A Growing Floral Business in Mineola

When Brian Cohen was searching for the ideal location for his floral business, , he considered proximity to the city and location on Long Island as key factors before identifying Mineola as the ideal setting.

“Mineola was centrally located for Long Island – north to south, east to west. It was the center of the island,” he said.

Over the past two decades Cohen has added locations in Howard Beach, Queens, and Manhattan, while maintaining Mineola as the hub.

He recently decided he needed bigger space and moved off Jericho Turnpike on Jan. 15, relocating into a fresh 9,000 sq. ft. space at 138 Liberty Ave. that features a large demonstration room where he can display his unique floral arrangements for corporate clients.

Known for its exquisite floral decorations, the store already has about 40 corporate customers including  and the . The company specializes in custom floral arrangements, with accents of color and flowers, for weddings, funerals, parties and corporate events.

Among their unique services: 

• Table arrangements: the business has a large assortment from Victorian roses to country English Gardens; clients can have high style, clean and simple; or unique branch arrangements with falling crystals.
• Bouquets: Cohen’s wedding florists can create bridal bouquets along with floral selections for all the attendants. Their bridal swatches ensure that color combinations are matched perfectly.
• Ceremony: the store provides fabric draped canopies edged with fresh flowers, lush tree limp canopies, floral archways and front facades and embellishments including draped aisles with illuminated candle set ups.
• Events: Flowers by Brian specializes in 3-D cutouts, LED lighting and stylish presentations of feathers, chandeliers and crystals.
• Corporate: Coen can supply furniture rentals, complete lighting and stage design including dance floors, stage raisers and outdoor heaters. Corporate-themed designs include ice sculptures and hand-carved corporate logos, which can be illuminated above the entrance way or lobby area.

Cohen acknowledged that his business has been impacted to some degree by the economy. People are still getting married, he said, “but they are spending less money.”

As a result, his company is working harder than ever to capture new business. This year the company is adding greater functionality to its website to pursue more corporate business and make further inroads with funeral homes.

“We’re competing against 1-800 Flowers,” he said.

January is probably the slowest month of the year for his business, which picks up in February, before reamping up in the spring, summer and fall and stays strong until December.

At peak times, Cohen will add freelance staff to handle deliveries and floral arrangements. His company owns three trucks for deliveries but even that is not enough on some busy weekends. If he has to rent additional vans or trucks, that’s a good thing, according to Cohen.