Tom Donohue, president and CEO of the United States Chamber of Commerce, with Lisa Pritchett and her daughter, Taylor. Pritchett’s shop, Lilium Floral Design was recognized with a “Dream Big Blue Ribbon Small Business Award” last week in Washington, D.C.
Which U.S. companies are fueling America’s growth? According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, it’s not just tech companies or fancy investment firms — it’s also plenty of brick-and-mortar small businesses, including at least one florist.
In fact, a flower shop in Colleyville, Texas, was among 100 U.S. companies recently honored by the Chamber for “contributions to America’s growth and vitality.”
Lilium Floral Design was recognized with a “Dream Big Blue Ribbon Small Business Award” last week at the 12th annual America’s Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes excellence in strategic planning, employee development, customer service and community involvement.
Lisa Pritchett, the owner of Lilium, traveled to D.C. with her daughter and lead designer, Taylor. During the event, the pair heard from a number of experts and lawmakers on issues such as cyber security and new overtime laws. (In addition to being the setting for the awards presentation, the Summit is a chance for Chamber members to connect with Beltway insiders, including members of Congress.)
The “Dream Big Blue Ribbon Small Business Award” recognizes excellence in strategic planning, employee development, customer service and community involvement.
“It was great to be informed and to really hear what’s going on,” Pritchett said.
As for the award itself — Pritchett said it very nearly didn’t come to pass.
In early January, a U.S. Chamber representative happened to stop by the store on a relatively slow Friday afternoon. Pritchett wasn’t a member of the Chamber, and she wasn’t interested in becoming one. Nonetheless, the rep walked Pritchett through a presentation on the Chamber and its resources and he asked good questions about her business, with obvious admiration for the smooth operation.
“He said, ‘I’ve never seen a flower shop like this,’” said Pritchett. “And I said, ‘Well, good!’”
Within a few weeks, Pritchett had become a Chamber member and the rep had nominated her for the honor. The rest is award history, but also the start of a longer story.
The civic engagement offered at the Summit was a “real eye-opener,” Pritchett said. Now, she’s ready for more.
“As a business owner I don’t have much disposable time,” she said. “But this trip has shown me that I have to make time . If I’m running my business, but I’m clueless about the broader context, then everything I do is all for naught.”
The Society of American Florists has its own grassroots lobbying event every spring in Washington. Find out more about SAF’s Congressional Action Days at safnow.org.