When the world shut down in 2020, Evelyn Simmons thought her business had bloomed its last.
She wasn’t just any florist. She was a fourth-generation petal-pusher, hand-tying bouquets in the backroom of her family’s shop in Lexington, Kentucky and knew the true generational hustle—Simmons & Stems, est. 1919.
Her arrangements had graced weddings, hospitals, and cemeteries for over a century. But in the age of Amazon Prime and Instagram florals, even before the pandemic, Evelyn was already losing ground to digital-first competitors like UrbanStems and The Bouqs Co. [1].
She needed a lifeline. Not just to survive—but to thrive.
A Surprise Delivery
It all started with a customer call Evelyn missed.
A woman named Carla had called on Valentine’s Day asking for an urgent bouquet for her daughter, a front-line nurse. But Evelyn was elbow-deep in tulips and completely missed the ringing landline.
By the time she checked the voicemail, it was too late.
The next day, Carla left a 2-star Yelp review—not because the bouquet never came, but because Evelyn hadn’t answered.
It stung. Bad.
Evelyn didn’t need more foot traffic—she needed to never miss a call again. And not just that, she needed to turn every call into a sale.
She found her answer in a quiet corner of the internet—on a small-business Facebook group where another florist mentioned something called a Virtual Receptionist.
Enter the Virtual Receptionist
At first, Evelyn was skeptical.
She’d tried things before: outsourcing calls to a call center (too impersonal), using her cell phone (never-ending), and even setting up online booking (which few locals used).
But this… this smart virtual receptionist wasn’t just a voicemail. It was smart. It answered every call, routed urgent orders, captured names, phone numbers, and even pre-qualified leads in real time.
She tried the free trial from OneConnectionsLLC.com.
By the second day, she was hooked.
“Hi, you’ve reached Simmons & Stems. We’re currently helping another customer, but I can help right now. Are you looking to place an order for delivery or pickup?”
The voice was natural. The tone was warm. It was like a virtual assistant that never slept, never got sick, and never asked for a raise.
Business Blooms in Silence
Within a week, Evelyn had:
- Captured 27 missed-call leads she’d never have known about
- Secured three wedding consultations
- Rebooked a corporate account she almost lost
Her conversion rate from inbound calls to actual orders jumped from 40% to 87%.
But it wasn’t just about automation—it was about delegating the distractions, so she could get back to doing what she loved: designing.
“It’s like having a front desk person who works 24/7 for less than what I spend on ribbon each month,” she later joked.
Outsmarting the Giants
The best part?
Customers loved it. They raved in reviews about how “responsive” the shop was—even at 9 PM on a Friday. Evelyn laughed, imagining them picturing her at the counter with a headset on.
In reality, she was at home, sipping tea.
She’d found a way to compete with the big brands—not by outspending them, but by outsmarting them.
While Amazon and 1-800-Flowers had million-dollar call centers, Evelyn had a smarter receptionist—for a fraction of the cost.
That’s what One Connections calls the “small business unfair advantage“—automated, intelligent call handling designed for owners who wear too many hats.
A Lesson for Every Hustler
You don’t have to be a florist to get it.
Whether you’re a mobile mechanic, a cleaning service, or a boutique law firm—every missed call is a missed opportunity. According to Harvard Business Review, companies that follow up with leads within one hour are 7x more likely to qualify a lead than those who wait just an hour more [2].
Evelyn’s story isn’t about flowers—it’s about freedom.
She now spends weekends with her kids, answers urgent orders from her iPad, and no longer dreads the phone ringing.
The next time you see a tiny flower shop surviving on a busy street corner, remember: they may not have VC funding—but they’ve got AI on their side.
And maybe that’s enough.
Want to Bloom Like Evelyn?
👉 OneConnectionsLLC.com offers a 30-day free trial of their smart virtual receptionist, no credit card required.
Never miss a call again. Qualify leads automatically. Route appointments to your inbox instantly. All while you focus on running your business—not chasing voicemails.
Because sometimes, the smartest hustle… is knowing when to delegate. Get it touch with a set up specialist today!
References
[1] Forbes. “Five Lessons Florists Can Learn From E-Commerce Floral Brands.” May 2023.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/05/15/five-lessons-florists-can-learn-from-e-commerce-floral-brands/
[2] Harvard Business Review. “The Short Life of Online Sales Leads.” March 2011.
https://hbr.org/2011/03/the-short-life-of-online-sales-leads