“I’ve been in the flower business since 1978; I worked in a flower shop to pay my way through business school, where I specialized in marketing,” says Alain Simon, one of Westmount’s most renowned florists. “As part of a class project, we had to set up a business plan for a boutique. Since I was already working in the field, I decided that I would go with a flower shop. It showed me the other side of the business, which I had already fallen in love with.”
Upon graduating in 1983, Alain decided to continue his work as a florist to acquire more retail-specific experience. “Then, in 1986, when I was only 25, I bought out my bosses. I loved my work, I loved my customers; it seemed like the logical progression. People who study marketing often talk of finding work in large businesses, but I wanted something intimate and independent.”
Nowadays, AlainSimon Fleurs creates custom bouquets and floral arrangements. “We’re very busy with corporate and special events, but we always have time to create something unique and memorable for any occasion, whether it be a wedding, a birthday, funerals, and anything else you can imagine."