Susana Cardel is starting 2015 on a different foot. She’s been the owner of Flower Carriage and Gifts since 2008, and this year she’s branching out with a new venture: Ms. Cardel Planner and Event Design.
The Flower Carriage itself isn’t changing any time soon. In fact, Cardel wants to keep it just as it is—and maybe expand a little bit, too. And while she did previously handle design through Elegant Details Floral and Event Design, her new business with its new name will involve her planning weddings, anniversaries, baby showers, quinceañeras, graduations, and even funerals. She’s currently planning her first big event of the year: a Jan. 31 wedding at the Elks Lodge. After that, she’ll be preparing for an influx of business for Valentine’s Day.
When she refers to her new business, Cardel calls it “Ms. Cardel by Flower Carriage.” To her, both businesses go hand in hand.
“The focal point is to grow,” she said. “It’s a perfect combination to have the flower shop and to plan events.”
When it comes to events, Cardel also has the decorations to go with them—as well as experience in the industry. She said that between all of her designers, the staff can claim more than 50 years of designing and planning experience, including one designer who’s been with the company for 28 years. Cardel refers to the designers as her “diamonds.”
Cardel herself has been in Santa Maria for at least 20 years, coming here from the city of Mexicali in Mexico’s state of Baja California.
Before becoming owner, she was a retail store manager for 14 years, then decided to open Elegant Details. Now she wants the public to know about her new business—and that Flower Carriage is here to stay.
Ms. Cardel Planner and Event Design is at 2255 South Broadway, suite 15, in Santa Maria. For more information, call 922-0578, visit mscardel.com, or email ms.cardeleventdesign@gmail.com.
Highlights
• The Lompoc Valley Medical Center recently named L. Wayne Mills as its new chief financial officer. He began his new position on Jan. 5, replacing former CFO Bob Baden, who retired on Dec. 31 after serving 17 years with the Lompoc Healthcare District.
• The Marian Regional Medical Center Foundation announced it had received a $400,000 grant from the Wood-Claeyssens Foundation, which will go to support the Marian Heart Center Expansion project, according to a press release. The money will facilitate the addition of electrophysiology treatment, which is a branch of cardiology that deals with heart rhythm disorders.
• The American Heart Association of the Central Coast is celebrating National Go Red Day on Friday, Feb. 6. Luncheons for Wear Red Day will take place in Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo. The Go Red for Women campaign raises awareness that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women and encourages them to take preventative measures. The Santa Maria luncheon will take place at the Santa Maria Country Club at 505 W. Waller Lane. The SLO luncheon will take place at the San Luis Obispo Country Club at 255 Country Club Drive. Both luncheons will begin at 11:30 a.m.
Staff Writer David Minsky wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, email, or mail.
This article appears in Jan 15-22, 2015.