is the motto of Al Dluhos, who says he puts his heart into everything he does at his floral shop in Shawnee, whether it's a bouquet or a donation to a local fund-raiser. In a way Dluhos sees his store, A Rose for You, 11007 Johnson Drive, as a way to contribute to and support the community.

Which is why, when looking for a location more than a year ago, Dluhos said he and his family decided on the downtown Shawnee location. Plans to revamp the downtown area, historical landmarks and a community feeling all were major factors in the decision.

"We chose Shawnee because it's small-town people," Dluhos said. "We believe in Shawnee and we think that it can thrive just as much as any big city."

The past year has proven that belief to be well founded, Dluhos said, adding that many customers have become repeat customers.

"Every day it's been growing in leaps and bounds, and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world," he said.

Dluhos is originally from New York City, where he began learning the flower business at 16 and then attended the Teleflora School of Design. His love for creating floral designs stayed with him after college, and he and his wife, Ceridwen, owned a floral shop in New York and then in Canada, where he learned about French floral design.

But when his father became ill, Dluhos and his family packed up and moved to the Midwest. For several years, Dhulos continued to manage other flower shops, and when his father died two years ago, Dluhos decided he would stay in the area and own his own shop again. In January 2004, he opened A Rose for You, where in addition to flowers he sells gifts, balloons and candy.

"This store is basically a tribute to him," Dluhos said. "It helps me deal with my dad's passing, because I put a little bit of myself into every piece."

The grief he dealt with after his father's death gave Dluhos a special appreciation for customers buying funerary flowers. He often works with his downtown neighbor, Amos Family Funeral Home, and he set up a special counter in the store just for those customers.

Now, as he gears up for Mother's Day, his busiest time of the year, Dluhos said he hopes to see his business grow even more by continuing to offer sensible prices, giving back to the community and staying away from what he calls "high-pressure sales tactics."

"I don't think I've ever lost one customer," Dluhos said, "and we gain more and more by word of mouth."

The store can be reached at 631-5292, and floral arrangements may be purchased online at www.aroseforyou.net.