Stores consolidate to save

For years, it’s been common to see a grocery store and discount retailer put together or a gas station and fast food restaurant in one. But some Odessa businesses are bringing "one stop shopping" to flowers and other more tender items.

Mary Norris, owner of the Petal Pusher, 1121 W. University Blvd., started renting out five-by-six segments of her store to people looking to sell their goods, ranging from Fredericksburg jellies to baby clothes to Watkins liniment and black pepper.

While local industry tries to diversify to keep from being stung too badly when oil and gas prices struggle, Norris said the same approach can be used with her flower and gift shop.

"They keep taking the property taxes up and up and up, and you’ve got to keep the sales up just to keep up with taxes," Norris said.

Norris said she wants to rent out 14 spaces in her store and so far she’s found takers for about half that. She charges between $95 and $125 a month to rent each space. And vendors get to keep 100 percent of what they sell.

Norris said she wants to sell her business, but the slumping economy means that it’s tough for potential buyers to get credit from banks, so she’ll have to hold onto it for a while. So she decided that the best way to increase income was to bring more people in.

"People aren’t locked into a yearlong contract, and if they see they’re not going to do well, they can give 30 days notice that they’re leaving," she said.

Norris is looking for more people to sell products in her store, particularly for items like pottery or antiques. But she wants to have only one vendor selling each item, so she’s told three people looking to sell hair bows and tutus for little girls that the first to sign a two-month contract would be the only one that could sell out of Petal Pusher.

And vendors looking to sell used items need not apply.

"If they bring junk in like a flea market, we’re not going to do that," she said.

Norris’ daughter, Shelley Cunningham, said it’s important to mix affordable and high-end gifts at the store. And vendors can take advantage of the variety the store offers.

"The more different things you’re going to have, the more traffic you’re going to have," she said.

For years, the store has offered some unusual choices. About eight years ago, the floral and gift shop added several tanning beds, so Norris hopes the additional items that have created a retail and craft mall will add to that.

Wilma Turner, owner of This & That, which sells handmade items like baby clothes and kitchen accessories, said she used to own her own store in West Odessa, but renting a space in Norris’s store now makes sense.

"It’s a place to rent a booth instead of having a place of your own," she said. "We just wanted to put it in and see if we could sell it."

Jacque Sullivan of Odessa said she brought moved her business, J. Rachelle, from a beauty salon to Petal Pusher because it meant less overhead and seemed like a better business opportunity.

"We’ve done great," said Sullivan, who sells purses, jewelry and clothing. "And we hope to do even better as the fall comes along and the Christmas season begins."

Glenda Hudson of Odessa said she’s been shopping at Petal Pusher for 10 to 12 years for items including fresh plants and potpourri. She has enjoyed the additional items available since the new booths were added.

"There’s so many things to look at, and now she’s got even more," she said. "I love it, she’s got such a substantial variety of different things."

Hudson buys a number of things at Petal Pusher to be used at the First Lady Tea, an event put on by her sorority, Beta Sigma Phi. She plans to attend an open house Petal Pusher is having Nov. 14.

"I think she’s really going to bring in a lot of different people with the big variety she has," Hudson said.

Turner is hopeful that a business in the western part of Odessa can be successful. But Norris will need to find a way to get people to come in.

"It isn’t a real good location," Turner said. "It seems like if you’re not on the east side, nobody knows about you."

Others, meanwhile, are leaving the west side and bringing businesses together in the northeastern part of the city.

Vickie and Ellis Thurman recently purchased The Lily Pad flower and gift shop, 2119 E. 42nd St., along with Herriage Designs on Kermit Highway. In September, they closed Herriage Designs and moved OnaViRe’s Chocolate Fountain, which they already owned on Kermit Highway, and made it part of the Lily Pad.

The new Lily Pad is located next door to University Bridal and The Cake Box, so Vickie Thurman is looking for a place to meet many bridal needs.

"If they want a chocolate fountain instead of a groom’s cake, they can use that," she said. "They can get their bouquets. We’re trying to blend it all together."

Thurman said her business was slow the first month, but is now improving.

"The economy has kind of hurt us a little, but I think it’s picking up," she said. "People are starting to spend a little."

Petal Pusher

>> Location: 1121 W. University Blvd.

>> Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday.

>> Call: 334-8811.

The Lily Pad

>> Location: 2119 E. 42nd St.

>> Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

>> Call: 362-2343.