Yellowknife (Oct 27/04) - Grower Direct NWT has a new owner, but Shirley McGrath is not new to the Centre Square Mall.

Business has been terrific throughout McGrath's first week in business. Last Monday, her carnation order came in and on Saturday she had fewer than a dozen left.

Shirley McGrath, the new owner of Grower Direct in Centre Square Mall, tends to a customer's order on Saturday afternoon. -Stephan Burnett/NNSL photo

"It's been fantastic. After two days I had to phone my supplier to tell him he hadn't sent enough flowers," said McGrath, who at one point worked as the general manager of the Yellowknife Inn.

Flowers have always been McGrath's passion, but her experience highlights a range of jobs she has held in Yellowknife over the years, including working in computer systems.

"I've been doing (flowers) as a hobby for 15 years and I've done wedding arrangements and did a wedding one month ago in Fort Providence," she said while attending to a customer.

"I love flowers and love talking to people. I enjoy helping people select the flowers. Getting paid is a bonus."

When the opportunity to get into business for herself came along, McGrath, who earned a business administration degree in 1987, says she jumped at the chance.

She came up with a business plan and showed it to the Akaitcho Business Development Corporation, which provided her with funding to go ahead.

However, it was not clear sailing yet.

McGrath then had to convince the Grower Direct chain management that she was the woman for the job.

"I didn't have too hard a time convincing them of my business experience, but they were worried about my cash flow," said McGrath.

Nine people had applied to pick up the Grower Direct franchise, some who were better fixed for cash, she said.

But in the end she was able to convince the suppliers.

"People are so happy to see it open again. I've had no advance advertising, I've simply used word of mouth and talked to my friends," she said.