Family teamwork blossomed at Steve's Flowers & Gifts during 1973, and continues to bloom to this day like a finely curated bouquet. Founded by Linda and Steve Huth Sr., this floral business was joined by their son, Steve Huth Jr., and eventually his wife, Tricia. However, Steve Sr. says this legacy operation happened organically.
"My son grew up in the business, but it wasn't until he was a year away from graduating college with a business and computer technology degree that he decided he was interested in a delivery position at the shop as a summer job. Our employees hated to see him return to college after how hard he worked and how quickly he learned details about the business," recalls Steve Sr.
"Apparently, children absorb parental guidance and life lessons that you don't even realize they're soaking up! Once Steve graduated, he asked about joining the shop, and we thought it was wonderful. He settled in during 1998."
Looking back, it's good Steve Jr. joined the growing shop business. By 1976, Linda and Steve Sr. sought to expand from their original Indianapolis shop, so during 1982 opened a second location in Greenwood. They then in Indy had built a 7,000-square-foot shop at 3150 E. Thompson Road, including a greenhouse. Through expansions from 1999 to 2024, they twice added more space to the Indy location, and launched a third shop in Pendleton.
The team now provides farm-fresh florals, wreaths, gifts and plants for birthdays, weddings, special occasions, sympathy and condolence observances. Gifts span throws, boutique clothes and chimes to balloons, sculptures and gourmet packages.
Steve Sr. says he, Linda, Steve Jr. and Tricia all take care of different aspects and departments of the business. At 77, Steve Sr. still relishes creating floral designs, being on the floor with customers and collaborating with the fellow designers. Linda shepherds the bookkeeping. Steve Jr. handles technology-based initiatives plus working with hospitals and funeral homes. Tricia manages sales.
"I really like to make sure we're all set with supplies for holidays," says Steve Sr. "Steve and I both like planning and organizing, and are quite similar in personality, however he likes to do more planning from a desk than I do. He entered the business at a time that became hard for me to keep up with computers so Linda and I appreciate all he does in that area."
He says all four of their technical skills contribute to the business in different ways.
Even with working together five or six days a week, all four Huths indicate they can navigate within their 14,000-square-feet shop property without running into each other almost all day.
"Regarding boundaries between work and family balance, we really don't have a lot of bickering. When we don't agree on potential business decisions, our family talks it out. There are times when something doesn't go my way or someone else's way," shares Steve Sr. "But together we analyze and come up with collective ideas that become the right ideas because we've helped each other think of additional considerations."
After seeing many family businesses dissolve and disappear due to no one in the next generation of a family being interested in them, Steve Sr. recommends to anyone who would like to own a business to seriously consider purchasing those family-founded operations. "We didn't push Steve into joining our business, and I think everyone should pursue their own interests. But, for anyone who grew up in a family business and wants as an adult to pursue a different type of enterprise than their family's business, it makes sense to acquire an established operation because it takes so many years to become profitable."
Is there a third generation in the future of Steve's Flowers & Gifts? Steve Sr. says their youngest of four granddaughters began working at the shop while she's attending Butler University. He may just have his flowers crossed!
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"Our family has a strong passion for this floral business and serving our customers, just from different skills and specialties."