Hands On BY JENNIFER SPERRY, SARAH SAMPSON AND AMANDA JEDLINSKY SNAPSHOT Artful Additions


> Lyal Nickals Florist in Castro Valley, California, has always had an eclectic mix of offerings. The 92-year-old shop once sold furniture and chandeliers and even maintained an entire room devoted to crystal. When current owner Elise Gaylord


assumed the reins, she maintained a steady flow of conventional giftware to complement her florals. But over time, she grew disillusioned with the sourcing process. Many items hailed from overseas, predominantly China, and chain stores could easily undercut brand-name prices. Rising costs and tariffs didn’t help. This disillusionment coincided


with inspiration from a gift shop near her home. “I found myself attracted to its artisan goods. They weren’t all local, but they were unique. I enjoyed shopping there,” she says. Gaylord decided she could create


a similar experience by inviting local artists and makers to sell their work through Lyal Nickals Florist. Under the consignment arrangement, the shop keeps 20% to 25% of each sale and pays the artist only when an item sells. The arrangement reduced


Gaylord’s upfront investment in gifts. “I’m not putting a ton of money into stock that ends up sitting on a shelf or has to be discounted later,” she explains. The creations, big and small, also bring a unique aesthetic to her 2,000 square feet of retail space. And artists promote their work at the shop on social media, extending the florist’s reach to new followers. Perhaps the biggest benefit is that


both regular and new customers get to peruse merchandise that is truly unique. “It encourages people to come in more often to find out what’s new,” says Gaylord. Today, Lyal Nickals carries pieces from about 10 artists, including


ARTFUL MERCHANDISING Smaller pieces and displays that pair artisan goods with flowers help Lyal Nickals Florist showcase its local makers.


8 FLORAL MANAGEMENT | November/December 2026 | WWW.SAFNOW.ORG


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48