HUMBOLDT — It’s with a heavy heart that Terry Butts is closing her home decor shop on Humboldt’s downtown square. BUTTS said the first inkling her business was on the wane began last Christmas. A SURVIVOR, Butts has high hopes her flower business will continue to thrive.
“Unfortunately, there’s not been enough consistent business to keep it going,” she said Wednesday morning.
The doors will close the end of September. Until then the inventory will be offered at increasing discounts.
Butts will continue operating her flower business, Terry’s Flowers, but from her home come October.
Terry’s Flowers and Home Decor occupies three buildings on the east side of the square.
“I hate to say I was the anchor store for downtown, but I’m afraid it’s true.
“It’s very disturbing to look out the store windows and see what’s happening to downtown Humboldt. And it’s not just Humboldt, it’s all small towns,” she said, noting the recent closures of Iola’s Classy Attic and Chanute’s Jody’s Attic.
“I tried. But I have to do what is best for me,” she said. “I don’t want to be saddled with debt. Now’s the time to liquidate when I have lots of inventory.”
“The hardest part was making the decision and going through with it,” she said. “It’ll be hard when they take my name down from the store front.”
Butts said she’s received tons of support for her decision, and received “lots of hugs.”
Terry’s has three part-time employees — “The ultimate, best employees of all time.” When she re-opens her flower shop this fall, “it’ll be just me.”
Southeast Kansas lacks the right clientele to make a gift and home decor business a success, Butts said.
“Older women are trying to get rid of things, clean house,” she said. “And the reality in these parts is younger women don’t have much disposable income.
“I’m not selling necessities. I sell pretty things that make you feel good,” she said. Terry’s carries jewelry, scarves, candles, lotions, notions and some furniture, especially lamps.
Terry, 62, has been in retail most of her life. She began on the Humboldt square with Dodie Copley’s Yesterday’s Treasures about 10 years ago. Four years ago Terry made the store hers while continuing to rent the two building spaces from Copely. Shortly after, she also began Terry’s Flowers in an adjacent space to the south which Copley renovated.
Butts began framing pictures a couple of years ago in conjunction with Joe and Janie Works who own the Works of Art studio next door. The framing business occupies a portion of her home decor store.
“I started seeing a difference,” she said.
Bad weather coupled with the closing out sale of Iola’s Classy Attic hurt her Christmas sales.
“I wish people could be on both sides of the counter to see how hard retail is,” she said.
“I’ve put so much into this store. The jewelry was my favorite. It’s amazing how much we sold.”
A retail business such as hers typically has five peak months: Valentine’s Day, graduations and Mother’s Day in May and October, November and December when people begin to “nest,” she said.
“People like the colors and decorations of fall. They lilke to burn candles that smell like apple pie.”
Strong sales typically continue through the Christmas season, she said, “but I’ve learned to never second-guess customers.”
The business will be in a building next to her and husband Chris’ home at 1361 Hawaii Rd., just off the exit to Humboldt on U.S. 169. Chris is retired from Monarch Cement.
Butts is a self-taught florist, crediting her expertise with color and fashion design.
As with retail, the floral business has changed.
“Funerals aren’t what they used to be,” she said, in part because more people are being cremated. “Funerals don’t generate as much income.”
Butts regards it as a privilege to provide the flowers for a funeral.
“I’m always very honored when someone asks me to do the flowers, especially when it’s someone I’ve known. Perhaps I’ll know they’re favorite color and coordinate the flowers with that.”
As for weddings, Butts has seven scheduled from May through September, “and even some booked into next year.”
Humboldt anchor cites lackluster sales for closing
