On May 8th, 2017 Paulina’s Flower Shoppe opened its doors for business at 1018 Murphy Road. When you drive up to the location, you immediately realize that this has always been a flower shop. Since 1953 the building was known to the city of Sarnia as Buchner’s Flowers. “We purchased the establishment from the family. There’s a plaque by the counter honouring the history. I’m thrilled to continue selling flowers here,” says Paulina Dillon, owner and operator. The location took on a major renovation prior to opening. “When we looked at buying the building, I immediately saw the potential when we walked through the door. After taking possession, we spent six weeks renovating the space before opening.”

Paulina had spent the previous decade in the industry and her dream was to open her own store one day. “My husband picked me up from work on a cold December evening and drove me over to the shop, with a huge smile on his face. He looked over at me and said that we are going to buy this place. We entered the shop for the very first time that night and I felt it instantly, this had to be it.” The shop opened up a week before Mother’s Day. “It was extremely busy that first week, as I knew it would be, but I couldn’t have asked for a better start. New customers as well as long time established customers placed orders with us. I can’t thank them enough.” Paulina realized after opening that people like to support local businesses. “The whole sense of community is amazing, people have been incredible, it just means so much.”

Fresh flowers are Paulina’s passion. She designed her shop to be an all-around flower shop specializing in ‘one of a kind’ design. “We love doing wedding work. We have a consultation area where we sit down with customers to talk about their dream wedding flowers.” They can create a custom piece for any occasion. “We have a passion for bridal shower, baby shower, birthday, anniversary flowers. We are very dedicated in assisting families in choosing the right flowers to commemorate a loved one.” Paulina works with a number of suppliers and artisans to provide a wide variety of products. “This is the perfect place to come if you want to surprise someone with something unique. We are happy to put together a pretty, hand-tied bouquet for you to give just because.”

The Shoppe is open Monday through Saturday and can be reached at 519-542-7273. Bouquets and arrangements in vases are available at all times for customers to pick out of the cooler. “I also have unique hand-crafted giftware and jewelry in the Shoppe. My goal is for this space to be a true representation of myself.” Customers come in and say the Shoppe is inviting and beautiful. Paulina’s friends tell her it feels like an extension of her home. “This is such amazing feedback, I want customers to feel very welcome when they enter Paulina’s Flower Shoppe.”