Tipton & Hurst Celebrates 137th Anniversary

Tipton & Hurst, one of the state's most iconic businesses and cherished florists, is celebrating its 137th anniversary as a business today, June 7. Founded by Joseph B. Hurst and David Tipton in 1886, the company is now run by Joseph's grandson, Howard, who assumed the role of president from his father, Joe, in 1984.

"On June 7, 1886, Joe Hurst and David Tipton signed a handwritten agreement to start a flower company," recalled Howard Hurst. "My grandfather, Joe Hurst, was born in England and grew up in Glasgow, Scotland before immigrating to America at 18 years old. There, he met David Tipton, who was a flower grower. The two built greenhouses across from Little Rock Central High School and began to build the florist that we know today."

Hurst's father would continue his father's legacy and work with the Tiptons, opening a North Little Rock location. Howard followed in his father's footsteps, opening locations in Conway and Pine Bluff.

"We’re much more than a florist. While it's true that we bring in flowers and greenery from all over the world, we also sell a wide selection of registry and celebration gifts sourced from local artists and creators," Howard said.

To celebrate such a big occasion, Tipton & Hurst announced on their Facebook page that they would be holding an anniversary sale at their location in the Heights in Little Rock. This celebration will consist of cookies, gourmet samples, free roses and multiple sales.

The company has seen remarkable growth and success since its founding in 1886, adding a wholesale warehouse to better control pricing and flexibility and online components in order to serve Arkansans.

Howard spoke about the future of Tipton & Hurst as well.

"We want to continue to be the premiere store for gift-giving and beautiful flowers for our customers, wherever they may be. We’re lucky that we’ve had such great, dedicated staff over the years. We continually strive to get talented, creative people that can do a little bit of everything. We guarantee satisfaction since 1886," Howard said. "We’re continuing to work on online access and streamlining to make things better for the customer while keeping things as local as possible. We want to continue to expand our footprint, and we want to make sure that we have only the best people and only the best products."

The floral shop was built on a foundation of family; It puts its name on everything it does, working to make sure that every plant, flower, gift and interaction meets the Tipton & Hurst standard of excellence.

In celebration of its 137th anniversary, the company is offering some major deals for today only:

With an award-winning team and vast resources, including a network of premier suppliers around the world, Tipton & Hurst continues to lead the market, with locations in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway and Pine Bluff.

Happy Anniversary, Tipton & Hurst!

Howard Hurst

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