Lincoln Wholesale Closes After a Half-Century of Service
After 53 years in business, the Sorensen family closed the doors of its well-known Lincoln Wholesale Florist Co., in Lincoln, Neb., on Aug. 1.
“I can’t say I’m not ready,” says Arlene Sorensen, AAF, retired president of Lincoln Wholesale. “I don’t think it’s worth it anymore. I’ll miss the people, but I’ll stay connected.”
Sorensen started the company, along with her parents and her husband, Harold, in 1954, and when her husband died in 1979, she took on the role of president. Since its opening, the operation has grown to three times its original size and Sorensen has won many awards for her contributions to the industry, including the Wholesale Florist & Florist Supplier Association’s 2004 Leland T. Kintzele Distinguished Service Award and SAF’s 2006 Paul Ecke Jr. Award. To date, she is also the only female to serve as president of WF&FSA.
Sorensen “has been a leader in the industry,” says Jim Wanko, executive vice president of WF&FSA. “She would have dinner and lunch with governors and was on a first name basis with them. She always used those connections to help the industry.”
Sorensen attributes the company closing to a number of factors, including the growing number of big box stores coming into the marketplace; the challenge of finding good employees; increased difficulties surrounding collections; and high overhead costs -- all factors that conspired to make it difficult for the company to compete.
“It’s just kind of run its course,” says Lee Sorensen, Arlene’s son and the president of the company at the time of its closing. “We just wanted to get out while we still have enough money to cover our bills and walk away without owing anybody anything. I’ll miss the people, there’s a lot of sharp people in this industry, and I’ve spent my whole life doing it.”
Lee, who plans to open a tile and remodeling shop, says Lincoln wasn’t alone in the many challenges it faced before closing, adding that those challenges could affect myriad businesses throughout the industry, especially wholesalers.
“I think you’re going to see more of the bigger guys buying off the smaller guys,” he says. “Sometimes the only way to compete is to become part of a larger regional wholesaler, and you’re seeing more of that.”
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