CHARLESTON, SC NEWS - LIVE 5 WCSC Breaking News, Weather, SportsBusinesses surviving tough times

Businesses surviving tough times

By Marika Keldeman, Live 5 News

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Kelly Hunt's great grandmother opened the Charleston Florist in 1933 during the great depression.

"When she was next to the bus station on Society Street she stayed open 24/7 so when the soldiers got off the bus they could pick up flowers to take home to their loved ones," Hunt said.

Four generations and 75 years later the shop is still providing flowers to Charleston residents. Surviving tough economic times, the result the owner says of years of personalized customer service.

"If I keep my customers happy they are going to come back. And I'll keep my reputation and as long as I've got a good reputation and make people happy then my doors will continue to revolve," Hunt said.

While businesses up and down King Street are reporting losses new companies are still coming to the area and opening up shop, hoping they'll have their feet well planted and ready to go when the economy does rebound. The King Street Kitchen Company, which design kitchens, opened its doors in November.

"We've been able to focus on the details of the show room and our procedures and get everything in place so that when the economy turns around we are absolutely ready for all the business that they can throw at us," co-owner Dylan Gilliam said.

He too believes personalized service will be the key to their success and say the slow economy actually allows them the time to do it.

"In reality when the economy is booming it is a very difficult choice and decision to stay slow enough that you can actually focus on that same level of customer service," Gilliam said.

The old and the new both relying on the basic principle of the small business and believing it will get them through the storm.